I’m not sure why Dean Scontras wants to be a congressman, since his ideology is that government should do nothing — at all. He’s spent so much of his campaign saying what he wouldn’t be doing in Congress — like making it easier for Americans to get health care or holding Wall Street accountable — that his platform is practically “Do-nothing Dean.”

Dean, would you ensure that veterans get the benefits they’ve earned into the future? Well, he won’t do that because it might be expensive.

Dean, will you do something about stopping credit-card companies from taking advantage of consumers? He won’t do that because the banks should be allowed to do whatever they want.

My confidence wasn’t restored when I listened to an MPBN interview with Scontras, who spent more time dodging questions than answering them. He wouldn’t say where he stood on the tea party platform or gay marriage because he thinks they don’t have bearing on a member of Congress. Really?

I expect our leaders to have a plan for what they’re going to do about putting people back to work, rising health care premiums, and educating our children. Scontras’ proud pitch for Congress is that he would do nothing.

I appreciate strong leaders like Chellie Pingree who, unlike Scontras, isn’t content to stand back and watch as Mainers struggle. She knows there are problems in government, which is why she’s worked hard to do something about it.

She’s pressed the Obama administration to change regulations that hurt our fishermen, she stepped in when FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) was giving our coastal communities a hard time, and she pressured Anthem to change its decision to deny claims for Maine veterans.

That’s not big government, that’s better government.

Do something with your vote: Don’t give it to Do-nothing Dean.

Sandra Sneiderman
South Portland

 

I am writing in support of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, who has served Maine with distinction during this past term. Always accessible and willing to work hard for the citizens of our state, she has been tireless in her work for the good of her district and the country as a whole.

I would vote for her if only for her outspoken opposition to the wars that are costing this country $7 billion a month, money that is simply vanishing into a black hole. And as a veteran I appreciate her work on behalf of the Veterans Administration — a necessary and often overlooked responsibility made even more critical by 10 solid years of war.

There are many other compelling reasons to support her as well, from her steady advocacy for the restoration of the critical Memorial Bridge link between Kittery and Portsmouth, to her work on behalf of small businesses, to her advocacy for real health care reform.

In recent weeks Chellie has been subject to increasingly outrageous personal attacks. I am sick of the smears and distortions being spewed by her opponent. I hope people will see through this garbage to the fine and honorable work that Chellie has done for the state of Maine.

Neil Jorgensen
Kittery

 

Please let me share with your readers my two cents’ worth on the upcoming election. I urge everyone to come out and vote for Republicans like Dean Scontras and Paul LePage. If your readers value their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, they need to send a strong message to the current administrations in Washington and Augusta.

The Republican caucus in Washington and Dean Scontras have promised to repeal the recently enacted national health care law. This law has virtually turned Americans into slaves by mandating individuals to buy an insurance product in the private market.

In addition to imposing heavy taxes on medical services and products, this law gives the government infinite power to manipulate citizens, tell families how to bring up their kids and what to feed them, and to fine the families for overdosing on trans fats. Can we call this freedom? The U.S. Constitution restricts the federal government to specific powers. Obama’s health law destroys the Constitution.

If readers don’t want slavery as a lifestyle, I urge them to please go to the polls and vote for Dean Scontras and Paul LePage.

Peter Beauchamp
Bristol

 

Voters of Maine, I hope you are all smart enough to see through the deceptive TV ads of Chellie Pingree. She tries to portray herself as a down-home island girl with Maine values. The truth seems to be that she is flying around the country and the Virgin Islands with her Wall Street hedge-fund fiance in a private jet. Is that traditional Maine values?

She touts in one of her ads, “Main Street, not Wall Street.” However, the truth of the matter is that according to the Federal Elections Commission, almost 87 percent of the money she has raised is from outside the state of Maine. The majority of her campaign contributions are from Connecticut and New York, and the major contributors are the financial sector, otherwise known as Wall Street. And she stands up to special interests. Who do you think she will be indebted to if elected?

Our country can’t stand another two years of joblessness, high taxes and printing more money. If your family was broke, I’m sure you wouldn’t look to spend your way out of it. We can’t spend what we don’t have unless we want our children to foot the bill. “Tax the rich” seems to be an idea that will save our country, but guess what? The rich are the ones who will create new jobs! If you tax them too much, they will simply go elsewhere, overseas perhaps or at least to another state. Maine (was ranked) in 50th place as a business-friendly state. We can’t do any worse. We can’t take another two years of Chellie Pingree’s policies.

On the other hand, Dean Scontras’ policy of fiscal responsibility is called “risky” by Pingree’s campaign. Dean has raised 90 percent of his campaign funding from people and small businesses in our state — people like you and me. We need his ideas and values to stop what has happened in Washington.

So the next time you hear “Main Street, not Wall Street,” remember where her money is coming from. Dean Scontras has my vote, and I urge you to vote for fiscal responsibility on Nov. 2.

John Mixon
Ogunquit