Reply #221: My own blasted State

[davidthegnome]

For a long time I've admired Maine for ignoring the political beast and voting based on conscience and truth. Now I must cast aside that admiration and admit - hey, we're just as dumb as every other State. Hell, given our recent voting record, we're dumber than most.

My Father is a man of some small influence and great ability. He's met the Governor, dined with him, even listened to him rant about the "necessities" of the time. He tells me that he doesn't see the Governor as a terrible man, simply a terrible politician - one who would lead us back into the dark ages, given a choice.

Nonetheless, regardless of how many votes went for him or his opponents - Maine did indeed vote for him. My own County - "The County" as it's often called (Aroostook) played no small part in electing LePage.

Why? Hell, I don't know. A great many of our people are hunters and fishers, construction workers and teachers, those who have the ability to think outside the box. Often I see a gathering of the elderly at my local general store where they gather to discuss politics. I, of course, am too young and unimportant for my voice to really count. I know they'd ignore me or laugh at me if I even tried. So instead - on occasion, I listen.

We are a more simple people, trusting and (many of us at least) honest to a fault. We believe the rhetoric, the lies and the idiocy until it is double and triply proven to be false. We vote for whom ever we believe is the best person, often regardless of political rhetoric, often we mistake political rhetoric for honest belief or ideal.

I am a young man... but I see the forest through the trees, I do, after all, live surrounded by a forest. LePage is a corrupt little imp without the integrity of the most corrupt lawyer. Most of my people, however, do not recognize this because we listen to what people say, most of my people do not read the news frequently and certainly don't frequent message boards like DU.

We will learn... in time, but that will not help much, the damage is being done and will be done until we alter our methods. Baldachi (sp?) (our former governor) was a decent man, but not very effective or progressive. Many believed that the opposition would be better, simply because it would be different. They were wrong, but they aren't stupid or cruel, simply ignorant.

So I humbly beg the pardon of America and ask that you not judge all Mainers by the fool we have for a Governor. I didn't vote for him. Most of us didn't. He won mostly by default because there wasn't much inspiration going on in the last election...