Living in a society - as opposed to a huge string of hermit cottages running along a mountainside - requires some means for the ordering of things: the law of the jungle, perhaps, or a dictatorship; or some form of democracy.
The town of Paris falls under the description of a democracy.
Consider the following excerpts from two of our elected officials at Monday's selectmen's meeting:
*Context: One official had signed petitions to oust 2 fellow selectmen, and was preparing to vote as a board member on sending those recall questions on to the voters.
[editor's note: Documents provided all 5 selectmen in this instance included (a) copy of one page from each of 2 separate petitions to recall 2 selectmen, Official #1's signature on each page; (b) copy of voter registration list showing only one voter in Paris with that name; (c) copy of MMA directive; (d) copy of Paris Selectmen Bylaws.]
Official #1 - "Can I speak? I signed it right out in public. I didn't care who knows about it."
Could a translation be: "It doesn't matter if I break the rules - or a law - if I'm up front about it"?
*Context: Continuing the example above, a citizen has asked Official #2 if he has reviewed the documented material submitted (by the citizen).
Official #2 - "See, this is the same logic you're trying to use, (Citizen): circular. The answer is (Official #1)'s signature didn't remove anybody."
(Citizen agrees.)
Official #2 - "So if (Official #1)'s vote was the deciding vote to remove somebody or to appoint somebody..."
(Citizen interrupts) "He can't even take part in the discussion if there's bias. So how can he vote on something? He shouldn't even take part in the discussion if there's bias shown."
Could a translation of Official #2's statements be: "I can twist your words, and I can shape the law into what I need for the moment"?
Maine statutes and local laws provide our structure; they advise, direct, and apply to all of us. Individual citizens do not get to pick and choose which laws they will or won't abide by.
