June 1, 2011--My 3 Governors

We were in Maine for less than 24 hours and looking forward to weeks and months of tranquility, renewed friendships, and the encouragement to lead a more earth-friendly life.

We immediately resumed measures to send as little as possible into our septic system, had already taken to being careful about turning off unnecessary lights, and began to stock up on locally produced products. Another pleasure is re-immerseing ourselves in the local paper, The Lincoln County News. Even before getting to our house, Rona ran into Dee's Variety to pick up this week's edition.

And then a couple of hours later, after unloading the car and doing some unpacking, I collapsed in my favorite chair to see what has been going on the the county.

The lead story in the LCN had the following headline--"LePage On Bypass: People Pay Taxes, Eagles Don't."

"What in God's name is this about?"

"Now don't get yourself aggravated," Rona urged, "Remember, we're here for peace and tranquility, not to be made crazy by bad news."

"Listen to this one," I beckoned her over from her unpacking, "Remember, just as we were leaving last year, there was a gubernatorial election and the Tea Party candidate won--Paul LePage." Rona nodded while continuing to fold a stack of shirts. "He was thought of a blow-hard bully by our liberal friends."

"I remember that," Rona said, "When the NAACP invited him to their fall convention in Portland, isn't he the one who said, 'They can kiss my ass?'"

"He's the one. Now listen to this. You know the plans to build a highway bypass around Wiscasset? To reduce traffic there on US 1? They apparently had a town meeting about it that LePage attended. It seems that to build the bypass, which he apparently favors, they would have to remove an eagle's nest. Environmentalists are of course up in arms. According to the paper, at the meeting which 225 attended, he said, to quote him, 'I believe the federal government should put people ahead of eagles.' He went on to say, 'that society has reached a point where humans don't count,' and he boasted that he was, and I'm quoting him again, he's 'a big believer in the fact that people pay taxes and eagles don't.' Can you believe this?"

"Yes I can," Rona said, not missing a beat in her unpacking, "He's doing exactly what he told voters he'd do if elected. Just like our other governor, Rick Scott in Florida. Scott said he'd cut the budget drastically even it meant he'd have to lay off state and municipal workers--and he has; he said he'd take on public employee unions--and he has; he said he'd return all the federal stimulus money his predecessor accepted, for example for high-speed rail--and he has refused any more federal money; he said he'd reduce environmental regulations--and he has and as a result the Everglades will continue to be polluted; he told voters he'd cut health care benefits that the state has to pay for--and he has; and he told developers he'd end most governmental oversight of their building plans--and he did that too. He delivered on all his campaign promises."

"And where is his approval rating?" I asked.

"Didn't you tell me the other day that it's the lowest in the country?"

"Yes, he has a 29 percent favorability rating in the latest polls."

"And how is LePage doing?"

"Almost as badly. He's down below 40 percent."

"And Christie in New Jersey?

"Same story--about 40 percent."

"Scott Walker in Wisconsin?"

"Less than 40 percent."

"Kasich in Ohio?"

"Hovering around 30 percent."

"So what does this tell you?" By then Rona had emptied two suitcases.

"That it's easier to get elected than to govern."

"And?"

"And these guys got elected because everyone was fed up with incumbents and were so angry and frustrated that they thought what these Tea Party Republicans were pitching was what was needed. And they were popular right up to the point that they actually started doing what they promised."

"And when people saw their rights being taken away; their children's classrooms becoming overcrowded; police and fire departments shrinking; and their health benefits being threatened--which for many was the last straw--what happened then?"

"These tough-talking but mean-spirited governors saw their approval ratings hit rock-bottom."

"It's ironic," Rona said, "Obama gets criticized and falls in the polls for not delivering on all his campaign promises while these governors get in trouble for delivering on theirs."

"And in New York," I then realized, "the third state in which we spend time, we elected Andrew Cuomo, and he's turing out to be a version of a Republican in Democrat clothing."

"So what should we do?" Rona asked.

"I think head over to the Pemaquid Fisherman's Coop and get us a couple of twin lobster dinners."

"I'll bring the wine," Rona said, setting aside the last of our suitcases.

"And I'll start the car.