Sen. Susan Collins has been representing Maine in Washington, D.C., for 30 years. Obviously she aspires to remain in the Senate until the end, joining dynamos like Strom Thurmond and Robert Byrd. 

Since Maine is one of the per-capita oldest states, most of us can easily recall life 30 years ago. Let’s all ask ourselves the deceptively simple question: Is my Maine community better off, or worse off, than it was 30 years ago? 

Is home ownership and rent more or less affordable in relation to income? Same goes for healthcare. Are there more or fewer options for healthcare? General practitioners, maternity care, dentistry and so on. How about basic necessities like heating and food? 

How is the job situation in Maine, particularly rural Maine? Have new large employers flocked to rural Maine to replace the mills, tanneries and manufacturers that have folded? Is my community younger and more vital? Are there more or fewer idle people, addicted people or sick people in my community than there were 30 years ago? 

I think if we’re all honest with ourselves — particularly those of us in small communities outside of the moneyed coastal towns — the answers to those question are pretty obvious. Which probably explains why Susan wants to spend the rest of her time in Washington, D.C., instead of here in Maine.

Jeremy Smith
Old Orchard Beach