Maine Needs Focus on Economic Realities

Betsy Wells, East Boothbay

I was motivated to write this response to Senator Ethan Strimling's and Representative John Tuttle's article by the sentence that begins their last paragraph. "Income inequality not only threatens the economy but our democracy." I visited my grandson's American History class recently. They were studying the political antecedents to the Jefferson presidency. I was struck by how familiar the themes were: economic opportunity, participation in the democratic process and improving the lives of future generations.

In Maine the economic reality is dominated by producing a work force to fill the jobs for the future. The fact that the number of families with children who are living in poverty has grown to sixty percent is a serious impediment for the economic needs of the state. Most of the lowest paid workers are women whose income is targeted to their children's needs. The heart of the economic boom that Maine needs starts with a prepared work force.

Helping families gain a small nest egg is mandatory to support their children's ability to continue their education. Helping families gain this small nest egg should be recognized as a preservation of our tradition of seeking life style improvement for the next generation.

Betsy Wells
East Boothbay