Dear Editor:

Please. Hear me out. I don't want to talk politics. I don't care if you're a conservative, republican, democrat or anyone in between. It does not matter.

I was taught what matters most in a person, and especially a leader, was their character, defined as “noun; the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual”). I’ll bet that you were taught that a person’s character mattered a lot, too. Qualities like honesty, empathy, responsibility, compromise, tolerance, and most important, respect. 

As an owner of a business here in the harbor for many years, I needed to hire employees with good character to run my business, and if I had a manager that who betrayed my trust because of a serious character flaw, I would have to find someone else I could put my faith in to do the job.

The point I’m making is this. Elected officials and all of their staff, in fact, anyone who works for the government are our employees. We pay their salaries. That’s why they’re called “public servants.”

I won’t be a jerk and say “You’re Fired!” But I will not hesitate to say “Don, I’m sorry, but this isn’t working out. I appreciate your time and effort, but I’m going to have to let you go. I’m sorry it’s so close to the holidays.”

I think we all want to make America great again, but I believe what made us great in the first place was how we behaved. Our American character.

Just take a moment and think about the character traits that you feel are important to you, and what’s important to us as a nation.

It's not a question of policy, policies are fluid, what goes around, comes around. What it comes down to, when the smoke clears, is a question about character.

Honesty? Empathy? Responsibility? Compromise? Tolerance? Respect? 

Which of these qualities are you willing to give up to make America great again. I always thought it was pretty great already.

Michael Feldman

East Boothbay