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Leaders Wanted: People Without Courage and Conviction Need Not Apply

© Linda M. Orlando

Where is the Yankee ingenuity and independent thinking that made Maine a unique place to live and raise a family?

I normally write about people from Maine-writers, artists, and politicians who have made a contribution to the unique way of life that is Maine. But this month, I want to talk about life in Maine and the drastic changes that have taken place over the last few years-negative changes that cry out for a strong leader with the right values. We need leaders like the ones I normally write about-people of conviction and courage-who look at the problems we are facing with old-fashioned "Yankee ingenuity", who can make the tough decisions, whether they are popular decisions or not.

Maine has drawn big box retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, and Sam's Club, as well as residents of other states who have built summer homes along the coast. At the same time, fishermen have been forced away from the shores due to the increased price of real estate and property tax levels. On the outskirts of some of Maine's quaint little villages, you will find these retailers, with their thousands-of-square-feet stores and equally sprawling parking lots. Down the street, however, there are elderly home owners who have worked hard all of their lives for the small parcel of land and house where they raised their children, as well as low income families who may have inherited their homes from their parents,. These people are being forced out of their homes by the skyrocketing property taxes, resulting from the out-of-control spending at both the state and local levels.

Recent news stories have indicated that over twenty percent of all young people leave Maine as soon as they finish high school-never to return. The average in other states is five percent. This is due to the high cost of living, as well as the lack of meaningful employment opportunities. We have educational facilities that draw students from other New England states, yet we cannot keep our own young people at home in Maine.

It is a vicious cycle, as high income and property taxes force manufacturers from Maine, there are less opportunities for our young people, and there is a smaller tax base to provide the revenues that state and local governments need to operate. Families cannot afford to live-even with both parents working. The new jobs that have replaced the high paying manufacturing jobs, pay only seven or eight dollars an hour. We have traded manufacturing jobs for service jobs in retail and human services. Individuals with master's degree are stocking shelves at Walmart or providing direct care to the elderly and people with disabilities. What message does that send to our young people? What hope do they have of creating a family and a satisfactory standard of living, if they remain in Maine?

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