“Be the change you wish to see in the world” (1)
“If not me, who? If not now, when?” (2)
“Think globally act locally” (3)
“All politics is local” (4)
We grew up with these slogans and many of us try to act on them every day of our lives. We volunteer, we vote every time, we are kind to our neighbors and defend them from injustice.
We need to stick to these principles, no matter what the rich and evil people keep throwing at us in their quest for world dominance.
Right now, the most important thing for us to focus on is getting those rich and evil people out of the drivers’ seat. As a practical matter that means defeating every single Republican in every election. Neither party is perfect. Both can be criticized as two halves of a single “money party”. But one of the parties is not only motivated by greed: it’s awash in corruption and immorality and every single current member is complicit. The time has come to “throw out the old rascals and put in a fresh new crop of rascals”, as my dad used to say. Then go about the work of reforming the Democratic Party back to its roots.
Current opportunities:
1. You can now request an absentee ballot for the June 9 primary. They aren’t printed yet, but you can get one as soon as they are available. Go to https://absenteeballotrequest.sos.maine.gov
2. In Hancock County: We will be able to write in someone for probate judge who is not a Republican crook! Our candidate, BRIAN THOMAS, is both a lawyer and an archaeologist. Memorize the name because you will have to write it in. With enough write-in votes in June, he can become the Democratic nominee in the general November election. (5)
3. Your town Democratic Committee may be starting up a canvassing effort to GOTV – Get Out The Vote! Join the effort! If you are hesitant to do the door knocking, you can always be the driver, an essential task in rural towns! Want to make contact with your local Dem Committee? Contact Joyce Schelling at jkschelling@gmail.com
4. Join or start a postcarding campaign locally. For info on how to do that, see Action Item #220. Send an email to abbiemcmillen@mac.com if you need a copy.
5. Take advantage of the candidate forums that are happening (with increasing frequency) to listen, question, and make your selections. They are announced in the local papers and posted at
https://hancockdems.org/events/.
We have the power to make the necessary change. We just have to use it.
Extra Credit:
(1) widely attributed to Mahatma Gandhi
(2) paraphrased from Hillel https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillel_the_Elder
(3) David Brower https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Think_globally,_act_locally
(4) Tip O’Neill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_politics_is_local
(5) https://www.mdislander.com/news/politics/lamoine-attorney-announces-his-write-in-candidacy-for-probate-judge/article_12970b73-fae5-4375-a43a-494691af001a.html and https://hancockdems.org/2026/04/09/thomas-for-probate-judge/
