As a child, I was raised on principles of teamwork and treating others as you would want them to treat you. Those were passed down through generations.

During the Depression, my grandfather owned a market and granted credit to customers knowing that most couldn’t afford to pay him back. If one was in need, another would help. If one betrayed, another would take a stand.

Today I’m taking a stand. Comparing Maine to family, with leaders as parents, I feel betrayed. Is there doubt that Maine needs a strong transportation system, good teachers, safe neighborhoods, schools and jobs?

When parents refuse a child safety, education and security, isn’t that neglect? When one steals from the plate of another and parents approve, isn’t that betrayal?

The American Jobs Act was voted against last week. Reliable sources say if that act had passed, it would have added 1.9 million jobs and reduced unemployment by 1 percent. Doesn’t it make sense that this would be good for our country? Not to mention that billions of dollars would have supported transportation, rebuilt schools, kept 280,000 teachers working, along with police, firefighters, construction workers and unemployed veterans.

But Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins voted against it.

Oh, it would require millionaires to pay a bit more in taxes. So, the family structure needs repair and money is needed, but the greedy refuse? And parents lack the courage to stand up, letting the structure collapse?

I’m looking forward to voting day.

Mary Hargreaves, Sumner

Copy the Story Link