A state representative gets to know your community pretty well. He visits thousands of homes and attends countless functions. If he is at all attentive he really comes to understand what those he represents want. And that is good, because after all as a representative I work for the people of my district to REPRESENT your views as well as understand them, not my own. So let’s see if I’m getting it right.
In my travels I have seen some disturbing scenes that to me represent the failure of our current welfare system. It’s literally an upside down world,a Bizarro world, (as my son the Superman fan would say). Here are a few of the many examples of life in this Bizarro World.
Last summer I was visiting a woman to take care of an issue she had brought to my attention. I came to find out through helping her that she had been on welfare for some time. We were able to fix her problem quite easily. While we were talking though an unusual event transpired, she had a teenage son who was watching TV in the home and while we talked she said she was worried about her son’s future. “He will need state aid as well,” she said; “he is stupid and can’t take care of himself.”
It stunned me because the boy was right in front of us he heard every word. While I claim to be no Dr. Spock in child rearing I cannot imagine that this helped his feeling of self-reliance and self-respect. I’m guessing it was not the first time he had heard this. But as I left I was thinking about what I had witnessed and a thought hit me. She is doing nothing different than a cobbler or farmer would have done a century ago. She is teaching him the only trade she knows. If you are “stupid” then you will be taken care of. It is a modern apprentice program in the Bizarro welfare world.
I attended another event marking the anniversary of a community housing project. At this event one of the “success” stories was a couple who had met while living there. As they spoke one could almost hear the Brady Bunch music in the background, (“Here’s the story of a lovely lady…”) they each had two children and they met and got together while living at the housing project. They were so happy, they went on, because their children now lived in the same place with them. Only in Bizarro World would this be considered a happy outcome.
We are 50 years removed from the election of John F Kennedy, the president who reminded us that as Americans we should, ask not what our country could do for us but we could do for it. He explained that we as citizens have a responsibility to our communities. The problem is that when aid becomes an entitlement (a “right”) it not longer requires those receiving it to even be thankful. They owe nothing to a society that helped them in their time of need. Who should be grateful for receiving their “rights.”
It is a great thing to live in a caring society, which helps its most vulnerable The elderly, the children, those down on their luck, the physically handicapped should be helped. But aid is a two-way street, not an entitlement destination. If the community is responsible for the unfortunate, they, in turn, have a reciprocal obligation. And they have an obligation to their children to steer them away from the dependency trap.
Is it wrong to ask a family not working and on the dole to have their children dressed and ready for school? Is it wrong for our society to ask that they attend a parent teacher conference? Don’t those receiving aid owe the community some effort?
Only in the Welfare Bizarro World is aid a right with no reciprocal responsibly. If it is society’s responsibility to give money and ask no questions, then the recipients of aid have responsibilities of their own.
Nice letter Lance. I for one am sick of this nanny state the liberals who have been running the state for 30 years have created. Fortunatly our next governor ,LePage,has a plan to fix this issue. How can anyone look at the sad state our welfare system is in and argue otherwise? Some will though,but its too late. Time to vote in some sensible minded people to the statehouse and clean up this mess the dems have put us in. I can already hear the wailing and the whining from the left ,commenting here on the “dog”. Good, let them.Working taxpayers esp. the ones not beholding to the state for their supper,are sick and tired of the waste and fraud. Come November the people of this state are going to pull the plug on this messy swamp the dems have made and start over. Ahh……….the gurgling sound of 20-40 big government ,liberal .spinless,state reps and senators circling the drain on their way out of office will truely be music to my ears. Don’t let the plunger hit you guys on the way out.
Well stated, I would not have been so polite. I guess that if everyone could feel the way you do, then we would live in a better world. Maine does have a very generous welfare system and this is the fruit of giving too much to often. Maybe it is time to reduce the tax burden of the welfare system on our state budget and help only the most needy and deserving. Can you representitives as a group find a solution to our welfare dilema? It seems when it is time for cuts to budgets everyone is the most needy.
Mr. Harvell understands.
Wasn’t this posted sometime ago?
Lance, I agree. Now let’s get down with helping me get the four wheelers, snow machines and cell phones that welfare recipients have. Or even better, tell me how they get such devices and the State does nothing! I suggest that any welfare recipient that responds to my reply, be investigated, because I want to know who paid for the computer. Instead, why not convince Augusta to return our tax money, so we can get the non essential items.
Lance,
Those who are poor and with fewer life skills than you or me are always an easy target in an election year. Certainly, most of us are fully aware that some fraud exists in Maine programs that serve the poor and the corporate communities. However, I must trust that my government (and you!) are allocating my tax dollars to worthy business and community interests. If you find that some of your official duties are distasteful, perhaps you should decline to do them.
Thankfully, you and I are not the judge of our fellow man. This attack was mean spirited and beneath you.
“Is it wrong to ask a family not working and on the dole to have their children dressed and ready for school? Is it wrong for our society to ask that they attend a parent teacher conference? Don’t those receiving aid owe the community some effort?”
I agree with you Lance but how do you force people to do the right thing. Believe it or not even Liberals want to break the chain of “entitlement” where applicable. This is where partisanship needs to end and solutions hammered out by both parties working together. This is one of the most important issues facing our state and one that you’ve been elected to address. Go for it and good luck.
I thought that welfare or “assistance” was to be a stop gap to help the individual through a difficult time. To many have made it a career. Maybe we need to take a look at how our neighbors in NH are handling these issues.
My family and I are in the Maine Care system and are grateful for the care that we receive when we need it . We grow most of our own food, cut our own wood, and raise and slaughter own own meat. We hold jobs. We vote and are involved in the local community. We are are caring and loving parents. We are not lazy. We are the working poor. This is a side of the welfare state that many people and politicians do not see. We don’t want “to be on the dole” but how can a family like mine possibly find $2000 a month for health insurance? I know that there are other families out there in the same situation.
Good point Lance where do you stand on corporate welfare? For instance why are Maine tax payers subsidizing Trans-Canada? Or Wal-mart etc. etc. Can’t capitalist rely on capitalism rather than the government in order to to start up or expand? Why are you not talking about this as well?
Greg:
You are right welfare is welfare. Capilalist chase capiltal if the state offers it they will go there so how about we stop offering it?
Working poor glad you are working you are doing what you can thanks so much for that comment.
Hey hozed and vet, why don’t you address “working poor”s comment instead of being so judgmental and self righteous?
I don’t believe these are just a few fraud cases in this state and country. I have talked to people that have worked as private investigators, investigating disability clams, they catch people jumping up and down, lifting trailers, and ATV’s ect. on video tape, they go to court and they claim they were just having a “good day” and continue to get there checks.
Just this week i learned of someone i have met several times who lost his job last year and has not been able to find a new one, so now is claiming disability! As a father of a disabled child this troubles me greatly, i don’t think i will be able to keep my mouth shut, if i see him again!
I also hear stories from the school system where kids that are on the free lunch program have visited Disney Land, the Bahamas, and parents drop their kids off in a brand new Escalade!
I believe we have a wide spread fraud problem in both the welfare and disability system.
Nice letter Lance. Welfare in this state is rediclulous.If everyone on welfare was like ” working poor”, the system wouldnt be broke. A hard working family that gets some aid while they are striving to get on their feet is what welfare should be for.Leigh thinks we should trust our government to do the right thing. You do that Leigh. with YOUR money. For me , I want some serious oversight of our officials use of our money.Its the only way to make a program like welfare work. Otherwise, it will end up like it is now in Maine, which is out of control.We give welfare for convicted drug felons. Oh those poor drug felons with a rap sheet as long as your arm.Addressing a serious problem like welfare is not mean spirited, it is something that has to be done, and a competent state rep would address it. A useless state rep would just ignore it and hope it goes away.We have many useless state reps in office. Calling somebody mean spirited for addressing a serious problem is how the liberals try to steer attention away from the problem at hand. If what “working poor” says is true, I doubt he or she would have a problem with somebody coming out to their home and checking up on them to make sure they are not milking the system. But many on welfare with the cell phones,sat. dishes on the roof,new snowmobiles,4 wheelers, a fridge full of bud lite and a weeks supply of smokes, while sitting out on the porch watching the traffic all day while the rest of us work would squeel like a stuck pig. Its these on welfare that ruin the system.
These people will destroy welfare for the people that reaily need it. The taxpayers of this state simply cannot afford the system we have and anyone in office trying to fix it whether they are a repub or a dem is showing courage in doing the job they were sent to Augusta to do, which is to fix problems. Anyone who questions why a out of control welfare system should be overhauled or thinks its “mean”, to do so is out of touch or, part of the very system that needs the overhaul, or, they just hate the person trying to fix the problem because of their political affiliation.Keep up the good work Lance.
I so agree with everything you have just said Mr. Harvell, let me give you another example of how generous we are. A couple moves from fla. in may with there two children. They have no money so they are directed to human services, with in an hour they have been approved for foodstamps, and TANF, a week later he recieves a job working under the table and she recieves a job from a relative. Neither bothered to report there income, so they are still collecting enough for there rent, diapers, and any other needs, and lets not forget there foodstamps(EBT) aid is also covering $600.00 of that. For two weekends in a row they have taken there paychecks and gone away for the weekend to festivals, without the kids they are home with the babysitter in which she is paid cash. So that is quite a gift we give, we pay for the absolutes to live, and they pay for there fun. Its wonderfull knowing for years I have worked had to pay my mortgage, pay for my childrens healthcare, groceries, any other “family” needs. Do you think I could apply for assistance for a weekend away. Welfare reform is well needed and I will support the one person who can accomplish this.
“For me , I want some serious oversight of our officials use of our money” thought you didn’t like big government Steve.
Though I am the king in a kingdom of idiots my kingdom is vast and my subjects are many. Lance will you be wearing that Tee shrit that say’s ..I’m with stupid
Greg , I dont like big government. If you are inffering that having oversight over a state program means more government, guess again. There many different ways of checking the fraud in government. Take workmans comp for example. Who do you think companies hire to investigate a comp. cheat? You know, the guy who hurt his back at work and cant walk, but is caught putting a new roof on his house by himself and cutting wood out back with a chainsaw. It may be hard to swallow, but I am sure there are many services run by the state that can best be served by private companies, and at a lower cost. Look at welfare in this state. Is the state doing a good job making sure scenarios like what “agreed” wrote about above dont happen? Ummm no. There is nothing “judgmental and self righteous” about my comments here, in my opinion. If my comments were so terrible I doubt the DB would post them. Some wonder why anyone would not like to overhaul welfare and other state spending. I wonder less lately. As a person who lives in a town that is awash with state workers, I see a lot, and hear a lot. Most people I know who don’t want to reduce the size of state government either work for the state, get business from the state, or, live off the state. I know many,people in all three catagories, and I feel comfortable saying that there is plenty of improvements that can be made at a huge savings to the taxpayer. I believe this fall, we will have a new governor named LePage. He, along with guys like Lance and a whole batch of new state reps and senators will come up with some sound ideas to bring this state out of the quagmire we are in. A quagmire invented by the party that has been in power here in Maine for 30 years or more. You know, all those “experienced” politicians. Anytime I hear a politician running for re-election using that word I want to hurl. With any luck, many of those responsible for this mess will have a “out of office experience”. One can only hope.
Time for that old pub refrain, kiddies. All together now,
“It’s the same th’ whole world over,
it’s th’ poor wot gets the blame,
it’s the rich wot gets the gravy,
an’ it’s all a bloody shame.”
$350,000 of your tax dollars are being spent on aiding a few (about10) pilots with their hobby.
The airport apron project in Carrabassett Valley is 97.5 percent funded by you all and 2.5 percent by the town. It is extra parking for non existent planes. But hey, it’s free money!
Steve
“There is nothing “judgmental and self righteous” about my comments.” That was not meant for you Steve. And as far as LaPage goes he is clearly failing the character test. They say politics is the art of compromise, if so he is not a very good artist. He is known to be a bully and that ain’t gonna cut it with a democratic congress. Talk about grid-lock. He doesn’t pay Maine property taxes? Yet he wants to decide how to spend mine? He has out and out lied about his name on the deed, etc. etc. … you know the rest.
We all want efficiency in government , what we need is smart people who can create a new model. One that is the polar opposite of what’s been happening in Washington. “The Party of No” is the worst model imaginable. Based entirely on politics, them against us, with no real discussion or compromise on the issues no matter what the negative result to our society.
Of course our economy is a mess. But Republicans and tea-baggers must realize it is not the Dems. or Obama who created this mess. Take responsibility for a that. The fact is under a republican administration the national budget went from some $400 billion surplus to a deficit of $1.3 trillion. The Dems. didn’t do that that the Republicans did. Own it so we can go forward and put the smartest, best problem solvers into our state government and not blindly vote party line.
As for the tea-baggers ( the party of me me me) I must say what seems to define your movement comes from a quote from one of your members “Keep the government’s hand off my social security” duh. And for anyone who voted for Bush and a useless war you have no reason to whine about the $1.3 trillion that war cost and the resultant deficit. You voted for it not me. And the Republican deregulation of Wall Street that nearly caused the collapse of our economy. And Bush’s ( not Obama”s, check the facts ) subsequent bailout ( trillions)
So start sucking it up, honestly accept how we got here and work together, not just for our own immediate wants but for the long-range needs of the people of Maine. If that means more over-site I’m all for it. That’s a liberal agreeing with you Steve.
Greg , you live in fantasy land. I would like to join you there, but I have a family to raise and have to stay in the real world for now. LePage has more character in his ring finger than any other 50 people in the state house combined. He is human, he has flaws, wow, big deal. A tax cheat, hell that should be a plus given the people we have in government now. Can anyone say Rangel, Daschle,Geithner..should I go on? So you dont think Lepage will “cut it” huh Greg? News flash for the hopelessly liberal: Lepage has a track record of doing nothing but “cutting it” . If you dont think he is smart enough to handle the empty suits in the state house, you are more out to lunch than even I think you are. It’s funny you should call the tea party people “teabaggers”. Isnt this a derogatory label? I mean, I could use a “bag” word to describe liberals, but I doubt the dog would post my comments. While I am no fan of Bush, and never was ,compared to the socialist we have now I would take him back any day. It’s funny to see BDS, Bush derangment syndrome, is still with us, pathetic, but still funny.You are right about one thing, I am part of the party of “no”. No more taxes, no more buying car companies, no more buying banks, or insurance companies. No more cash for clunkers, no more stimulus, no more borrowing money we cant pay back. NO MORE!!! You’re just another liberal Greg, who knows your liberal friends have had a good run of things, but your party is out of gas, out of time, and out of luck. You are about to have a very bad November, but hey, keep fighting for the liberal cause, who knows? I mean, even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in awhile ,right? Have a great day!
Steve
“LePage has more character in his ring finger than any other 50 people in the state house combined. He is human, he has flaws, wow, big deal. ”
I totally understand his appeal to conservatives. He’s a no nonsense guy who wants to cut state spending. I’m all for that. But if he can’t control his temper and answer tough questions without flipping out then he will end up as an embarrassment to the state. And his honesty is in question.
“A tax cheat, hell that should be a plus given the people we have in government now. Can anyone say Rangel, Daschle,Geithner..should I go on?”
If he is guilty does that excuse him?
“So you dont think Lepage will “cut it” huh Greg? News flash for the hopelessly liberal: Lepage has a track record of doing nothing but “cutting it” . If you dont think he is smart enough to handle the empty suits in the state house, you are more out to lunch than even I think you are.”
What I meant was , with his reputation as a bully and his bad temper he may look like he’ll be kicking butt in Augusta, but I think the role of governor requires more diplomacy then he is capable of. He will need to work WITH people in a considered and thoughtful manner in order to fulfill his campaign promises.
“It’s funny you should call the tea party people “teabaggers”. Isn’t this a derogatory label? I mean, I could use a “bag” word to describe liberals, but I doubt the dog would post my comments.”
If the word “teabagger” offends you I won’t use it on this page. What is politically correct in this case?
“While I am no fan of Bush, and never was ,compared to the socialist we have now I would take him back any day. It’s funny to see BDS, Bush derangment syndrome, is still with us, pathetic, but still funny.”
In the attempt to understand why we are in such a mess I thought a look at the facts might be enlightening. As I stated before “The fact is under a republican administration the national budget went from some $400 billion surplus to a deficit of $1.3 trillion in eight years.” This is not about blame so much as it as about understanding, wisdom so we don’t repeat history. But you guys want to blame Obama. Are you not capable of connecting the dots? Honestly? Bill Clinton, a liberal created the surplus from another huge deficit that Bush 1 let for him. He may have been a flawed person but he did a decent job as president. A lberal!
You may label me as suffering from “BDS” but I’ve yet to hear a republican take one ioda of responsibility for Bush’s role in creating such a huge deficit.
One last thing. Please define “hopelessly liberal”. If you fall back on “tax and spend” that doesn’t apply to me. I don’t want higher taxes anymore than you do.( Why should I pay for tax icentives to Haliburton?) Nor does wanting to give money away to lazy people. To me it means seeing the big picture and understanding that some of us are less evolved (socially, economically, spiritually, whatever ) than others ( I don’t mean you ). We can leave them in the dirt so to speak or we can help them. If that requires a new model in our state government lets make one that works. But lets’ not pull the plug on granny.
Greg , you have to get over this Bush thing, it’s not healthy. Ol’ “blue dress bill” Clinton was about as dishonest as anyone who ever sat in the white house and you left out one small detail about slick willy. He inherited the ending of THE COLD WAR. Pretty big pile of cash to fall in a presidents lap.That being said, I am over Bill Clinton. Back to LePage, I am glad he has a temper. He speaks plainly and doesnt suffer fools. Good. How many times have I heard somebody say this about a politician: “I wish he or she would just speak plainly so I can understand him or her” . LePage is more capable than you know, and you will see this in the next few weeks. He is exactly the person we need right now. The last thing we need is a guy like Cutler or heaven forbid, the woman from Vassalboro. The arrogance of this left wing ,moonbat , running for governor,saying she will fix the states problems, while all the time ,she has been a PART of building this nanny state, makes my blood boil. Don’t worry about granny Greg, this state has enough money to take care of granny and anyone else who truely needs help. It’s the people who can work and are too lazy to because they can collect from the state that better be worried. The average Maine taxpayer is sick and tired of these people stuck on the side of the state like a lamprey eel on a brown trout, sucking the life out of it, while the eel grows and grows and the fish gets weaker.We are sick of it. Like I wrote earlier, the sound of all those incumbent liberals getting flushed out of the statehouse will be music to my ears. I figure 30 or more of them getting the boot at the polls this fall will make quite a racket. Cant wait! Oh, one more little thing Greg,…..We ,as a state are a billion dollars in the hole, and we dont have the money. Who”s fault do you recon it is? Bush’s ? Yeah, sure.The dems where at the helm thu all this. Its theirs to own I figure. I mean, if there was a billion dollar surplus, who would be taking the credit? Na zdorovie.
Steve, I totally understand your anger. But , a hypothetical question. If someone stabbed you in the back then someone else pulled the knife out hoping to save your life, but you bled to death anyway, who do you blame? Why in God’s name can’t you understand cause and effect? Bush’s screw ups have cost Mainers millions and millions of dollars in federal aid. That is one big reason for the shortfall. And hating dems and liberals won’t change the facts. Trying to get you to recognize facts seems to be impossible. So you want the same incompetent leadership to continue. The blind leading the blind. Well good luck Steve. I hope all your dreams come true.
Who said anything about hate Greg? Your words.Don’t infer. I dont hate dems or liberals.I couldnt care less what liberals do, I just dont want them running my state. I was hopeing you would bring up the “federal aid” Greg. What, you gonna convince anyone these millions of dollars are free?Very funny. We get so much state aid we cant build a outhouse on the side of the interstate without the blessing of the fed.The fed has held us hostage long enough.We are 13 TRILLION dollars in debt, and climbing faster than it ever has, hows that for a fact? Time to take back our state , and our country. I doubt all my dreams will come true, like I said, I have to live in the real world, however, maybe one dream may come true this fall, A conservative majority in charge for once, I dont care if they have a D,or an R or an I after their name. Just as long as they have a brain, they can think, and they have not had their spine removed at birth. Not having any ties to the state, like a state job or business that relies on the state etc, would be a nice bonus. Personally, and its just my opinion, but a guy with a full time state job, running for office where he will be voting on where the state spends its money seems kinda shaky to me. But, hey ,we have a tax cheat as the federal treasury secretary, so maybe this is ok. It takes one to know one I guess.
Greg, you hang on to Bush’s record of spending deficits like your life depends on it and you haven’t said one peep of the current administrations spending record thus far. Isn’t it a fact that the Obama admin has outspent Bush’s 8 years in less than 2? There are charts and figures out there, just google it, but first acknowledge and admit it. You sound like Obama during his “Change we can believe in” campaign, blaming Bush. It’s funny that one of Obama’s strategies in his campaign was the record spending of the Bush admin and yet, less than 2 years later, he’s outspent him. Bush spent money yes. Obama spent and is spending money and is outspending Bush at a pace that is unfathomable. At Obama’s current spending estimates (not the rediculous amounts spent in 2009) he will outspend Bush by an almost 3:1 margin.
The gross debt as compared to GDP on average since 2000 (57.02%) through 2008(69.15%) is 61.61% over that time span.
The percentages in 2009 = 83.29% and in 2010 (thus far) = 94.27%.
Steve, I agree the federal deficit is rising faster a higher the any time in history. I agree that we must reign in spending. I am pretty close to being a fiscal conservative. What I worry about is the other aspects of conservative politics such as the anti environmental, anti civil rights, anti education, anti social security positions that are being espoused by both republicans and the tea party. Think what LaPage’s drill baby drill could do to the pristine coast of Maine. Where do we put the nuclear waste? I lived nearly insight of Maine Yankee when it was operating and my electric bills were enormous. And it wasn’t the “envirowackos” that shut it down. It was shoddy constuction and poor judgement. A boondogle if ever there was one.
And once again, LaPage seems to be having issues with telling the truth.
Greg the conservative politics you’re talking about is not completely anti, it’s getting rid of the pork and waste within those programs.
Education for example…..why is Maine paying $11k per student where in Wisconsin and Utah, they’re paying $7k per student and our SAT scores are second lowest in the entire country? Our teacher to student ratio is 11 to 1 when 50 years ago it was 20 to 1. Why are principles and supers making 6 figures, which by the way is more money than those same positions in New York City for crying out loud?! Why are football coaches, who don’t double as teachers by the way make $50k+ per year for a seasonal position and teachers are complaining about low pay?
Why can someone from another state come into Maine in the morning and by 4 pm the same day be receiving welfare benefits?
I could go on with other issues you raise as well, but you should get the point with the education and welfare example above.
Anti is the wrong word. Reigning in maybe is a better choice.
As for the truth comment, I think we’ve all made mistakes in the truth telling category, however, without knowing more details, this tax issue was 10 years ago and the LePage camp claims it was a clerical error and it was corrected, paid, and resolved. If you want to call him a liar because he mispoke, then fine. Is that his worse issue in your eyes? Or is that the best you can come up with for dirt? Spread your untruth’s around if you are going to point fingers starting with our current administration…….transparency, back room deals, no taxes for middle to lower class, etc., etc., etc.
If LePage’s worse is this so called lie and some ideas on energy issues, than that’s not so bad in my opinion. He has so much more good to offer this state. The city of Waterville obviously disagrees with you since they elected him 3 times and counting.
Greg, you better quit while your behind. LePage”s life story is just too good. People love it, even with his flaws. You can pound away at him until the cows come home. He will just get stronger as the attacks get nastier. He is likable. When you meet him and shake his hand and talk to him he comes across as genuine, honest, straightforward. He is the genuine article. You picked the wrong guy to pick apart. Good luck, you’re going to need it.
There is a lot of welfare fraud out there. We all talk about it and recognize it but how come nothing is being done. It sickens me. I work hard for what I have. My husband and I could have easily played the welfare game. EBT, MaineCare, Child Care, TANF..you name it, but I have something many do not. MORALS and PRIDE. No one takes care of me and my family but me. I have gone without to provide for my family while the people down the street collect and have new cars, four wheelers, live-in boyfriends, cell phones and fancy computers. They stand in line for Operation Santa Claus and scream poverty. It’s too bad because there are people out there who do need it.
The state ought to take some of those DOT workers that seem to be always leaning on a shovel while one or two work and have them investigate welfare fraud.
No more cash ever. EBT should be like WIC.. vouchers for basic needs. We live in the modern world. Let the technology work for us. Review what these recipients are spending our hard earned money on and make them accountable.
If they really need it, there should be no objection to home visits. They should be made to volunteer in their communities. Hand up not a hand out.
People should not be able to move in and just start collecting. Their should be some stricter guidelines on this.
We need to take a stand. I am really starting to feel bitter about this but I will be damned that I will stoop to the level of some of these people. They know who they are–The ones taking my paycheck so they can play.
Hey hozed ” LePage”s life story is just too good.” maybe it’s too good because he’s lied about that to. And I have met him. He’s fine when he’s glad handing. George Bush was likable to but his policies and bogus war created a $1.3 billion deficit. That you all blame on Obama.
Ask Marden’s employees if they are better off now than last year. How many have insurance coverage?
Ask the tough questions. Our are you like LaPage and can’t you take the heat?
The only heat anyone is feeling Greg, is the heat coming from all the liberal’s sweating like pigs, worrying about the upcoming election. One can feel the panic. Gonna be a great year for the taxpayer that can think and reason, and count. I was thinking you might be a kool-aid sipper Greg, But I believe you must have drunk it by the tanker car load. Good thing you got a lot while you could, cause the kool-aid has lost it’s magic, in case you havent noticed. Your president, the socialist ,community organizer is radioactive, and even the liberals are running from him like he carried the plague. Pretty funny to see if you ask me. I only wish Bush ran up a $1.3 billion dollar deficit. Liberals, they always have trouble with numbers…………………..
As far as Bush’s deficit I’d suggest you check the facts but Fox News rarely provides them.
Talk about a cult of personality, you guys talk about LaPage as if he walks on water. If he gets elected he damn well better close that billion dollar budget gap within a year and a half which is the amoun tof time you NF have iven Obama to fix Bush’s $i.3 billion deficit. But since he’s a liar and a tax cheat that shouldn’t be hard. He can just pretend like his wife did when she decided she was a resident of two states at the same time. More facts, but don’t let those get in the way of you self deception.
I wont argue with you about cults or water walking Greg, your a liberal, so you have much more knowledge about these matters than I. I think it’s wicked cool that the more libs bash LePage on taxes, or anything else ,he gets more votes. Hilarious. LePage will be your next governor Greg, along with a whole new bunch of conservative ,freshman state reps and senators to boot……….aint that a kick in the lip? Since you brought up lying and cheating,..you may want to send the communist, Pingree, a little cash for her campaign. After what I read in the Portland paper today, I think she may have a problem, and might need a little help. Aint life cool?!
I bought her the jet.
Not much of a story Steve. I like the one in the Sentinal alot better. Now that’s cool!
Hey all,
If one takes a moment to return to the original article, a reasonable response would be in the form of a question to Mr.Harvell: what are YOU doing about the problem of ‘Bizarro Welfare’? It’s easy for any one of us who come in contact with these situations to wring our hands and write about them – but the difference with Mr.Harvell is he has been elected to CHANGE/IMPROVE the situation, not offer bemused and befuddled observations.
We’re soooooo looking forward to many more legislative newbies (of any party) to roam around and comment on the problems of the day.
Where’s the beef?