Martha Broderick, Senior Lecturer of Business and Commercial Law
Due to the price of heating oil and vehicle fuel, people are spending
much less money on and for businesses in Maine. Small and large
businesses are shutting down as the cost of operation exceeds revenues.
Therefore, this election will be pivotal in addressing the fuel price
issue. The elected candidate for president will be handed a sinking
economy and rising inflation. As the cost of waging a protracted foreign
war hits home, the federal heating assistance that Maine's poor have
come to rely on may disappear in the federal sea of red ink. The
multiple effects of this federal deficit crisis and our trade deficit
may rapidly accelerate the loss of population and businesses for Maine.
If we are to develop Maine's economy and hold our population, the
federal government, led by our next president, must get it's house in
order and reduce spending. If all federal social and financial support
for Mainers is reduced any further, we can expect to see more mill
closures, more home foreclosures and more school closures. The positions
of the two parties are polarized on the issues of how to reduce the
federal spending. Let us lead the nation indirectly demanding that our
Maine tax dollars be used to support our citizens and their states.
Businesses in Maine cannot absorb any further tax increases to pay for
needed government programs. The tax and spend attitude of the federal
government needs to take a look at the hard choices states like Maine
are made to take because we constitutionally require a balance budget.
Our next federal leader would do well to remember that what helps our
economy at home strengthens our dealings abroad.
Further aid to others should be weighed in the scale with the needs of
states like Maine who are tapped out and suffering now.
