Ask yourself, when will the airlines shut down? This year, next year, in five or maybe ten years? Is it a silly question or one you'd rather not think about? When the airlines shut down for lack of fuel, is it likely you will be able to gas up and drive to your vacation destination?

Unless you believe we will never run out of cheap energy, the only option we have is to build a locally oriented, no-growth economy. In terms of inputs and resources required, we must shrink dramatically.

We can debate whether this year, next year, five years or ten, but in terms of rebuilding a state, none of those are much time. When our businesses fail for lack of fuel, will insurance cover the loss?

Tomorrow will not be like today. Not even close. Here's Al Gore's take on where we are.

Our centralized structures cannot survive. These mega schools, the money DOT is sinking into more pavement. LNG terminals, bigger jails. Augusta as a centralized decision making entity. No! Go local.

How can we deal with oil running out? How will we shrink our footprint on the planet? What kind of tax policy might be in the best interests of the Maine people? What about the gross inequalities one might expect - else we cannot work together?

It is time to change the way Maine does business. Let's put people first.

I have two sons, Maxwell and Griffin. I feel this is the most important contribution I can make to their future: to give them a future.

Voting, writing, calling, despairing: they are not enough. We can put our bodies on the line. We can change the way the planet does business. Starting here in Maine. Let's put people first. Democratic capitalism. Enough of the corporate predator state.

Let's explore the ways to reassert citizen control over the economy; in particular over the large foreign and alien corporations. We can challenge the assumption that economic growth is all that matters. Let's talk about who gains and who pays. Across generations.

I'm no prophet and I don't have the perfect answers. My guess is there are many answers, that they will vary from town hall to town hall, that the role of Augusta will have to shrink as that of the citizen and community expands.

We can do this and we must.