Thread by @TiffanyBond

#mepolitics, this is government-created child abuse.

It seems like no one in this race wants to talk about hard federal issues in current events, and instead the focus is almost entirely on Maine.

I love Maine, but this job requires both.

Let's talk about that for a minute.

https://twitter.com/jacobsoboroff/status/1027690518480871425

If a candidate isn't proficient in a wide swath of day-to-day issues for the average rural Mainer, they shouldn't be in the race.

If they avoid discussing controversial national events that should be the business of Congress, they shouldn't be in the race either.

#mepolitics

We're all used to candidates saying they will work tirelessly for you (which is bs, give me someone who confesses to wanting a nap).

It's right up there with "I will put <insert state> before any other issues"...which is also, wait for it, bs.

#mepolitics

The job is to make good, functional, humane, cost-efficient law that is the structure that our state laws function within.

Reps make sure that their states don't get trampled or neglected in the process...but they make federal law.

#mepolitics

State law does (mostly) different stuff than federal law. The day-to-day contact the average person has with the law is usually state level.

Pick your governors and state legislature wisely folks.

#mepolitics

Federal law impacts us, but feels really remote to most people.

How often do you think about...
- election security
- national defense
- theories of different tax schemes
- immigration quotas
- FEMA
- CDC
- how HUD loans work
- how we choose student loan servicers

#mepolitics

Ok, ok, PRIOR to say, 2015 how often did you get caught up in a conversation about hacking an electrical grid with any sort of detail?

#mepolitics

It's important generally for this job even if it isn't specifically important to your daily thought process.

It's like a proctologist, you might not want to see them do the job, but you want to know they are capable of taking care of sh*t.

#mepolitics

Challenge anyone running for federal office to discuss current events and policy.

You won't agree with everything they say, but if they consistently have no reasonable answer or no answer at all, back a different candidate - that one isn't qualified.

#mepolitics

Find actual proficiency.

Can they read federal bills and demonstrate reasonable explanations?

Do they answer questions, hard ones?

Are they willing to say when they don't know?

Do they know what federal law does and what federal issues are?

#mepolitics

...and the theme of this thread, do they duck unpopular, hard current events? (Even better, do they try to flag painful issues without you asking)

If your candidate doesn't meet basic proficiency, find one who does and support that candidate.

#mepolitics