To the Editor:
There is a movement afoot for Aroostook County to secede and become a sovereign state called North Maine. Perhaps they would allow the entirety of District Two to join them? They believe that southern and coastal Maine is not aligned with their beliefs. We all know why that is.
Government is a necessary evil. At least in theory, it was designed to provide structure and organization to a group of people. When Ben Franklin was asked the question of whether we had a Republic or a Monarchy in 1787, the wise doctor responded, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” He realized that due to the imperfectly corrupt and jealous nature of humankind, it was only a matter of time before those in charge would exert unfair power over those not in charge, resulting in tyranny, oppression and persecution.
He realized that it would take constant vigilance in the coming centuries to maintain this innovative Republic. Franklin continued, in a lesser known quote, “Because the people, on tasting the dish, are always disposed to eat more of it than does them good.”
Indeed, here we are today, overwhelmed by what Mr. Franklin feared. A silent elite war of power, greed and corruption, waged over the centuries, has culminated in two unlikely foes: the government vs. the people.
Even with the very fundamental forms of “elected” government, our selectmen, there exists today a very dangerous abuse of power, the result of constant illegal “power grabs” over an extended period of time. Constitutions, Ordinances, Bylaws, Codes and Statutes are routinely twisted to suit those in power, to further their agenda of oppression and abuse of power.
Depending on who you are or who you know, enforcement may be overlooked or pursued aggressively. Astoundingly, we continue to allow them to pile on more and more laws, all to be used against us. Courts of Law, with biased activist judges are used as weapons, to drain the opposition of resources. Unbelievably, we surrender our own hard-earned money, stolen previously in the name of taxes, to prosecute us.
Instead of supporting ordinary citizens through “public safety and convenience” (the stated purpose of these laws) these autocrats do whatever they please to punish those who would dare question their actions, and even are so bold as to joke about it.
At what point did they forget that in a Republic, we, the people, are in charge, that they serve us? From the lowly ordinance to the lofty constitutional provision, all are “necessary” supposedly for the common good. Not for the elites to bully the citizens, just because they can. Yet they attack those who threaten what they stand for or what they want. This is bullying.
This governmental weaponization must stop, and the only way to stop it is by electing those who will eagerly and enthusiastically help us, not purposefully and vindictively hurt us. The power hungry autocrats and bullies must be voted out.
A fearful community that supports bullying and abuse of power by turning away, not “getting involved” is a sanctimonious place. It is a community in which people care only about their own self-interests, and apathetically, will not stand for what is right. They allow wrong to persist because they choose to do nothing. Throughout history, those who have sacrificed, those who have dared to take a stand against wrong, have indeed made the world a better place.
What is this crazy new place where good is evil and evil is good, where common sense does not exist? We must unify, igniting our passion for truth and justice, exposing the smoke and mirrors; abuse, greed and corruption. We must each do our part, whatever that may be…write, speak, run for office…. help pull back the curtain before it is too late.
Brenda Stickney
Andover