Voice of the people

To the Editor:

Voices of the people, from all over the River Valley, echo throughout my mind, haunting me, taunting me and giving me will to stand up and exercise my right to confront government when their actions are used to quell and ignore fellow citizens.

I hear you, I visit you at home, I read you on Facebook, I listen to you at public gatherings, I have received your phone calls. My mission is to bring your concerns and demands to the decision makers running our communities.

But, Betrayal runs rampant at our town halls. Thomas Jefferson would vomit upon the Dixfield selectboard for eliminating the policy of citizen comment from their public gatherings. James Madison would curse profusely at the Carthage Selectboard for refusing to recognize a citizen petition requesting voter decision on a wind project. Our local ruling class people are failing us. They think I suffer with a belly full of sour grapes and being disagreeable with their actions is viewed as disobedient and preposterous.

For the last two selectboard meetings, I have pulled out of my pocket a piece of cloth and fitted it to my mouth. A self-imposed gag and I would say, a welcome sight for them.

But I will not give up that easily. As long as there are people in this community who want their voices heard and seek a responsive government, I will give these bureaucrats more than they can handle. I will not fail you, whom I've pledged to help stop the wind projects of Dixfield, Carthage and Canton.

Emily, Eddie, Lauren, Pete, Laura, Tom, Jim, Terry, Hugh, Hart, Alice, Richard, Mike, Paula, Troy, Chris, Kip, Janice and to all the other 200-plus people who do not want wind turbines in the hilltops of the community, I am totally with you all the way.

Thank You for your voices. I will find a way to help you, even with gag in my mouth.

Dan McKay,

Dixfield