Doug Rooks’ column May 13 was about the meaning of recent French elections for Americans and our politicians. The French rejected austerity because it made the economy worse.

Rooks’ column should be mandatory reading for legislators in Augusta and Washington, D.C., but, they would ignore it because it runs counter to their philosophy that pain — other people’s pain — is good.

Gov. Paul LePage and his sycophants in the Legislature insist that cuts in services for the less fortunate and ever lower taxes for the already fortunate will solve all of society’s problems. They insist they know better because they are privy to information the people don’t have and it would be best if we would please just be quiet and just vote (for them).

As for the Washington Republicans, they seem focused on returning the country to the days of the Founders (insert angelic chorus here). To that end, they propose killing government except where it serves the wealthy. That is the 21st Century political equivalent of 17th Century medicine — amputate first and then bleed the patient.

The real solution is for everyone to vote this coming fall, if that is still allowed. After Florida in 2000, no one can say one vote is meaningless.

The choice for whom to vote is easy. Does a candidate really care about the people and the proper role of government, or is he or she more concerned with cutting government and taxes for the well-to-do who fund their campaigns?

Tony Nazar, Wilton