Praise for the voters of Deer Isle

Congratulations to the Town of Deer Isle for being the first community in the nation to vote in favor of a resolution calling on Congress to ‘Bring Our War $$ Home.’  They took this brave action at their annual town meeting Monday night, voting on a warrant article introduced by Veterans for Peace and CodePink.

The article passed by 67 percent, a clear recognition that townspeople believe we should be spending our tax dollars here at home, not for the occupation of foreign countries.

The Resolution declared that an inordinate level of military expenditure is being made by the U.S. federal government for warfare in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the residents of Deer Isle are collectively paying for the war but receiving “no identified public benefits.”

It said that education services, infrastructure repairs, and other essential public services throughout Maine have been substantially reduced in order for an excessive portion of federal funds to be diverted from the constructive economy to unnecessary warfare,

The resolution urged Congressman Michael Michaud “to oppose all legislation brought before the U.S. House of Representatives that provides further funding of the U.S. warfare and U.S. military occupation in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan” and asked Michaud to “take strong and forceful action to influence the full U.S. House of Representatives to terminate funding of these military operations.”

Town Meeting is the highest manifestation of direct democracy, and Maine town meetings are invaluable for soliciting and hearing the voices of the people of this state. So often our legislators are either unwilling or incapable of addressing the needs of the people that elected them. At those times, it is incumbent upon Mainers to join with their neighbors to bring their issues to town meeting.

This is exactly what the citizens of Deer Isle did – they spoke and we all hope that Augusta is listening.