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“You see, that’s the whole point of being in government. If you don’t like something you simply make up a law that makes it illegal.”

Richard Curtis, author

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Lately in Windham there has been some rumblings about the Windham Code Enforcement office and the enforcement of building and other codes that they enforce.

I am not going to dwell on any controversies that may or may not exist because I do not know, nor wish to know, any of the details. I would much rather state that the problem may exist because we are burdened by state and/or federal regulations that we as citizens of Windham have no control over.

I must add that part of the problem is public education of any changes of codes and enforcement is coupled with an attitude of many believing that what they are doing must be right because it was always done that way. Then there is interpretation of codes and laws, which complicate matters ever more.

I remember talking with Windham’s previous code enforcement officer and the problems of learning about Maine’s implementation of state building codes at the municipal level. I seem to recollect that it started with electrical and plumbing codes. Unfortunately my Internet Explorer is having problems so I can’t do any decent research into those state codes. I also seem to remember that at some point some federal codes come into play because we not only spoke about building codes but those about grounds as well. I know that in Augusta, Ga., they have something I call the grass and weed inspectors who measure the height of grass and weeds and if the property owner doesn’t mow the lawn or cut the weeds, the city will and sends a bill as well.

I have always feared that unelected government bureaucrats are given too much power that even the government can no longer control them. The problem under the present presidential administration is that regulations are increasing at an alarming rate. Now our federal government is deciding if the Federal Communications Commission can regulate the Internet in the United States in such a way that parts of it could be sold for Internet superhighways that could be bought and sold. That leaves the average working stiff left to deal with whatever is left over and possibly be priced out of decent Internet access at some point.

Government intrusion into our lives never ceases and forces increases in our cost of living and effectively lessens our freedoms. I was 65 years old when I had to prove that I was an American citizen in order to obtain a Maine driver’s license and yet the liberal side of government wants no identification requirements in order to vote. I highly suspect that the reason for such discrepancies in government laws like those has to do with reelection odds instead of national security. I am beginning to believe it is possible to acquire a fake driver’s license cheaper than a real one. If you own a newer vehicle equipped with a little black box that contains a GPS device, the National Security Agency will know every place you have driven even if you don’t remember.

Our federal government and even some states want to control what our children can eat when attending school. Such things as sodas and high-calorie treats like candy are being banned while children throw away the fruit and other food items that they dislike which cause some to complain that they are hungry. What makes the matter worse is that on a daily basis I see people using their EBT cards to purchase Red Bull and other so-called energy drinks as well as things like candy and potato chips. Of course then there was the mayor of New York who wanted to ban anything that he didn’t want children to have, such as anything more than 16-ounce sodas.

But what bothers me even more is when government at any level has a problem and then uses government regulations to hide whatever is going on from the general population. I believe that happens too often in Windham.

Lane Hiltunen, of Windham, believes it’s time to use a can opener on government.