Since reading the op-ed piece written by state Sens. Roger Katz and Brian Langley, and signed by six other senators, I have been trying to discern what they mean by the expression, “government by disrespect.”

Also, what is the purpose of this piece? Why would Republican senators join the “Hate LePage” crowd?

Like these senators, I am dismayed and perturbed by the governor’s penchant for getting involved in issues that have little or nothing to do with the problems that our state faces and by his use of derogatory expressions for some of the people who aggravate him. This is unbecoming, even for a governor who is obviously not a politician. I hope we have seen the end of this.

But to project a few instances of bad judgment into a method of government (by disrespect) is an exaggeration, which is also unbecoming, dismaying and perturbing.

The senators define themselves as “proud Republicans,” who are working for a return to prosperity for future Maine citizens, but they are “distracted” by the antics of this governor, when they should be focused laser-like on his budget and the reforms contained therein.

Distracted? Really? Come on, give me something that I can believe. No one can distract you unless you let them.

We are taken through many paragraphs in which the authors describe how magnanimous they are when it comes to working with those with whom they disagree.

I find it difficult to be magnanimous to those who have been complicit these last three or so decades in driving up our taxes (No. 6 of the 50 states), driving businesses out of State (No. 50 in business friendliness), and creating a debt of $12.3 billion ($10,000 per Maine person) to touch upon just a few of their boondoggles.

I found these paragraphs both boring and maudlin.

Actually, magnanimous does not work at all for me. Truth be told, I’ve been mad while watching the Democrats give the special-interest groups, particularly the government employees union, anything they want, and then fleece the taxpayers, most of whom work hard to eke out a living here in that state where “Life is as it Should Be.”

Heck, give the Democrats credit: They were skillful in hiding their greed. They gave the college kids the right to vote (for them), and they have attracted people from all over the world to come here and live off us (and vote for them).

They have elevated the art of buying votes to a science comparable in complexity to general relativity or quantum mechanics.

Due in no small way to the efforts of hundreds of Maine citizens who worked their butts off carrying brochures (which we paid for) door to door, attending meetings, hosting meetings, writing letters and countless emails, etc., the Maine Republicans won a stunning victory last November, taking not only the Blaine House, but both Houses of the Legislature.

Never before in my experience of more than half a century has a political party been given such a golden opportunity to do so much good in a place in which it is so badly needed.

So what are we waiting for? Where is welfare reform? Let’s get started paying down the unfunded liabilities (debts) to the hospitals and the retirement fund ($4.3 billion).

Will Maine ever become business-friendly again? Passage of a Right to Work bill would remove an unfair advantage that union bosses have over workers who see money that they have earned being used against them. Thomas Jefferson called this tyranny. It is well-established that Right to Work states are doing better economically than those, like Maine, who collaborate with unions in fleecing workers and taxpayers.

Do Maine taxpayers and businesses need a tax break after all these years of suffering? If not, then why not?

The only objective that I can discern from this lengthy op-ed piece is that these eight senators are trying to distance themselves from a governor who has erred, and whose enemies are legion. In other words, the 2012 campaign already has begun, and we are back to politics as usual.

I hope not, but if that is the case, then I have a lot of work ahead.

Jack Wibby is communications director for Maine Taxpayers United, whose stated mission is to “reduce our state and local tax burden and promote prudent government spending,” according to its website, www.mainetaxpayers.com.