Letters submitted by BDN readers are verified by BDN Opinion Page staff. Send your letters to letters@bangordailynews.com
On July 21, the Bangor Daily News published an article about Troy Jackson’s angry outbursts during his tenure in Maine’s Legislature. National media has also picked up on the story, portraying it as problematic behavior.
Certainly anger can be unprofessional, especially when taken to extremes and in inappropriate moments. But there is a fine line between anger and passion. I believe what matters most here is whether Jackson has the self control to direct that anger toward appropriate ends, rather than be directed by it. Based on his successful political career thus far, I suspect and hope it is the former.
The truth is I think we need an angry man in the U.S. Senate. We need someone who will refuse to simply roll over and take it from President Donald Trump and his cronies the way that “moderate” Republicans and the Democratic establishment have been doing for the last two years.
Troy Jackson’s anger reflects my own and, I would guess, the majority of those who voted for Graham Platner in June. Like it or not we are living in unprecedented times. Civil liberties that we have taken for granted for decades or longer (e.g. habeas corpus, birthright citizenship, privacy, freedom of speech and assembly, etc.) are being challenged and steadily stripped away.
Perhaps it’s just me, but I’d like to see a few more water bottles thrown in defense of democratic principles down there in the Capitol. Troy Jackson seems like just the guy for the job.
Colin Hurd
Gorham