The Maine Bring Our War Dollars Home campaign began more than a year and a half ago. The campaign asks our representatives in Congress to fund the social, infrastructure and educational needs of the state of Maine and cut the bloated military budget that funds endless war, unneeded weapons systems and no-bid contracts for giant corporations.

From the beginning of the campaign, we have sought a meeting with Sen. Olympia Snowe to present our views. We have been turned down numerous times. We have met with her staff in Washington, D.C., Bangor and Portland and left information to be passed on to her. These meeting efforts are well into the double digits.

A few days ago, one of the members of our campaign happened to be on a flight to Chicago with Snowe. She asked the senator why she has been unwilling to meet with members of the Bring Our War Dollars Home campaign. Snowe told her she had never heard of the campaign.

For at least two of the past three years, at the Hallowell Days parade, Snowe has stopped and spoken with the members of the Bring Our War Dollars Home contingent about to march in the parade. Just one month ago, she had her photo taken speaking to one of the members while standing in front of the Bring Our War Dollars Home’s 3-by-10-foot banner.

Snowe says she listens to the voice of the people, but it is clear that she listens most to the corporate “people,” such as General Dynamics and the other military contractors that fund her enormous campaign chest.

Mark Roman

Solon