Protesters in Maine, much like New Hampshire, gathered in their state capitol on Saturday. Their governor (like ours) isn’t opening the state fast enough.
Related: Health and Liquor Licenses Pulled after Maine Restaurant Defies State Lockdown Orders
Hundreds of protesters stood together Saturday, figuratively and literally, between the Blaine House and State House to again rally in favor of reopening Maine faster than Gov. Janet Mills’ latest plan would. Mills was roundly criticized by attendees toting handwritten signs, American flags and “Don’t Tread on Me” banners.
Speakers at the event included the owner of a Bethel restaurant who defied Mills’ executive “stay safer at home” order Friday by opening his restaurant to sit-down dining, a Penobscot County doctor who said coronavirus quarantine measures have a slew of negative health consequences of their own, and state lawmakers who said they think the Legislature may need to reconvene to serve as a check and balance against the power they said was taken by Gov. Mills under emergency powers amid the coronavirus pandemic.
State lawmakers have already sent a letter to the Senate President and House Speaker, both Democrats, asking them to call the legislature into session. They say it is time to take back the emergency powers they gave Gov. Janet Mills back in March.
The letter comes five days after the Governor released her plan for a phased in reopening of Maine’s economy — a plan that has come under sharp criticism from some Republicans, and some business owners, who complain it is still too restrictive and will harm the state economically.
Republicans say the Governor has not adequately consulted with lawmakers as she has managed the COVID-19 crisis, or in developing the reopening plan. The letter also says a Mills has not provided the information they have asked for to evaluate her policies.
If the Democrats in Vacationland are anything like ours, and they are, they want more restrictions and more enforcement, not less. Don’t expect them to put Mills in a bad spot. And if I’m not mistaken, she is benefiting from some favorable polling (like Sununu) for her response.
Whether you think the polls are crap or not, they create perception, and perception means a lot to people who are not paying close attention.
So, no, our brothers and sisters living under the thumb of the petty tyrants to our east will not likely find relief or increased speed in the reopening process. And it will take hundreds of Rick Savage’s (of the Sunday River Brewing Co) to simultaneously defy the shutdown orders before it becomes politically inexpedient to punish them all.
If the people do not rise up and throw off their shackles and just go back to work (and out to eat, or get a haircut), the political embargo on prosperity will not soon end.
Image and Video | CM.com
