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Volume 15, Number 1: Fall 2006 
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To Our Readers

The Margaret Chase Smith Essay
The Double Crisis and the Civic Mission of Education
David Scobey

The Maine Consensus Economic Forecasting Commission’s fall 2006 forecast described here by Maine State Economist Catherine Reilly suggests the state’s economic future will be one of slow yet steady growth despite a weakening housing market and impending closure of Brunswick Naval Air Station.

Maine’s "open land" tradition of public access to private lands is increasingly under threat from a variety of sources. James Acheson examines these sources and suggests a more active course for preserving Maine’s "open-land" tradition. At stake, he points out, is the viability of the state’s outdoor recreation and tourism industries.

In a wide-ranging interview with Maine Policy Review Editor, Kathryn Hunt, former governor Angus King talks about the issues of regionalization, state economic development, a nation "at risk," and charting a path forward for Maine.

With the push to consolidate municipal and school administrative functions growing stronger in Maine, David Wihry draws upon the recent government consolidation experiences of the Province of Québec to point out some "lessons learned" with applicability to Maine.

Visitors to Maine’s state parks and historic sites report high levels of satisfaction. As the authors convey, parks are an important component of Maine’s tourism industry, generating an overall
economic impact exceeding $30 million annually. Nonetheless, many suffer from long-deferred maintenance and are in immediate need of major capital improvements.