It was Ben Franklin who said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” So as far as I can see, we, the people of the state of Maine are truly insane. We continue to send the same people to represent us in Augusta and Washington and we expect things to change.

Does anyone think Tom Allen, Susan Collins or John Baldacci sit at their kitchen table in the evening wondering how they are going to afford gasoline or dreading the next winter? Of course not! They sit back and tell us that they understand and feel our pain.

They have no idea what our pain feels like.

I wonder what their meal choices are for this evening. My choice is SpaghettiOs, with meatballs or without. Why don’t they trade places with us for awhile. Allen can drive the tractor trailer and wonder if he can stay in business for another month. Collins can take a small basket of groceries and make a meal for six people and hope they all get enough to eat. And our esteemed governor can be the gas station owner taking the heat for high gas prices. Then we, the citizens of Maine can sit back and patronize them as they do us.

We are at a crossroads in this state and in this nation. The path we are on is going nowhere. We need a change, and we need it now.

Brad Johnson, South Paris