Allen Butler's blog

In May 1764, Samuel Adams of Boston drafted the following:

Who amongst us can deny, that our government officials at both the State and National level, are out of touch with the people? Can anyone with honesty look to Augusta and Washington and say that they are doing a good job? I think not my friends.  Not only have the politicians forgotten what it is like to earn one's daily bread, but so too have they betrayed the very trust of those who elected them to office in the first place. What am I talking about?  Strangely enough I'm speaking of hope, in my own convoluted way.

... Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man,

The People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time

Handed out military command, high civil office, legions - everything, now

Restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things:

bread and circuses

Election Day, has to be one of my all time favorite days of the year. For me it even trumps holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July. It is on this day that we the people of this nation give voice to our thoughts and cast ballots. Whether that ballot be for a referendum, initiative or a candidate, we come out by the millions to participate in this grand experiment.

If I hear one more time the slogan: "Save our Schools" I'm going to become completely undone. The opponents of question #4 commonly known as TABOR II, which, if passed would require voters to approve state and local spending increases that exceed the rate of inflation and population growth, have begun a campaign of fear and ignorance. I cannot in good conscience allow my fellow Mainers, especially my fellow citizens of Gray, to fall prey to such disingenuous reasoning that the Save our Schools folks are putting forth.

On my way to work one morning last week I heard Charlie Webster Chairman of the Maine State Republican party speak on WLOB 95.5 with Ray Richardson and Ted Talbot. As he was talking about the 2010 Gubernatorial Primary he emphasized a key point over and over. The point being; That in contrast to the possible Democrat candidates for governor who seem to be far left of center, the Republican party is offering up a whole spectrum of hopefuls with political outlooks ranging from conservative to moderate.

White House Brushes Off Health-Care Protests
By HENRY J. PULIZZI

WASHINGTON -- The White House isn't concerned that increasingly vocal protests around the country are frustrating its push for health-care legislation.

Usually when I read a bill proposal put forth by our legislators in Augusta, the not so subtle music of a circus begins to flow through my mind. Barnum and Bailey's quick paced and chaotic theme which plays when the clowns race out to perform their acts of amusement, pounds away as I take in the words so carefully contrived to confuse by our leaders. In all actuality, the music helps me understand what is written and makes me smile as I come to grips with another form of mischief manufactured by the "best of our society".