The mural depicting the Maine workers’ rise out of the lower income and into middle-income status should not have been removed by the governor.

The mural belongs to the people of the state of Maine and shows the struggle of the labor movement from child labor to a reasonable form of American labor.

Additional Photos

This mural depicting the history of Maine’s labor movement should be returned to the Maine Department of Labor headquarters in Augusta, where it can serve as a reminder that “this country was built by human labor and intelligent thought,” a reader says. IImbrogno Photography photo courtesy of Judy Taylor Studio

This country was built by human labor and intelligent thought. Even though we still have many who are poor and are on the bottom of the economic ladder, we must not forget how we got here.

Home ownership, vehicle ownership, clothing and shelter are necessities of life that built this great country and that the labor movement encouraged. It’s a poor attitude to think otherwise.

Return the mural to its proper place, admit that its removal was wrong and be a little more concerned with those who built this great country.

Kenneth Gile

Moody

MPBN plays critical role in drawing retirees to state

“Maine, The Way Life Should Be” greeted us as we crossed the border in 2003, deciding if we would choose to retire in Maine from our home in the Midwest. We did not ask about taxes, assuming you have to pay for services no matter where you live; we asked if we could get National Public Radio and TV in the places where we might consider buying a house.

As we traveled here, we had discovered that not all places in the Northeast had such accessibility. That reception was a requirement and part of what we would call “quality of life.”

Now we are living here (year round, I might add) and enjoying our daily connection with quality entertainment on radio and television – without advertising. Yes, we contribute to the cost by our donations.

Now I learn that our governor favors some businesses over others as he takes a look at the budget. In theory, I would support no corporate welfare, but that doesn’t seem to be one of the choices. I wouldn’t miss the Walmart in our town, but I would very much miss MPBN.

Gov. LePage wants people to come to Maine to establish their businesses. He also wants retirees to live here year round, thereby spending their money in the state.

Then he needs to recognize that these stations are a major part of why some of us are here. If these stations had not been here in 2003, then neither would we.

Delene Perley

Windham

Time to reject handouts, crack down on U.S. deficit

In the age of partisan politics, it has become evident that such rivalry does not serve the people of the United States. The goal of each party has become winning, as well as growing the central government ever larger to serve their respective ideologies.

All this ambition is being fueled with the coffers filled by the U.S. taxpayer. Both parties generally put forth progressive candidates who best reflect their own view of an expanded government.

Money in the hands of the populace is power. Contrary to that, as the saying goes, “a fool and his money are soon parted.” That statement holds true whether it happens from impulse spending, brought on by effective commercial advertising, or taken away in the form of taxation.

“We the people” have been foolish by letting ourselves fall prey to any number of cultural vices as well as shirking our responsibility to participate in our government. The result has been an overgrown and tyrannical central government with no one to hold it accountable.

The last 50 years have seen an ever-larger segment of society convinced that they cannot survive on their own and are in need of government assistance to survive.

Now we are on the brink of economic collapse from massive federal debt. We must choose to either ignore or address the current danger.

“We the people” ought not be in bondage to either government or vice. Through thrift and savings, we can become a “free and independent” people once again.

If we remain enslaved to government handouts or vice, we will have given away our freedom. However, with liberty comes responsibility for our own well-being. Likewise, a responsibility for our actions. Truly, liberty is the best remedy.

Brad Saunders

Hebron

Same-sex marriage critic makes unfounded points

Walter Eno needs to consider a few points of fact for his Another View editorial of March 23 (“Redefining marriage would bring unintended consequences”):

1. Divorce redefines marriage. Adultery redefines marriage. Allowing a group of committed loving couples access to civil marriage makes it more inclusive.

2. Catholic Charities takes federal taxpayer dollars and so must comply with all federal non-discrimination laws or choose to close. Their funding included taxpayer dollars paid by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. To be a federally funded business means complying with federal laws.

3. In 2002, Sweden added sexual orientation to its hate crimes legislation. The law protects any and all sexual orientations from hate speech, heterosexuals included.

4. Mr. Eno refers to a 1997 advertisement in Canada citing Bible verses used by evangelicals against homosexuality, but he neglects to mention that the ad also included two male stick figures holding hands with a red circle and slash through it superimposed over the graphic. The incident happened in 1997 and was overturned on appeal, which the author also neglects to mention.

5. The author then goes on to interpret a request to not have one’s religious views foisted upon those of us who are not religious as akin to having to worship in secret catacombs. Personally, when I think of the cathedrals and churches and other places of worship that enjoy tax-free status in this country, it does not conjure up secret catacombs.

Lastly, the author laments that allowing marriage equality would be the end of Western civilization. I would just like the author to think about all the wars that have been started and the blood that has been spilled in the name of religion over the centuries. The author might want to rethink his hyperbolic statement.

Seth Thayer

Northport

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