Thinking recovery
To the editor:
I reference Senator Jackson’s letter published in The Star-Herald, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, “Recovery requires change in thinking.” His statement reflected his views on what is needed for the recovery of Aroostook County and the state of Maine from our devastating recession.
Sen. Jackson stated if any readers have ideas based on a different approach that should be considered, he would like to hear from them. So here it is!
First of all it takes money to carry out a recovery such as ours which the county or state doesn’t have and is unable to get. It is easy to sit in a plush office in Augusta and write about what is needed but meeting those needs is a problem.
The two major industries, lumber and potatoes, don’t exist here anymore plus the loss of all the military bases make recovery difficult. The revenue created from these sources is what kept the state functioning and people employed.
So how do we get big industry back to Maine and Aroostook County? I suggest that the politicians in Augusta pool their own resources and build some modern new buildings with heat, air conditioning, etc., and offer the car companies and other major companies these buildings rent free and be exempt from paying taxes. Think of the jobs that would be created. Then the politicians could say, we did it our way and with our money.
If my suggestion was acceptable then the citizens of Maine could firmly believe the politicians in Maine were living up to the words spoken by our founding fathers when they wrote the Declaration of Independence, which states, “We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and sacred honor.”
Do we have these kind of people in Augusta? I don’t think so!
Howard E. Worthington
Master Sgt. U.S. Air Force, Retired
