To the Editor:
“Commonwealth” is a word we don’t hear much any more. But ideas of common wealth are a large part of what makes the United States great.
The idea that people can form a state that is to function for the “common wealth” is not socialism. It is particular to democracy.
In the United States, the idea of common wealth is the foundation for the taxes we pay. And these taxes in turn support free public education, free public libraries, free police protection, free fire protection, free Internet, innumerable roads, bridges, airports, public institutions and the military.
To take a position against taxes, or “the government,” is to be against all of these benefits of common wealth that we all currently share.
A recent example of common wealth at work is former Governor King’s program for laptops for all Maine seventh-graders. This program gave equal and free access to the technology that runs much of our lives, to every child in the state of Maine.
Common wealth.
I urge people to vote for candidates who work for the common wealth of us all.
It was never personal fortunes that made our country great. It was and is the institutions of common wealth.
Pam Smith
Brunswick
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