Wake up, Maine

I have recently moved “home” after 23 years “away” due to my husband’s military career. I am so disappointed. We lived the last 16 years in Florida – no state tax, plenty of moderate to high-paying jobs, low electric costs and affordable housing. For 23 years I have dreamed about coming home and now that we are here I am stressed and frustrated.

What has happened to Maine? This is the highest-taxed state in the union, one of the highest in electricity, fuel, housing and one of the lowest-paying for salaries. We both are hard-working people with good job ethics. However, what do we do now, start over at this time in our lives scrimping and saving just to make ends meet? I have always thought I would have a great life after we came home. Instead, I have to work a job that is shift work and only have one weekend day off and one other day off during the week when the company sees fit.

It is almost as though the people here are willing to be held captive. The government knows they can impose tax after tax and the general populace won’t say or do anything because they love the state so much they will endure whatever is put upon them rather than move away.

New businesses don’t want to come here because of the high taxes and high cost of medical coverage. Maine’s young people are moving away because they can’t get a job or get a job that pays a decent salary. Haven’t we learned yet, from other countries, that taxing people at such exorbitant rates doesn’t work? Wake up, Maine, before it is too late.

Janice L. Watson

Glenburn