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Changing Maine: 1960–2010 Edited by Richard Barringer; illustrated by Jon Luoma Published with the Muskie School of Public Service, USM ..... now with a new Index! Paperback, $20; ISBN 0-88448-264-2 6 x 9, 384 pages, illustrations “...the indispensable citizen’s and traveler’s guide to all that is happening in Maine today, how we arrived here, and what the future holds for this special state in the twenty-first century” —Governor John E. Baldacci “...a must read for anyone who is concerned for Maine today and wants to make informed and thoughtful choices for Maine’s future.” —U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins “It is not only an unusually useful book, it is well written and edited, a thoughtful and entertaining exploration of Maine...for anyone concerned with the state’s future to 2010 and beyond.” —Bangor Daily News Editorial Where were we in 1960, where have we come in the years since, how did we get here, and where are we going? These questions guided the 22 speakers in a 2003–04 public lecture series presented by the USM Muskie School that examined Maine’s changing economic, political, and social landscape. This book is a collection of essays that expand upon those talks and explore significant changes in Maine, important policy alternatives, and the prospects for the decade ahead. In an engaging, readable style, they aspire to challenge conventional thinking, offer a new understanding of Maine and its place in the world today, and to guide civic life and dialogue in the years ahead. Here’s a chance to hear directly from Maine’s leading policy experts:
Additional commentary is provided by Richard Barringer, Ph.D., professor of public policy and management, and community planning and development at the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland. In his introduction, he concludes with: Much about Maine has changed since 1960, and more change is headed this way, like it or not. If we do not get it right, we may surely anticipate the relentless march of the larger, homogenizing American culture across the Maine landscape, the continuing departure of our young, the decline of our rural communities, and the erosion of our natural heritage. If, on the other hand, we do get it right, we may look forward to an era of a more decentralized and responsive state government; more effective and efficient (if a little more distant) local government; an economy built upon high standards of quality and high-end products and services; new, compact villages in which to raise our children and renew community life; a new stream of leaders from the nonprofit sector to fill the void left by our changed corporate structure; a community college system that eases the passage of every high school graduate and adult learner to the world of opportunity and responsibility; high-speed rail connections to and from Boston and an efficient, multimodal transit system to move goods and people throughout Maine; a thriving arts and culture sector that drives the revitalization of our downtowns; and a natural environment that remains accessible to all and the envy of the nation. The challenge is nothing less than to reinvent ourselves in this new era—not our values, which may abide, but the outward forms and structures that give expression to them in our everyday lives. The final and ultimate question, then, is, “How do we recreate ourselves in order to assure the preservation of what we cherish most?” The choice, as we begin this new era, is ours to make. It is a daunting and exciting prospect! Jon Luoma’s watercolor-wash illustrations provide an intriguing counterpoint to the book’s essays, juxtaposing familiar landscapes with signs of change. Available from Tilbury House, Publishers 2 Mechanic Street • Gardiner, Maine 04345 • 800–582–1899 • www.tilburyhouse.com Note on the Index to this book: The published first edition of the book did not have an index, but one has since been created. Download a free copy of the index (in .pdf format) by clicking here.
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