Gov. Paul LePage should focus on improving worker morale, not insulting state employees. He was elected by the people of Maine. He should focus his attention on representing the people and their interests. Instead, he accused state employees of corruption — undermining their integrity and casting doubt on those who dedicate their work to the state and people of Maine.

I feel sad for those state employees and their families, whose morale undoubtedly suffered after LePage’s insensitive comments.

I was irritated by his strong language and the misdirected insults that had no specific aim. I was frustrated, because I see no end in sight for his over-generalizations and blatant disregard for workers’ rights.

After the removal of the mural depicting Maine’s labor history and the recent changes to the Workers’ Compensation Act, those derogatory statements only serve to worsen the statewide work environment that the administration should be fighting to improve.

The governor should apologize to those he has insulted. His “clarifications” and reputation for blunt, unembellished speech in no way excuse such a negative view of the state workforce.

LePage claims the corruption he refers to is in the form of officials who are “dragging their feet” and sticking to the status quo in an effort to slow his administration’s initiatives. But his comments are doing just that.

By weakening working relationships, his comments subvert any progressive endeavors he is undertaking to increase business activity and better the socio-political structures of the state’s economy.

Karen Bilodeau, Topsham