Dear Edtor:

We have become so used to extreme political language that it is rare to be shocked anymore. That is, until I received this in my mailbox: “Lydia Crafts Threatens Our Families With A Deadly Mix Of Addictive Drugs And Human Trafficking.” Lydia is our local Democratic representative. This political garbage was not paid for by some fringe extremist group. It is “Paid for and authorized by Mary Lou Daxland for House.” Mary Lou is Lydia’s Republican opponent.

Ever since Trump came down his staircase trashing immigrants as “murderers and rapists” he has dug deeper and deeper into political venom. Democrats are now “the enemy within.” He intends to weaponize the Department of Justice to jail his opponents, and the army to suppress political dissent.

This election may be our last best opportunity to reject the politics of fear and dishonesty and return to a politics where we can respectfully disagree with one another. A politics which accepts defeat at the ballot box, knowing we will have another opportunity to argue for our beliefs at the next election. Thankfully, hundreds of leading lifelong Republicans are finding the courage to speak out against their party’s descent into fascism and are making common cause with Kamala Harris.

I will be casting my vote for Lydia, who is a terrific Representative. Mary Lou, we are better than this in Maine. It is one of the many reasons we all love living here.

Nigel Calder

Newcastle