A hypocrite is a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions or statements belie his or her public statements.

In his letter to the editor (March 16), “Taxpayers deserve a break,” former Maine Rep. Thomas Shields ended with, “When the partisan pique and posturing stops, there should be bipartisan agreement that this makes sense.”

Yet, he spends the majority of his letter blaming Democrats, the liberal media, etc., for the situation the state is in.

The budget shortfalls were caused by decreased tax revenues because the nation’s and state’s economy tanked. Blaming it on unions or state employees or big business is just political posturing.

Yes, what is called for now is frugality. The private sector has done it, now the public sector must as well. But to ask public employees to sacrifice while calling them out is galling.

So, if Shields is interested in bringing an end to the posturing, he can stop doing it at any time.

Jason Theriault, Auburn