Should Northern Maine have a right to exist?? (Presque Isle, Poland: home, bankrupt)

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Meaning no offense to anyone, just being an innocent bystander cog-in-the-machinery ---- I think I might have used a different title for this thread , but I honestly don't see anything wrong with civil debate of any topic.

Actually I think that debate in general is long-lost art, gone the way of the horse and carriage. Debate is a wonderful mental exercise that stimulates the brain cells to think, ponder, come up with new ideas, better understand your own perspective and that of others, maybe even persuade you to change your mind about a subject or at least gain new respect for the opinions of others even if you don't agree.

Exploration of subjects and ideas is always interesting and valuable, if done in a civil environment.....IMHO....

I agree 100%. Real subjects that affect all of us in Maine are certainly more legitimate subjects for discussion on a forum concerning life in Maine than recipe swapping, dog grooming and landscaping projects. It always seems that any subject that is the least bit controversial or offensive to ANYONE gets locked. I'd much rather the complainers and those who do not like a subject stay out of the discussion than post complaints giving fuel for the administrator to see fit in locking the thread. If you don't like the thread go to another one. Though perhaps the title is provocative the narrative of the post is not. Perhaps a more accurate title would be Can Northern towns survive of their own accord?

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

I think I might have used a different title for this thread , but I honestly don't see anything wrong with civil debate of any topic.

thank you......I guess I am not intelligent enough to have thought of a better way to word it.

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Actually I think that debate in general is long-lost art, gone the way of the horse and carriage. Debate is a wonderful mental exercise that stimulates the brain cells to think, ponder, come up with new ideas, better understand your own perspective and that of others, maybe even persuade you to change your mind about a subject or at least gain new respect for the opinions of others even if you don't agree.

Thats all i was trying to do was to LEARN more about what is really going on in norther maine.

But

There will be non of that here in this forum. Only recipe and picture exchanges with the occasional standard "how am I going to heat my house this winter"

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Just remember who butters your bread the next time you want to say something about the Southern Maine snobs below The Volvo Line and how we're ruining the flavor of Maine.

Oh thank you for buttering my bread for the last 20 years so I didn't have to pay State and Local taxes while living in Aroostook County.

Can I get a rebate for the tens of thousand of dollars I spent so foolishly on these taxes seeing how I really didn't have to thanks to the kind benefactors downstate.

I never heard of the "Volvo line" before this forum either by the way.

[mainebrokerman]

since most of the taxes and regulations that choke all mainers are born from the central/southern part of the state, perhaps, a better question would be, where are most of the socialists/beauracrats in the state? why does aroostook county have to pay for the wasteful salaries of the government that increase taxes every year?? (they have very little say,,taxation without representation)

seriously, i do understand the original question,,,but its a very gray area,,,with many levels,,its like asking why should kid-less home-owners pay school taxes??
its a slippery slope...

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by flycessna

thank you......I guess I am not intelligent enough to have thought of a better way to word it.

Now, *I* didn't say that
I give you a tip o' the hat for its eye-catching nature --- maybe your local newspaper needs a headline writer?

Originally Posted by flycessna

Thats all i was trying to do was to LEARN more about what is really going on in norther maine.

A yearn to learn is always commendable!

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

Meaning no offense to anyone, just being an innocent bystander cog-in-the-machinery ---- I think I might have used a different title for this thread , but I honestly don't see anything wrong with civil debate of any topic.

Actually I think that debate in general is long-lost art, gone the way of the horse and carriage. Debate is a wonderful mental exercise that stimulates the brain cells to think, ponder, come up with new ideas, better understand your own perspective and that of others, maybe even persuade you to change your mind about a subject or at least gain new respect for the opinions of others even if you don't agree.

Exploration of subjects and ideas is always interesting and valuable, if done in a civil environment.....IMHO....

P.S. Do I really have to buy a Volvo if I stay in the southern half of Maine? I mean, I like the little windshield wiper thingies on the headlights, but I really love my big ol' FMC bomber...

No, a Subaru Forester with a Thule rack will do just fine!

The real question might be...

"Should Northern Maine Have the Right to Subsist?" (sp?)

The answer is...YES. But the only way to do that is to get the enviro wackjobs and their enabling cronies in Disgusta run out of the region.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

since most of the taxes and regulations that choke all mainers are born from the central/southern part of the state, perhaps, a better question would be, where are most of the socialists/beauracrats in the state? why does aroostook county have to pay for the wasteful salaries of the government that increase taxes every year?? (they have very little say,,taxation without representation)

seriously, i do understand the original question,,,but its a very gray area,,,with many levels,,its like asking why should kid-less home-owners pay school taxes??
its a slippery slope...

We certainly got a little off topic. You are right, If we went to a system of taxes 101 where every municpality had to fund its own education there would be nothing but rich and poor municipalities.

but my very question was related to a much deeper issue. Its one thing to help support a school that is providing education to students who's parents are employed in a viable industry related to a geographical area. If N maine had a nuclear power plant i that needed to have people living and working there they would have expectations to have the same opportunites as people living in souther maine.

But what happens when there is no viable industry for people to be employed in......people are choosing to live in an area "just because". So now not only do we suport the schools but we are also suporting the parents.

Is this happening..........I don't know. But I had a lengthy discussion with one of our legistlatures about this issue. Aparently its happening enough to be a problem for the state.

I do believe what IS happening is that there was a fine line where people where just getting by........with the increase in oil that effects EVERYTHING, the plight of aroostook and washington counties will become more visible.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Oh thank you for buttering my bread for the last 20 years so I didn't have to pay State and Local taxes while living in Aroostook County.

Can I get a rebate for the tens of thousand of dollars I spent so foolishly on these taxes seeing how I really didn't have to thanks to the kind benefactors downstate.

I never heard of the "Volvo line" before this forum either by the way.

The fact is that even though you all pay taxes you would have to pay 1/2 your entire income to actually pay for the services you receive from the State. The rest comes from the population centers in the Southern part of Maine...it's a simple fact. You can resent it all you want to but fact is fact.
There are more than a few people in Southern Maine who question the "spread the wealth " mentality of Southern Maine supporting Northern Maine. In a time where everyone is being pinched many wonder why Southern Maine should be tapped to raise the standard of living in the North to the level it enjoys now. The reality is without State funding from Southern Maine taxes Northern Maine would HAVE to figure out how to do with less. Perhaps if the tide was turned and Northern Maine was taxed to support the South you might feel differently about having a higher tax rate than necessary to help support an area you derive little benefit from.

[Maine Writer]

I hate the bleeping line. It doesn't do anything nice for anyone here. If you can't understand that southern Maine needs northern Maine as much as northern Maine needs southern Maine, you'll never really understand what Maine is.

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by Maineah

The fact is that even though you all pay taxes you would have to pay 1/2 your entire income to actually pay for the services you receive from the State. The rest comes from the population centers in the Southern part of Maine...it's a simple fact. You can resent it all you want to but fact is fact.

I would love to see the numbers that support that fact please.