For the life of me, I cannot understand why the people of Maine would not want to take direct local control of their own taxation.

I escaped the People's Republic of Massachusetts three years ago for the sanity and natural beauty of Maine. Please believe me when I say that the only redeeming value to be found in that profoundly chaotic and disastrous commonwealth is the shining example of Proposition 21/2, which was passed in 1980 and implemented in 1982.

In part, it states the following:

* The property tax levy ceiling (the amount raised) can never exceed 21/2 percent of the full cash value of all taxable property in the city or town.

* The property tax levy cannot increase from year to year by more than 21/2 percent, with certain exceptions for new growth, or through overrides and exclusions as adopted by the voters.

Even in that liberal bastion, the people took direct control of their local property taxes. While true that they would almost automatically rise by 21/2 percent each year due to inflation, anything in excess of that would be decided by the people who actually pay the bill.

Think about it. You and your neighbors get to decide what is in your own best interest and what you can afford. It can't be that the citizens of Maine are lazy. I've never seen a more industrious and frugal population in my life. It has got to be that you've been lulled into thinking that elected officials know best. Well, I believe they need and should welcome some direction and your equally authoritative voices at the table. TABOR ll would put citizens back in direct control of their town's future. What could be more American than that?

Jerry Bono

Norridgewock