Jon Reisman

It’s high summer on Cathance Lake. My usual column contemplation and creation process has been interrupted by a steady procession of seasonal residents along with their boats and canines. Most of the visiting vehicles have Maine plates, along with a few from New Jersey, Maryland, and other blue states. I wonder if my relatively affluent seasonal neighbors realize that the Hamas/Lenin wing of the Democratic Party considers camps and second homes evidence of oppression, oligarchy, and white supremacy and intends to tax/expropriate such property in the name of (undefined) “Equity” and Democratic Socialism.

My mid-summer writing scheme is to contemplate the consequences of 40+ years living across from Arbuckle Field amongst the Cooper, Meddybemps, and Cathance and Berry Township barrens. Ownership has moved between local families, Maine Wild Blueberry, and Cherryfield Foods. Aerial and land-based pesticide spraying has (mostly)ebbed over the years. Hand raking has largely disappeared with investments in rock-clearing and harvest machines. The Machias Wild Blueberry Festival beckons, and the Centre Street Church sanctuary will once again be singing “Blueberry Blues,” which is an improvement over antisemitic Platner rallies

The fields and barrens have a hint of blue — perhaps not as far along as my faulty memory recalls as usual for late July, but surely better than last year’s disastrous season. Washington County’s barrens turn bright blue for harvest season in August, but are fiery red by the November elections. Fall frosts and chills do tend to expose summer fantasies and encourage realism. Cold hard facts can occasionally counter climate alarmism and leftist indoctrination- but only occasionally, and not at all if sufficient instruction, training, and social-emotional “learning” has occurred. 

One key tell is when a Gen Z voter talks about how they “feel” as opposed to what they “think,” and are unable to muster evidence or examples to support their views. Ask a No Kings protester what their definition of fascism is, or examples of how Trump is a fascist. You won’t get much beyond spittle and stale talking points. Of course, most of the No Kings protestors are graying boomers, while most of Gen Z are apparently braying (socialist) groomers. I’d bet that very few members of Gen Z ever hand-raked blueberries in the August heat. It tends to tamp down the sense of entitlement. Raking might even be an AOC vaccine. That probably means the Democrats will ban raking as violating child labor laws (remember the flap over Billy Bob Faulkingham employing a family friend juvenile on his lobster boat?) Expect more of the same partisan nonsense, aided by a biased legacy press and leftist NGO’s. “Working class” my ass.

In closing, just let me say, Washington County has been berry, berry good to me, starting with an August 1969 canoe trip down the St. Croix, my July 1984 UMM job interview and hiring, and subsequent 38 years at UMM building a life and family with my late wife Ernie. With my 70th birthday beckoning, I am both reflective and grateful. I expect to spend these upcoming years working for a freer and more prosperous Maine.

Jon Reisman is an economist and policy analyst who retired from the University of Maine at Machias after 38 years. He resides on Cathance Lake in Cooper, where he is a Statler and Waldorf intern. Mr. Reisman’s views are his own, and he welcomes comments as letters to the editor here or to him directly via email at jreisman@maine.edu.