This is a response to Duane Dumont’s letter June 19.

Doing your job does not make you a good senator. Writing and sponsoring bills is not the only answer. All one has to do is look around and see the state of the economy, along with the current state of the dollar.

While I’m certainly not blaming this all on Sen. Susan Collins, she has played a role by voting with the president.

I’m sincerely happy that Dumont’s business has prospered. Most small business owners, including myself, are not so fortunate.

People should not be allowed to make a career out of politics. It is supposed to be a privilege to serve your country, not be self-serving, as 99.9 percent of the “public servants” have done.

Being wealthy should not be a requirement to run for office. I’d vote for someone who understands having to decide which bills to pay each week because there are more bills than money – groceries, medicine, gas for the car, or heat for homes.

While most federal representatives live extravagantly, many people live hand to mouth. Has anyone heard one of them complain about their health care coverage or retirement? I don’t know anyone who can vote himself a raise, or collect the same salary when retired.

I’m sorry, Sen. Collins, but when voting, I’m “writing in” my neighbor, because I’m pretty sure he knows my troubles, unlike all the fat cats, including Rep. Tom Allen.

George Gowell, Sabattus