Dear Editor:

Maine Yankee, an 840-megawatt nuclear plant went online in Wiscasset in 1972. The late 1960s was the start of good times for Maine Yankee, Wiscasset, and the country. Wiscasset was thriving with low taxes, new businesses, a housing boom, and a dynamic and growing school system. The political forces set in motion by Governor King, and the Democratically controlled Maine House resulted in the end of Wiscasset’s good times when, in 1996, Maine Yankee was shut down.

Using population growth as an economic indicator, Maine peaked between 1970 and 1980 with a 10-year population growth of 13.4%. Ten-year growth has almost steadily decreased since then to the present 2.6%. In the 40-year decline since 1980, Republicans had total control (Governor, Senate, and House of Representatives) for two years and Democrats have had total control for 22 years. Governor King was counted as a Democrat as he caucuses and votes with Democrats. These years have been tough on our citizens, especially the new young workers. Maine has earned a reputation for being unfriendly to business, in part due to high taxes, overregulation, high energy costs, and high electrical costs. The business outlook is further compromised by an education system in decline. In a perverse way our young leave the state to find good jobs and return as retirees, hence Janet Mill’s "Welcome Back" sign. We are presently replacing our exiting young with immigrants.

Using the Labor Force Participation Rate as an indicator, the U.S. probably peaked around 2001. The “Reagan Reset,” after 16 years, was stalling, but the end was signaled by the September 11 attack.  A short but sharp “Trump reset” with improving Labor Force Participation Rate and increasing Home Ownership Rate was cut short by Covid and the subsequent election of Biden.

The question for this November is, will people vote to leave our present “Deep State” in control and going in the wrong direction or will they vote for a change and a second Trump reset?

For those interested, information can be found on the U.S. Census and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics websites.

Joe Grant

Wiscasset