It is time for us to rise to the challenge and answer the many questions we face as a people; this time, it is crucial we do not come up with the same answers, repeating our mistakes. The people of Maine are resilient, intelligent and capable — capable of asking the hard questions, capable of confronting the taboos.

Why is it radical to proclaim that the working people continue to experience the same hardships under the leadership of both political parties? Why is it radical to proclaim that we do not accept the kidnapping of our neighbors? Why is it radical to proclaim we do not accept the use of our money to wage war and commit crimes of the most unforgivable kind? Why is it radical to suggest something is fundamentally wrong? Why do our leaders continue to disregard the needs of their constituents, building relationships with corporations and lobbyists and not the people and communities they vowed to stand by?

We are tired of being told we are ignorant to nuance, we are too harsh, or too idealistic, by asking our leaders why they are OK with the status quo. 

I ask candidates running to represent us to sit with this message. If they interpret our frustration, our rage, as the whinings of a misled populace to be policed or mitigated, they are unfit to serve us and, quite frankly, wasting our time.

Misha Savov
Portland