The newspaper welcomes brief letters (generally no longer than 400 words) that express an opinion on a currently newsworthy topic. The writer’s contact information must be included for verification. Letters that contain defamatory comments, open letters, third-party letters, letters sent to more than one publication, and letters that would more appropriately be advertisements, including Cards of Thanks, are unlikely to be published. One letter generally is allowed per writer per calendar month.

A response

To the editor:

I feel the need to respond to last weeks’ letter to the editor that defended government. I write in defense of self-government.

What would you expect from someone who spent most of his life in government at your expense? He talked about how we need government to keep order.

Honestly, look at our society as a whole, our national government, and the two branches of Congress. We see a breakdown in every part of our society.

In my life experiences, I’ve watched as government has grown, so has chaos and misery. Government encourages irresponsibility.

The only reason we, in our local communities, have any sense of order is that we still have a common sense of right and wrong, not because of government.

I believe it is a man’s right to be responsible to himself and to provide for his household as stated in the Declaration of Independence: We are “endowed by our Creator with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!”

Jerry Plett, Lincolnville