PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: President Abraham Lincoln once reflected on George Washington’s words: “It is of infinite moment that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the palladium of your political safety and prosperity.”

Lincoln also took another piece of Washington’s advice to heart and advised vigilance against “the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.”

Over the last couple of weeks, I have seen editorials written by both parties in the Legislature, to include majority and minority leaders. They talk about each other, how the “other side” has impeded progress, and go on to lay out a partisan plan that will launch Maine into a better future.

I have also seen the same types of articles written by Maine’s executive branch.

All of them — every single one from all sides — make me shake my head and wonder, “Where have Maine’s true leaders gone?”

You see, true leaders know that unity, not division, is what makes a people great. George Washington knew that if a group of rag-tag states could unify under one banner — one cause, if you will — that something great could happen. That experiment still lives on today in a democracy called the United States of America, and it is the greatest country in the world today.

Years later, those same states started to individualize their agendas. A “Southern” or “Northern” state of mind became pervasive and eclipsed the “immense value of our national union” that Washington spoke about. As a consequence, the most brutal war that has ever been fought occurred not between historical enemies, but neighbors. The price? More than 620,000 Americans paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the sacred ties that linked our nation together did not become undone.

If you believe what some of our politicians are writing about, certain Mainers are all about stopping other Mainers from achieving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness just because they don’t agree with a certain agenda. Hogwash.

The reason why people aren’t agreeing with an agenda to move Maine forward is simple: the agenda being proposed does not even try to include all Mainers, just the ones that think alike. I think there is a word for that; it’s called “partisanship,” and those that practice it never achieve a broad-based, satisfactory result.

I’ve been married for more than 18 years and I don’t agree with everything my wife says. Yet we get everything done that needs to be done — we pay our bills, find work, take care of the house, give back to society, help out neighbors and family, and find time to just enjoy each other. It doesn’t mean we don’t have tough conversations, and it doesn’t mean that we end up agreeing on every subject. We don’t alienate each other from different groups to try and shore up a “majority house vote.”

It does mean we get things done without the drama of pointing fingers at each other. It means finding unity for our household at all costs.

Every association in Maine that I know, including the SMMC’s own lobbyist, has expressed dismay at the overall lack of professionalism and partisanship of this past Legislature. Whether you agree or disagree with that statement, the fact remains that this near unanimous assessment means something isn’t right.

So I say to our well-intended friends in the Legislature and executive branch: stop writing all these fancy editorials and pointing fingers at your colleagues (by the way, did you know when you point your finger at somebody, you have three fingers pointing right back at you?). Instead, sit down with them, get to know them, and get a firm grip on the fact that Mainers come in all shapes, sizes, nationalities, genders, ethnic groups and political parties. Stop trying to be everything to everyone. You need to be a better, unified team.

We deserve a better Maine than you are giving us.

UPCOMING EVENTS: “The Nuts and Bolts of Facebook & Twitter for Business” is the Small Business Success Seminar on Thursday, Aug. 15, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Priority Group Business Center, 2 Main St., Topsham. Jennifer Barbour is the presenter.

“Hidden Opportunities in the Affordable Care Act for Small Business” is the Small Business Success Seminar on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Topsham Public Library. Walt Reynolds, of Ship Shape Financial, and Justin Holmes, of Inform LLC, are the presenters.

Sweetser, Ship Shape Financial and Applebee’s host the Aug. 28 Chamber After Hours at Sweetser’s at the 329 Bath Road in Brunswick location. This regional networking event, open-house style from 5 to 7 p.m., attracts a large crowd of business people who want to network, make new connections and reacquaint with previous contacts.

Please go to the chamber’s website (www.midcoastmaine.com), scrolling the calendar to register for all of these events. For some the seating is limited. Don’t miss out.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: Welcome to Sky-Hy Adult Day Center and Sky-Hy Retreat & Conference Center located in Topsham and Favreau Electric based in Brunswick. Discover more about chamber members at www.midcoastmaine.com or download MyChamberApp for use on your mobile phone or tablet.

The chamber proudly serves 760 businesses and organizations in the following communities: Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoin, Bowdoinham, Brunswick, Dresden, Edgecomb, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, Richmond, Topsham, West Bath, Westport Island, Wiscasset and Woolwich.

Copy the Story Link