I have found that we tend to get back what we put out, in terms of how we treat others. In my career of nearly 40 years I have run many businesses. I have also worked for many people that ran businesses and one of the many important lessons I have learned is that everything stems from the top. Everything rolls down hill. The top executive or chief executive sets the tone for everyone else. People tend to follow the leader. I have seen owners yell at their employees and generally treated them badly. The results are always the same. Employees treat each other badly and take every opportunity to hurt the business owner. On the other hand, if the boss is working hard, working smart, acts respectfully, speaks calmly, subordinates are more likely to do the same. It is often called leading by example.

I think it is the same for raising children. I have noticed in many other families as well as my experience with my own child, that the children of well-behaved, respectful parents tend to be well-behaved and respectful. Just talk to any teacher. As a former educator, having worked with thousands of children and their families, the correlation was clear.

And in my opinion it is the same in politics and with politicians. They are supposed to be our leaders, not perfect, they’re human, but leaders showing discipline, restraint, maturity and respect. That’s why in 2010 when Gov. LePage was first elected and started behaving in a way that is profoundly inappropriate for any adult to behave, never mind for a chief executive, I publicly predicted that others would follow. He was setting the stage for what he thought was normal public behavior. Obviously, not everyone will follow. We are not just sheep. However, our leaders do lead. They set the tone. Crude language even to include sexual innuendo may be fine under certain circumstances but never in public and certainly never by public officials, especially the top executive for our state.

That is why it wasn’t at all surprising to me when former Biddeford Mayor Joanne Twomey, who I have had no experience with but have heard from many in the community can also be aggressive, acted similarly when Gov. LePage came to Saco last week to promote his budget. The chickens had come home to roost. The problem with that result is that most people were talking about the conflict instead of the real, serious policy differences that should concern us all because they will affect us all.

I agree with Gov. LePage on some of his ideas, his goals, particularly regarding fiscal conservatism and expecting people to work when they are able to. However, there is a huge difference between having good ideas and being a good leader. During the governor’s recent re-election campaign, he said he had learned a few things in his first term regarding working with others and being respectful. He even made a joke about it saying “even a Frenchman can learn new things.” And I was hopeful that if re-elected, he was being sincere, and would work more honestly to treat others respectfully and undo some of the bad feelings he created in his first term; that he had learned how to be a good leader. I am dismayed that he has already shown either his inability or unwillingness to fulfill that promise just a couple of months into his second term; and that symbolic punches will continue to be exchanged, damaging our Maine culture of courtesy and respect, damaging our political process, further eroding our cherished way of life; and I am concerned the chickens will return again and again.

Thank you for reading, for staying informed and engaged in our community by reading every day. Please drive safe, be kind, hug your children and have a wicked great week!

— Bruce M. Hardina is the Publisher of the Journal Tribune, a singer song-writer, a philosopher, a student of life and the human experience, a columnist, a loving neighbor, friend, father, son and brother. Please feel free to comment on my musings with a Letter to the Editor by emailing jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or mail a note to Journal Tribune, Attn: Editor, 457 Alfred Street Biddeford. ME 04005.