As Maine goes, so goes the 'pro-labor' mural !!!

NO, THOSE AREN'T young Depression Era Christmas carolers. They are child laborers in one of the panels of a mural that Maine Gov. Paul LePage has ordered to be removed from the state's Department of Labor because it is too "pro-labor". Even in the current era of political kookery, LePage has passed Glenn Beck, Rush Limbuagh, Michele Bachmann and their ilk to embrace the summit of a nation going mad.

Not that LePage is without supporters. He is being congratulated by some constituents for his assault on socialists, communists, lefties, liberals. unionists and the iconic Rosie the Riveter (whose mural image also will disappear.) A Tea Partier, LePage is now the national beacon of in-our-face insanity with his version of rightwing "Maine-ia ." At first glance you want to laugh at this disgraceful act, but mind control is how fascism asserts itself.

LePage spent 15 years as general manage of Marden's Surplus and Salvage discount chain, so he knows something about the value of recycled merchandise to entrepreneurers. He also is said to have a young Jamaican in his household, who is the son of LePage's caddy when he vacations in that island coutnry. Very generous of the governor.

If Lepage doesn't spur national outrage for his abuse of historical truth, we may conclude that all of us deserve the government we get - one that disputes that there were once child laborers and believes that Rosie the Riveter was no more than a liberal myth. .

On labor art, local tax options and the UA Board of trustees

FOR NO EXTRA charge, people, we are pleased to show you another excellent example of how the Tea Partiers are making a mockery of democracy in America. Here, we give you Maine Gov. Paul LePage, a TPer himself, who has ordered the removal of an historic 11-panel mural from the state's Department of Labor because he believes - are you ready for such nonsense in the land of the free? - it is too pro-labor and doesn't reflect a balance with business and industry. The Republican governor has also called for name changes for conference rooms for the same preposterous reasons. So the depiction of Rosie the Riveter will be gone, as well as others who contributed sweat and muscle to industry. Next, across the land with these LePage types in charge, will come removal of WPA art in theaters and other public places. The awesome Diego Rivera mural in the Detroit Instititute of Arts that commands a visitor's attention will probably remain. Tea Partiers have better things to take up their time than anything as trivial as a dying American city like Detroit.

More from Gov. Kasich on the new royalist regimes that have moved into state governments: He has now placed himself in charge of tax policies of local governments, telling the Columbus Dispatch increases in taxes at the municipal level is "not an option" to make up for abundant losses in state revenue in his proposed budget. He says the beleaguered locals can get by on savings from having to deal with public worker unions. He can't prove that, but when you are royalty, you don't have to. His ally, Mayor Don Robart of Cuyahoga Falls, has already placed his seal of approval on Kasich's plan. He told the Beacon Journal with vague certainty that "I'd like to think it's going to balance out." You can tack that one up on your refrigerator.

Finally, Alex Arshinkoff wasn't dumped by the University of Akron Board of Trustees as the newly-hired UA lobbyist. I'm told Trustee Jane Bond raised the issue in executive session but "nothing happened." Why am I not surprised?