The Way Forward
Maybe what we need is a new way of thinking

Recently we've seen a lot of troubling news about government budgets, debt and shrinking services.  Last week the state's Appropriations Committee heard that the next Governor will face a $1 billion dollar biennial budget shortfall.  The federal government is doing even worse, and by January all the federal stimulus funding we've used in Maine over the last 2 years will be dried up and done.

We get good reports that detail our troubles in Maine - budget problems, transportation funding shortfalls, high taxes, too much regulation, unaffordable health care and energy costs - but there aren't many solutions.  Nevertheless there seems to be the sense that all these things need to be "fixed' - somehow or other - by our next governor and legislature.

It's not going to happen.  There's no money to start with ... and more importantly, the real things that need fixing aren't susceptible to repair at the state house.

Our troubles CAN be fixed - but only if we fix them, right here in our own region.  On our own.  Together.

Need better education outcomes?  Then let's convene the Portland region's employers and educators together to map out a strategy, and execute it - now. 

Need more efficient government to avoid crippling cuts to social services, education and infrastructure - or tax increases - or both?  Then together let's build the state's first real regional government right here in the Portland area.

Want to attract younger workers and their families to solve our dangerous demographic problems?  Then let's work together to implement a regional economic development strategy that creates the good jobs needed to support in-migration to our region.

Want to see these ideas take root and succeed?  Then all of us - together - need a new way of thinking about our problems, and how we fix them. 

Washington can't do it.  Augusta can't do it.  The only way to ensure that the Portland region thrives in the next 10 years is to start thinking and acting differently - together.