There is an image problem for the GOP – Grand Old Party – and that in itself is part of the problem.

Republicans took a hammering this past election across the board. We want your opinion on what worked – on the national, state and local levels. We also want to know what didn't work. Then finally what should change for Republicans – to appeal to more people. To convince those that are on the edge to look to conservative ideas and ideals.

The hammering that the party took ends with this election. We need to learn from what happened with this election so that it does not happen again. Republicans need to market themselves better. We want your thoughts.

Please comment here or email us at RepubliCANofME@gmail.com

There is a little over 1400 days until the next election.

The future of Maine's families is for Independence – from Government.

The Republican party is in a race with the other party to change the way we think about assistance for families in need. Jon Courtney pointed out at the Rotary Club in Wells that he and other Republicans worked on tailoring a plan to help people get off of state assistance. Government assistance should be available to help as a safety net. It should not be a way of life.

Government should be there to offer assistance when a family is in need. It should tailor that assistance though so that the person or family has a goal of independence – not dependence on that assistance. We want to present you three scenarios of people or families receiving assistance or who have tried:

• A late 30's woman who has been receiving government assistance for over 15 years now. The dollar value of assistance currently is in excess of $36,000.  She is voting for the current President because she does not want to loose any assistance. This person has no disability but knows the system well enough to live a very comfortable life paid for by those that do work. 
• A late 20's man who is 'disabled' by anxiety and has been 'disabled' for more than 5 years. This gentleman lives his life filled with 'anxiety' that is so disabling that he can not work at any normal job of any kind. He refuses to seek any help that may assist him in overcome this disabling anxiety and help him become a productive member of society. This gentleman currently spends his days drinking vodka and playing video games. This life style is paid for by all of us still working. Is the state really helping this young man? This man by the way is voting for the current President because he does not want to lose his current entitlements. 

The example presented represents what is wrong with the current system. What is supposed to be a safety net has turned into a way of life and one that is quite comfortable. Why would anyone want to give up on a situation where everything is taken care of for you? At some point if enough people opt for a lifestyle where the government takes care of you there won't be enough people to cover the cost. In our final example we see someone who probably should have help of some sort but cannot because she earns too much.

• A young woman who is 18 recently applied for assistance. She is a single Mom with a 15 month old child. She works full time at a fast food restaurant earning $7.50 and hour and working no more than 39 hours.  Her earnings come to $1170 a month which is considered too much to receive much of any kind of assistance other than food stamps (currently $122.00 per month). When this woman went to DHHS for help for child care and rental assistance she was told that she made too much money at $14,000 a year. She was told by DHHS that if she quit her job she would be entitled to more benefits. The benefits would exceed her yearly income and provide her with a home, child care and TANIF. This woman has declined the advice of DHHS and continues working.

Here we are presented again with what is wrong with a system that is supposed to help to offer a safety net to those that are in need. In the examples presented we see a system that is broken. A system that creates and encourages dependence instead of independence. Show your support for the Republican candidate in your district. Success should be how many people are not on public assistance not by how many are on assistance.

Give a man a fish and he is fed for a day. Teach a man to fish and he feeds himself for a lifetime.

In this current economic crisis neither Democrats nor Republicans can lay claim to being more sensitive to helping those families that have been impacted by the economics we all are dealing with. 
 
There is a difference though in the fundamental philosophy that each party has in giving out help. As Jon Cortney pointed out in Wells at the Rotary Club last week there is a need to help families find away off of assistance. To give the tools needed to create solutions in the future. The Republican party in Maine has been trying to break the gridlock the other party has had in government for years. Change is needed to bring in fresh ideas. This is true not only on the state level but with the Federal government.

Helping others is fine. It becomes a problem though when generations are raised to believe that this is the way life should be. People feel that they are entitled to the entitlements they are receiving not realizing where the money is coming from. The money is coming from you and I. The Republican party is trying to change this mind set. Making change to help Maine's families go from dependence to independence. It is time for change in Augusta and Washington. It is time for the party of independence – it is time for the Republicans.