My name is Vernard Gray. I was born in Searsport 63 years ago. My wife of 45 years, also a native, is the former Francis Curtis. We built our home on the Black Road in 1951. We had a dream of this being our home for the rest of our lives.

Now that we are in our “golden years,” and we should be able to “smell the roses,” our dreams and most of yours are being threatened by powers beyond our control. Big government, taxes and greed are doing us in. State and local government are also hurting us with no regard to our welfare. I am not sure that this situation cannot be at least slowed down at the local level. It will take the efforts of all of us in the silent majority. We can, and must, try so some among us don’t have to chose now or in the future among medicine, food or fuel.

After visiting and talking with about 60 percent of our citizens in town, I think I have a good picture of the problem and what can and must be done about it. This seems to be how the system works. Individuals in so-called “clicks” or groups of citizens on various committees, pick a wish from their “must have” list. They in turn, present it to our tax-and-spend admiral who in turn, sugar-coats it and presents it to his rubber-stamp wise men. These gentlemen present it to the so-called budget committee. These ladies and gentlemen hem and haw, some vote no, while others abstain from lack of courage. The majority, however, vote a resounding yes. The results are then printed in the town warrant and voted on at the town meeting. The meeting is controlled by the town lawyer (also a citizen). Discussion is kept to a minimum. “Out of order” is repeated frequently. The loudspeaker or microphone never works so everybody can hear and speak. The citizen is humiliated before he sits down after trying to speak. Over $2 million is spent in a matter of a few hours. Most of us can’t realize what a sum this is, including me.

I have been told that most people in town feel the town meeting is all decided, being cut and dried before hand and that attending is just a waste of time. This I can’t dispute, but let us, the silent majority, change it this year. There never was a budget that didn’t contain fat.

There are three things that I implore you to do this year before it’s too late. Vote. Attend town meeting. Read the book, “Bankruptcy 1995.” Together let us trim some of this fat before it reaches our out-of-town tax collector (the sheriff of Nothingham) and he reaches into his bag of tricks, says “Hokus, pokus,” and comes up with either your wallet or the deed to your home and blames it on the silent majority or state mandates.

See you at the show! Stay tuned. Vernard G. Gray, member United We Stand America State of Maine Chapter Waldo County, Searsport