“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” is credited to Albert Einstein. The quote came to mind when I heard that Sen. Olympia Snowe was not running for re-election.

I knew what would follow.

Let’s round up the usual suspects (we all know who they are) — former governors, wannabe governors, present members of Congress (everyone knows the names) — and watch as they all come to the feeding frenzy. They have all done such a wonderful job with the state and country. Let’s give one of them a raise and send him or her to Washington.

Einstein might suggest this approach to be insane. Isn’t that just what we have been doing, year after year, and expecting different results?

May I make a modest proposal: How about the idea that anyone presently in office or term-limited out, or who has been a career politician, or who has run and lost and complained about a stolen election — should just stay home and save their money or their rich relatives’ money?

The people need to nominate and elect someone who really cares about the country — not a political party or an ego.

This country is in deep trouble. We all had a hand in the creation of the problem. Isn’t it time to stop repeating our mistakes and bring a bit of sanity to government?

It is up to the public to make this republic work. Every election affords another opportunity to stop the insanity.

Thomas Peters II, Lewiston