"Let's foster an environment where citizens, business owners, specialists, and the bureaucrats can come to the same table to not only develop but demand solutions that work."
- Justin
Moving Saco Forward...
Rethink Priorities
The priorities in Augusta need to stem directly from what the people want their elected officials to fight for. In order for that to take place, we must have an ongoing dialogue with community members. I propose daily updates via Facebook/Twitter, weekly video chats on this website, and periodic town hall style conversations across the district.
Reform Policy
Based on the new set priorities from the constituents, policies need to be reformed in order to carry out the people’s work.
These policies could look like LD 1211, “An Act to Require That a Student Satisfactorily Complete a Course in Civics and Government to Receive a High School Diploma.” This ensures young people are armed with the tools they need to actively participate in this Democracy, so that it protects them from being manipulated by demagogues. This is something that will have a definitive impact on society.
Policies like L.D. 71, officially known as "An Act to Designate the Whoopie Pie as the State Dessert", might get the now ‘official treat’ in the news, but in the long run will be a bigger detriment as the legislature wasted time when they could have been tackling something more substantial like job creation.
These policies could look like LD 1211, “An Act to Require That a Student Satisfactorily Complete a Course in Civics and Government to Receive a High School Diploma.” This ensures young people are armed with the tools they need to actively participate in this Democracy, so that it protects them from being manipulated by demagogues. This is something that will have a definitive impact on society.
Policies like L.D. 71, officially known as "An Act to Designate the Whoopie Pie as the State Dessert", might get the now ‘official treat’ in the news, but in the long run will be a bigger detriment as the legislature wasted time when they could have been tackling something more substantial like job creation.
Renew Commitment
If we rethink the priorities with what the people actually want, and reform the policies to reflect that, we can then renew the commitment of a representative democracy. The time has come to elect an individual who isn’t afraid to ruffle a few feathers to get the job done; who will stand up for the interests of their constituents over trying to score political points for the next election; and will tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear in a 30-second sound bite.
The good ol’ boy political game needs to be unraveled and replaced by a system that actually works for those who work the hardest in the state: You.