Why I’m Running For Senate
Maine citizens have one of the highest tax burdens in the USA.
My goal as a State Senator is to lighten Maine’s tax
burden.
Each bill that I vote on will be evaluated as follows:
1. If
the bill has a tendency to lower the tax burden I will
tend to vote for it.
2. If
the bill has a tendency to raise the tax burden, I will
tend to vote against it.
Maine has a
wonderful history of forestry. For years my father took part
in that history ‘tending horses’ for a wood harvesting
operation. These operations would be set up in the forest
from place to place. Camps would be hauled in and hovels be
built for the horses. The harvesting would commence. Some of
these operations would have thirty or more horses used to
skid out the trees. One man would be hired to care for the
horses. My father was thus employed. He would rise early
around 4 am to feed them and feed again later in the day
(5pm) after their day of woods work. Lots of naps during the
day, after hovels were cleaned, horse shoes were ‘tacked
on’, sick horses were doctored, harness was mended and other
equipment repaired. Dad understood horses and shared some of
his insight with his son.
As if he were
here today, I can hear my father say, “Speak to him, he
kicks”. If you didn’t speak to this horse as you approached
him, that left hind leg would shoot out with one kick. That
was it. Always the same. One kick with the left leg. But if
you happened to be in the right place, or should I say the
wrong place, that was more than enough.
Dad was in
charge of all the horses in the operation. They would be
hauled in and out as he directed. Some horses would be sent
‘down the road’ quickly. So I asked why he kept that horse
that kicked. Dad proceeded to explain the virtues of the
horse. Strong, young, willing, travel by himself, etc. “So
he kicks, I can live with that. I know where he stands , on
three legs. Better to have a horse that you know where he
stands than a jackass that’s apt to pull any dido.
One day dad
approached the horse without speaking, as he stood to one
side the horse kicked. I asked, “Dad why didn’t you speak?”
He quickly replied, “I was just checking his shoe”!
