After last November’s election—so disheartening to progressives—I decided to do something in the way of a peaceful protest: make bread and give it away. This small action seemed like a fitting rebuke to the far right’s closed-fist philosophy that swept through this country—Maine included—on Election Day.

Indeed, in one of his first official acts, our new “tea-bag” governor, Paul LePage, got off to a thumping start by rescinding Democratic predecessor Governor Baldacci’s order that state officials would not be allowed to question people about their immigration status when they applied for services. LePage’s reasoning? According to a spokesman, “LePage wants to send the message that with scarce resources, he’s putting Mainers first.” The interesting part was that when LePage was questioned about how many illegal immigrants actually applied for services, LePage had to admit that not many did, but he was sending them his “message” anyway. And it seems that LePage is not going to let facts or generosity get in the way of what he thinks is a “good” message.

Alas, his message was a selfish bark that I fear will be a precursor to similar decisions.

In the meantime, I make bread and give it away. In my post “Taking Stock: Part Two” I listed the guidelines for my Let Them Eat Bread project. In short, for a year—starting January 1, 2011—I plan to give away at least one loaf of bread each week. If I can manage it, then I will give more.

Week one of the New Year got of to a rousing start with three loaves of bread given away: one to my daughter Shannon, one to my book group buddy Mona, and one to my friends Dawna and Jim Leavitt.

Let them eat bread!