When U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk visited the New Balance factory in Norridgewock, he assured workers that he wouldn’t endanger their jobs by rushing to lift tariffs on footwear (“In Maine, trade rep says he’ll help save U.S. jobs,” Sept. 14).

Yet all indications are that negotiators for the so-called Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP, are moving steadily in that direction. A deplorable lack of transparency in the ongoing negotiations has given us every reason to expect the worst.

The impact of the TPP on Mainers’ way of life will likely go well beyond the potential loss of 900 jobs at New Balance.

The TPP is an enormous trade and investment deal being negotiated by Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.

Although Ron Kirk and his negotiators are unwilling to tell Americans what they’re proposing in our name, the largest free trade agreement since NAFTA is expected to include investor-state provisions that will undermine our democracy, drive down wages and harm the environment. Patent and copyright provisions could drive up the cost of medicines and restrict Internet freedom.

Negotiators just finished the 14th round of talks on the pact without any public statements on the tentative agreements they’ve reached.

However, leaked documents indicate that the TPP free trade agreement will create more incentives to offshore good-paying jobs to low-wage countries while undercutting labor conditions around the world.

Representatives of the multinational corporations who have a seat at the negotiating table are anxious to boost their profits while continuing the race to the bottom for all American workers — not just those at New Balance.

We have a right to demand greater transparency in these negotiations, which will affect all of our lives for many years to come.

Matthew Beck

South Portland

Same reasons continue to pop up for accidents

• “The victims did not appear to be wearing seatbelts.”

• “Speed and alcohol appeared to be factors.”

• “Neither motorcyclist was wearing a helmet.”

• “Speed and alcohol contributed to the crash.”

• “Neither rider was wearing a helmet.”

In the Sept. 17 Press Herald, these phrases fell within just three dispatches. Three people collectively lost their lives.

These are lines that we literally see on a weekly basis in this newspaper.

When these people do not succumb to their injuries, they often lie in hospital beds, sometimes for weeks, racking up huge bills that are all too often not covered by insurance that is not there.

We as a society are destructive. We do not respect our lives or we would not carelessly operate our motorized vehicles in such a way as to create this news.

Sooner or later this state will have to realize that much stiffer penalties will be required to make us think twice before we execute such foolishness.

Although … I just realized that I as an automobile driver in the state of Maine am required to wear a seatbelt and you as a motorcycle operator don’t have to wear a helmet … so never mind.

Scott Plummer

South Casco

Haigis Parkway not ideal as Payne Road substitute

Great to hear that Scarborough is going to be tackling the longstanding traffic issues at Dunstan Corner (“Early on, Scarborough project to cause headaches,” Sept. 20).

One of the goals of the project, as stated by Ernie Martin, project manager for the Maine Department of Transportation: “The town really wants to push the (Payne Road) traffic toward the Haigis Parkway. That road can handle the truck traffic and more volume.”

OK. Sounds good. But does that mean that Scarborough or Maine or whoever it is that has responsibility for Haigis Parkway will finally repave what has been for years now an amusement-park nightmare of ruts, potholes and ragged pavement?

As it is now, I have friends and neighbors who actively avoid Haigis Parkway because of its lousy condition.

Steve McKelvey

Scarborough

Asthma patient agrees with critic of pervasive perfume

Thank you, Susan Johnson of Falmouth (“Cigarette smoke not only trigger for sensitive people,” Sept. 17) — you just described what I go through daily due to my asthma!

Unfortunately, many people just aren’t aware that the scents they use can actually make others ill.

Perfumes and colognes are now the new secondhand smoke. The American Lung Association says 72 percent of asthma attacks are caused by perfume. I hope that society catches on a lot faster this time!

Carol Regan

Standish

Stories get the facts wrong on ‘drone,’ cost of drugs

Two stories in your Sept. 14 newspaper require clarification.

Reporterette Jessica Hall wrote a story about a “drone” taking photos and perhaps making money illegally (“Portland company’s drone photos may test FAA rule”).

As far as I know, a “drone” would be one that is flown by following a preprogrammed flight path, unassisted, or is controlled by a pilot/operator who is remotely located.

In either case, there is no one to “see and avoid” other aircraft, a big concern of the Federal Aviation Administration.

In the case reported, the aerial vehicle is remotely controlled by a pilot who can perform the necessary “see and avoid” function. If the helicopter is always within the pilot’s sight, it is not a drone and it is not doing anything illegal.

The story about why drugs are cheaper in Canada, by Ann Kim, is just plain wrong. Other countries do not “negotiate drug prices.” They command what the drug companies can charge, period.

The majority of new, lifesaving drugs are developed here in the USA. New drugs cost billions to develop. Many never make it to the marketplace at all. Who will pay for all this research and testing? We in the USA, that’s who.

Our government could also “negotiate” prices with the drug companies, and at some point, all research and development of new drugs will cease. Is that what we want?

How much research for new drugs is going on in Canada? None. Drug companies cannot make a profit in Canada, so they do no research there.

The drug companies cannot refuse to sell their new drugs in other countries; can you imagine the accusations if they tried to withhold them? They would be called “murderers,” at a minimum. So we in the USA continue to pick up the drug tab for the rest of the world.

Harry White

Scarborough

Copy the Story Link