Maine faces a 70 percent increased threat of widespread summer drought by 2050, roughly 50 percent shrinkage to snow season by late century and waters in the Gulf of Maine have already warmed faster than 99 percent of the world’s oceans. Our fisheries, agriculture and tourism appeal are the bedrock of Maine’s economy. If these developments are left unaddressed, communities from the coastline to the mountains will be destroyed. We are faced with a binary choice: continue down the path of partisan gridlock, or reconcile around solutions where all sides can win. A carbon dividend is not just the perfect answer to climate change, but the perfect answer to thrust Maine’s rich tradition of bipartisanship back to the national level. ~ Patrick White and Abigail Despres, UMaine students