The referendum questions on the Nov. 8 Maine ballot are bad for Maine. Out-of-state monies are coming into our state to persuade Maine voters to fundamentally change how things are done here. Most are leftist agenda folks who will take a victory in Maine and use it to sweep the nation. They know Maine people aren’t, for the most part, wealthy like they are. Five million dollars to Mayor Bloomberg is pocket change and the tally is now up to $8 million on Question 3 alone. Maine people struggle to raise $500,000 to fight and keep Maine the way it is and should be.

Question 1 will legalize marijuana, making it more accessible to children, and raising the cost of our justice system.

Question 2 will make a particular portion of our population pay more than the rest in income taxes. That is unfair.

Question 3 says it’s about background checks, but it isn’t. It’s a small step in controlling our 2nd Amendment rights. We already have background checks in Maine that must not be expanded to make criminals out of law-abiding citizens.

Question 4 raises the minimum wage in Maine. Minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage. It’s for entry-level employment and others who just want to supplement their income. The government shouldn’t be picking winners and losers. If a business has a plan that works for them, they have the right to implement it, and the government has no right to dictate any portion of that including what they pay employees.

Question 5, ranked-choice voting, has been tried in other states and municipalities, but ceased because it’s unconstitutional and unfair. It invalidates votes and can make losers into winners.

Please vote no on questions 1-5 on the Maine ballot Nov. 8.

Penny Morrell

Belgrade