“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” -Edward Abbey

Lane/Tommy: The article by Michael Hartwell, “Moving Water” in the Jan. 5 Lake Region Suburban Weekly, begs us to ask a few questions. The subject is the extension of a sewer pipe from South Windham, through Gorham and into Westbrook. We have several unanswered questions and comments that our council either hasn’t answered or discussed.

Tommy: Since the Windham Town Council has committed the taxpayers of Windham to pay over $2 million for the extension of the sewer pipe, exactly who is going to be taxed for this commitment? Will it be the users of the sewer system or will the cost be passed on to all of us on a septic system? Will this pipe be a sensible solution for growth in South Windham or will it be another white elephant for taxpayers?

Lane: All we hear is that the users of the system will pay for the extension of the pipe. Mike Hartwell’s article brings out an excellent point about the declining sales of homes in Maine. Who will pay for the extension of the pipe if the amount of users remains low? What if the condos aren’t built? According to the developer, this project is planned to be stretched out over several years. The proposed amount of condos to be built it 85. Is there more growth planned for South Windham to lessen the cost of waste removal for present users?

Tommy: Now it has come to light that there are other costs which Windham will be responsible for. I can’t remember any discussion by the town manager or council about maintenance costs of things like pumping stations. One example is that Windham will pay 57 percent of the maintenance of the pumping station at the corner of Canal and Mallison streets. What other untold expenses or fees will come to light as the entire project of extending the pipe unfolds?

Lane: We still have not received an answer as to why the Maine Correctional Center, with its hundreds of inmates, appears to have such a small financial liability when compared to Windham. What gives? Will the correctional facility help pay for maintenance of the pumping stations?

Lane/Tommy: Now we will go from gray water to gray matter. We have received the list of nearly 2,400 pieces of proposed legislature for action by Maine’s 123rd Legislature. Here are just a few examples and we will discuss more in the future. They run the gauntlet from tax relief to higher taxes and curtailing our freedoms. And some are so worthless that we wonder if they are just an excuse for special sessions to get more pay.

1. An act to elect the President of the United States by popular vote. Does Maine law overturn federal law?

2. Resolution: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Maine to limit the frequency with which the same issue may appear on the ballot of a direct initiative. Wow! That sure sounds like the communist way of governing the citizens of Maine.

3. An act to permit a local option sales tax. Didn’t someone say something about tax relief, not increase?

4. An act to abolish county government within five years. Have all you county sheriffs seen this one?

5. An act to call a moratorium on oil drilling in Maine waters. Surely cheap gas wouldn’t be good for us.

6. An act to allow legislators to carry concealed weapons on State House property. Can you imagine a shoot out at midnight under the Rotunda in the State House? Last party standing wins!

7. An act to allow a local option sales tax on lodging and meals. Yeah, that’s right. Laws like this will take more money from tourists. Guess we will have to stay, eat and shop in New Hampshire.

8. An act to transfer all Registry of Deeds and Probate functions to the Secretary of State and courts. After seeing our lack of accountability with literally hundreds of millions of missing dollars in the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, along with the inexcusable blunder over computers in the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, should we trust another state agency to have total control over deeds?

Lane and Tommy, both of Windham, are looking for guests on their radio show also titled, “On the Right Track.” If you would like to be a guest, please call 892-1589. They normally record on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at the WJZF studio in Standish but other arrangements can be made. Check out www.wjzf.org for show times.