Make government dignified again
I believe nearly everyone is disgusted with the depths to which political campaigning has sunk. Isn’t it time that the citizens speak up and demand that their representatives and senators change the rules and laws so that in the future candidates or their representatives may not mention or even allude to their opponents in any way before or during the campaign months? Let the politicians say what they intend to do if elected. We need to bring respect and dignity back to our government.
We are a laughingstock. I frequently speak with Canadian citizens, and they follow everything that is reported. Of course, the media love the dog-and-pony shows, so they will be against this idea, but the people’s wishes should prevail.
Remember debates in high school, when opposing sides debated controversies guided by an unbiased individual? No one spoke over a speaker, and each person was listened to and given time to give his or her opinion.
I voted Tuesday, but for the first time in more than 50 years during which I have been privileged to cast my vote, I was ashamed of the whole system. Shame on us for allowing it to go this far.
Please call or write your senators and representatives and demand that something be done before the next election.
Louise Marcoux Bowker
Waterville
Equality will prevail
Like millions of others, I watched the tallying of the votes with bated breath. In the wee hours of the morning, it became clear that the victorious candidate was not the one for whom I cast my vote. The reactions of those around me covered the spectrum from raucous joy to terrible dread. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned.
The GOP has won the White House, Senate and House. I believe they soon will use their newfound authority to appoint a conservative Supreme Court justice, establishing a conservative majority across the federal government. My friends and I are concerned that policies we hold near and dear, enacted and supported by the current administration, will become targets. We fear health care access will be curtailed, abortion outlawed and same-sex marriage no more.
But from my friends and likeminded citizens, I ask for hope and patience. While the Supreme Court may remove these rights in the short term, I truly believe these potential injustices will be only temporary. The rulings of the Supreme Court can change. The death penalty was outlawed for four years and alcohol for 13. The cultural makeup of this country will continue to shift, and I strongly feel that if these and other rights, if removed, will eventually be restored.
What has minority support now will eventually gain a majority. I feel time is on our side.
Mason Chant
Old Town
The 2018 midterm will be crucial
If you don’t like Donald Trump, then this isn’t the end of the line. There’s a lot that Trump won’t be able to do with the current Senate. And in a certain regard, 2018 is going to be a more significant election year than 2016. In 2018, 23 Democratic, eight Republican and two independent senators are up for re-election. If you really don’t want the GOP to have a supermajority beyond 2018, here are a few key things that you ought to consider soon.
1. Convince younger people that midterm elections really do matter. In 2014, the national voter turnout in the 18 to 29 demographic was 16.5 percent. For comparison, the overall turnout was 36.4 percent.
2. Listen to what some Trump voters actually have to say. You just might hate most of it, but you will understand some of it. In order to hold the line in 2018, Democrats will need a large number of yesterday’s Trump voters to vote Democratic. In the 2018 midterm election, your ears will win you far more seats than your insults will.
3. Find inspiring candidates to run for the House and Senate. An implication of America’s decision is that the political landscape has changed drastically. A successful Democrat in 2018 might be one who can appeal to the challenges faced by rural voters. You may disagree with this candidate on important issues such as gun control, trade and federalism, but those might be healthy debates for the Democratic Party to have.
Joshua Scripture
Bangor