The 2012 Maine Republican State Convention was an interesting lesson in democracy. Here are some of the things I learned:

1. The Republican Party has allocated such a large number of delegates to each town that the convention is unmanageable if they all actually show up.

This year, we had many citizens who were concerned enough about the direction of our government to actually get involved within the two-party system. All citizens have an equal right to register in a party, to get elected to a delegate position, to attend the convention, to vote and to make their voices heard.

2. The organizers of the convention were unprepared to deal with actual voting on the convention officers. Typically, the leaders nominate a convention secretary and a convention chairman, followed by a simple vote with no opposition.

This time, additional candidates were nominated, and they had enough supporters to be elected. Because of various protests and calls for recounts, the basic process of electing two officers took all morning. We were already seriously behind schedule before Party Chairman Charlie Webster handed the gavel to the convention’s elected chairman, Brent Tweed.

3. Most of the delays and difficulties were caused by people who could not accept the result of the democratic process. The many challenges compounded in such a way that the only possible way to get things done in one weekend was to suspend the rules several times, which was always done by a legitimate two-thirds vote. The complainers would not have had a thing to say if the voting had gone their way.

I am no longer going to sit quietly on the sidelines while others decide the fate of our government.

Dennis Folsom, Readfield

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