At the Maine Democratic Convention, I had a chance to join a discussion about development around Moosehead Lake. Those attending the Somerset County Caucus raised many good points: that lots of people in our county depend on logging companies for their livelihood; that if too much wilderness turns into condos, Maine will no longer be Vacationland; that many people in our area make their living from tourists who visit our state; that environmental concerns and the need for jobs must be balanced in order to be fair to all Maine citizens.

I felt really lucky to be part of a discussion where people with different points of view were respectfully heard, and it was a great exchange of ideas. The group agreed to organize forums to continue the dialog and invite others to participate. This is my definition of real democracy!

The forums probably will be held at the Somerset Democratic office in downtown Skowhegan. For information about when and where to join in, folks can visit the Web site www.somer setcountydems.org/ or drop by the office after it opens on Monday.

Lisa Savage

Solon