Horace Hildreth, LURC and Northern Maine's Fiasco (Portland, Augusta: zoning, work)

[dmyankee]

Sunday's PPHW (Portland Press Haddock Wrap) article on the founder of the North Woods Meddling Movement. The whole idea was for their giant playground.

Growing by the rules in the North Woods | Portland Press Herald

[Coaster]

At the time LURC was created, there was a need for an agency that would act as the zoning board for the Unorganized Territories. It was actually rather forward-looking at the time.

The problem is that towns get to choose their own zoning boards and boards of appeal, either through direct election or appointment by the elected selectmen. Townsfolk also get to initiate and vote on changes in the zoning laws themselves. Under that system, in the long run residents get the development philosophy a majority of them want.

But the LURC board is usually dominated by members who don't live in the "town" they're overseeing. The people who actually live in the UT justifiably IMO feel disenfranchised by the system. Perhaps the solution would be for UT residents to lobby for a change in the LURC law to require that all or a majority of its members come from the UT.

[Maineah]

We have to start standing up for ourselves and remind the people in Augusta they don't think for us ...they work for us writing laws at our command, not theirs. They are supposed to be just a conduit of our will....nothing more . They need to be reminded of their subserviant roles.

[SteveMartin]

Maineah,

Kudos for an outstanding post!

[Nor'Eastah]

Originally Posted by Maineah

We have to start standing up for ourselves and remind the people in Augusta they don't think for us ...they work for us writing laws at our command, not theirs. They are supposed to be just a conduit of our will....nothing more . They need to be reminded of their subserviant roles.

I second that kudos for your outstanding post!

Now...getting back to reality, ahem! Do you really think those Augusta hot-shots for one minute think that what you have just written (which is correct) applies to them? Never in your wildest dreams!

This is the one thing that I hope comes out of whatever happens with the economy, oil prices, the war(s), another 'terrorist' attack, the Fed and its inane policies, etc etc - that the "sheeple" as they are called, will finally wake up and demand that all of this horse manure (in DC, Augusta, or wherever) must come to an end. "We The People" need to make them understand who the boss is!

Unfortunately, I think we will all have to suffer a LOT more before that happens!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

They don't just "need to be reminded of their subserviant roles." Most of them need to be replaced!

[Labamba]

Unfortunately, isn't there a saying that goes something like, "We get the representation that we deserve."? In other words, idiots elect idiots, crooks elect crooks, etc., etc...

[Northern Maine Land Man]

And patriots elect patriots. Representatives Joy, McLeod, Thomas and Gifford come to mind.

[Labamba]

Originally Posted by Northern Maine Land Man

And patriots elect patriots. Representatives Joy, McLeod, Thomas and Gifford come to mind.

It's not yours and my representatives (well, not entirely true about mine) that are the problem - it's everybody else's!