Dear Editor:

In October 2015, Rick Snyder, Michigan’s governor, was a guest on the Commonwealth Club program, pledging “a common-sense” approach to governing, finding solutions for the state’s toughest problems. Snyder repeated a management mantra “forget finding blame — just solve the problem.” Yet, in 2016 as the internal emails reveal more, he is blaming multiple sources and has not focused on solving the problem.

The problem did not exist before he took control of the city. The original water source was treated and safe for children. Beware of corporate “common-sense” approaches in serving the people. Corporate politicians have not discerned there is a difference between corporate management and being responsible for the lives of all citizens, especially children. The skill sets are considerably different as are the problems.

It never feels good to be the target of blame. Today, however we seem to be living in a world easily swayed to grab self-righteous blame on today’s target. The Free Press reveals Maine’s KKK history, we hear candidates, and a myriad of groups – attack others on racial and religious grounds. We learn how gangs, teams, soldiers and allies fixate on the “enemy” making yet another target pointing away from our own role of representing positive values in life and society while utilizing appropriately trained engineers to solve the lead problems in Flint and the lead problem in 26 schools in Maine.

We have large crowds following positive candidates and following candidates who blame others for their own disappointments. Perhaps if we sift through the loud and bright noises, we might discover that we have succumb to the destruction of representative government because we have accepted that elected politicians do not represent every citizen, but only represent those that meet our own self-interests. The large citizen voting crowds gave rise to hope that corporate “common-sense” is not the solution to human problems, active citizen voters can bring back representative democracy. Look in the mirror — voting citizens are in charge; the buck starts and stops here.

Jarryl Larson

Edgecomb