To be sure, the measure now before the voters is aimed at a particular interest, just as were previous measures providing tax breaks for land dedicated to farming, open space or tree growth and reduced taxes on machinery for new or expanding businesses. Anyone supporting a special tax status for land used for commercial fishing activities must recognize that the relief will come at the expense of other taxpayers. Maine seems to be taking a piecemeal approach toward the concept of property taxation on the basis of current use. It is to be hoped that a future legislature will consider a fundamental shift in state policy to current use taxation. But the current initiative, while unfair to other interests lacking the political influence to be heard, at least focuses on the distinction between current use and highest and best use.
Maine ought to be moving.
We will support Question 4. This measure should receive an affirmative vote on Nov. 7. It directly involves only a small number of citizens who currently are disenfranchised because of their illness. It is likely that the exception from voting involving persons under guardianship for mental illness was written into the Maine Constitution to guard against voting abuses. But as our society has evolved, we have moved to include as many citizens as possible in the process of government.