Finally, a Local Youngster to Vote For.

It's Primary Day here in Maine. Maine is not an open primary state. That is, only registered Republicans or registered Democrats can vote for members of their own party. 

But in 2024, Maine will hold semi-open primaries allowing unaffiliated voters to vote for whoever they want. The semi open title indicates that Republicans and Democrats still have to vote in their party's primary. They cannot cross over.

I think a totally open primary would be better, but what we have is what we have. And bringing in semi-open primaries is way better than the old system. 36% of Maine voters list themselves as Independents. Allowing them to vote in primaries will have a major impact on who runs in the general elections. Participation of unaffiliated voters will offer up a truer representation of where the political winds blow and will enhance the power of a huge group of voters who were previously muzzled by self the serving political rules set up by the Democrats and Republicans. It is time for the two party system to choke and die on the vine.

But I did not mean to go on about our system here in Maine. It has actually worked pretty well over the years; certainly more equitably than many other states. And in 2024, it will be even better.

So this morning the plan called for a good walk with Maggie and Sammie (my daughter and son in law's dog ). Ever since our previous dog, Stubby, lost her leg to a speeding car fifteen or so years ago, I have come up with a ritual that never varies when escorting fur buddies across Sam Page Road to head into Mary's Park. 

It was 5:30 AM and even though there was little chance of traffic, I took them to the edge of the road, gave them a sit command, unleashed Maggie and told them both to continue to sit. Neither of them like to park their butts on sand, but eventually they complied. After exaggerated looks both ways, I said, "Okay". Maggie was across the road in a flash and Sammie the Pit/Bull mix did his best to dislocate my shoulder or rip my arm off;  he didn't care which. He's such a big doofus.

This morning however I noticed someone had planted a political sign in front of my property. At first I assumed my wife had okay-ed it. When we got back to the house and my wife finally made an appearance around 6:30 AM, she assured me no one had asked her for permission.

With a healthy head of steam pumping up my righteous indignation I fussed and fumed my way out to the road, yanked that damn sign out of the ground and brought it back to the house. My wife agreed it was bush league to place a sign without permission but offered up;

 "We don't know who put it there; calm down ferchrisakes."

Yeah well, she can be a pain in the ass like that and it really pisses me off when she so rudely talks me out of a righteous moment of anger. But when she's right, I find caving is easier than the alternative. So I made some coffee instead; then sat at the computer and did some googling.

Daniel Norwood is an interesting candidate in these here parts. He came here to Acton from Guatemala as a youngster. How young I am not sure. But his history is that of 29 year old man who has actively sought public service for many years. This run for Maine Senate is his first shot at elected office. He is not the typical town politician who is trying to move up to the bigger pond in Augusta. Finally we have a candidate who challenges the traditional white, straight, Gen-xer or Boomer clone we seem to pump out every other election. He pushes our comfort zone and I love it.

I watched his You Tube video and was impressed with his thoughtful notions regarding privilege and the reason his placard is purple. We later swapped some messages and I let him know about how not to anger folks by planting signs without permission. It may be legal, but it is stupid to not ask first.

Anyhow, Daniel's entry into state politics from our district is bound to bunch some panties on both sides of the aisle. Daniel does not care. He realizes this election is but part of his learning curve, some of the dues he will have to pay to climb the political ladder. He seems to be in it for the long game. No matter how it turns out for Daniel this election, Maine has not seen the last of him. I am voting for him. He is the sign of things to come and we had better get used to Millennial's and all their new fangled ways.  

Keep it "tween the ditches ................................................

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There was only one tune I thought of. Again a song from my youth seems more appropriate today than back in the day. Here is Bob Dylan singing "The Times They Are A - Changin" . Recorded in 1964 I think before he went electric.