The new Martin’s Point bridge will cost the taxpayers of Maine about $23.5 million. One of its amenities will be recreational platforms that will allow people to safely cast fishing lines into the mouth of the Presumpscot River, and everyone seems to think this is a nice idea.

Cut to the argument that panhandlers should no longer be allowed on city medians. An argument against panhandling is that they bring no value, they are mere takers without any output into the economy.

So why is it OK to spend millions of dollars constructing fishing platforms on the bridge when the people fishing are doing nothing but taking without producing anything of value?

Another argument against the panhandlers is that sooner or later, someone’s going to get hit by a passing car. I’d like to point out that most of the areas in town with median strips are in areas where the speed limit is 25 or 30 mph. Is it not the responsibility of the driver to avoid hitting people with his/her vehicle?

To date there has not been one accident involving a panhandler being struck by a vehicle, and if there had been it would have certainly been, at least partially, the driver’s fault.

I understand the concerns that people have, but I feel like a large part of the support for the proposal to ban the panhandlers from the medians stems from unwarranted hatred for these unfortunate folks.

Advertisement

This is a free market economy. Corporations take safety risks all the time to turn a profit. These people deserve the right to beg if they so choose, just as everyone else has the right to keep their spare change and drive past them.

Maybe we could copy the new bridge and erect panhandling platforms with taxpayer dollars.

Chris Ledue Shorr

Portland

Developing energy resources shouldn’t be partisan issue

Developing Maine’s energy resources should be a nonpartisan issue. Energy development means added jobs, private investment and new tax revenue. While Maine doesn’t have the oil, coal or gas resources that other states possess, we do have significant wind resources. Investment in wind projects has created job growth for more than 300 Maine businesses.

Advertisement

In 2008, our state set wind power goals in order to attract investment. Unfortunately, these goals have been under attack by partisan politics. By retaining this important business signal, and encouraging wind development in our state, we can attract new investment and keep rural communities strong.

Wind power has already proven to be a reliable, economically beneficial technology in both “red” and “blue” states across the country.

Nine states generate more than 10 percent of their electricity from wind, while Iowa and South Dakota rely on wind power for 20 percent of their electricity needs. In Iowa, wind power development generates $13 million in land lease payments for rural landowners and $19.5 million in added property tax revenue for local governments.

As we know, finding new revenue streams for our rural communities can be a challenge. Wind power development is providing part of that solution. Maine’s rural communities are already benefiting from more than $6 million annually in property tax payments.

Consumers also benefit from added wind power. Wind power is one of the least expensive forms of newly built generation, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Also, because wind power contracts are long-term and have fixed pricing with no fuel costs, added wind power acts as a great hedge against the often-volatile fossil fuel markets.

Advertisement

The facts are clear: Wind power works for Maine, and we should not miss out on the opportunity to make ourselves a regional leader in clean, affordable energy development.

Paul Williamson

Scarborough

Time for Collins to agree to hearing, vote on nominees

Thank you for your editorial (“Our View: Sen. Collins, GOP colleagues trying to slow government,” May 30) highlighting Sen. Susan Collins’ role in obstructing President Obama’s nominees to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The D.C. Circuit has a broad influence over laws and regulations that affect all of us in our daily lives, including public health, clean air, workers’ rights and consumer protections. The court must be allowed to do its job efficiently and fairly.

Advertisement

When Americans elect a president, we also elect the person we want selecting our federal judges. But Senate Republicans — with the help of Sen. Collins — have made every effort to keep President Obama from fulfilling his constitutional duty to fill vacancies on the courts.

The Republican blockade of President Obama’s nominees to the D.C. Circuit — which began even before nominees were named — represents the worst of the partisan gridlock that is crippling Washington.

We elect our president and senators to do their jobs. President Obama is doing his job by putting forward qualified nominees to fill vacancies on the courts. Sen. Collins should start doing her job and agree to give those nominees a fair hearing and a yes-or-no vote.

Beth Franklin

Falmouth

Middle class will soon tire of supporting immigrants

Advertisement

I was surprised you published Christopher Reimer’s guest editorial “Another View: Frank overlooks immigration’s cost to average American” (May 31), as it would not be considered politically correct.

His points were well made and very true. At our peril we are allowing the ruling class to force mass immigration on us, without considering the far-reaching effects it has on jobs, wages and our society in general.

We are tired of being reminded our ancestors were immigrants, but that is one way used to deflect discussion we should now be having on immigration in our country today, and not as it was when this country was being built and we needed immigrants. I think we can agree that the country has been built — with a population now of 314 million.

The ruling class has forgotten how this country was made great — by hard work, honesty, thriftiness, saving for the future, self-reliance and a general consensus that those virtues build a good and stable society. The ruling elite seem more interested in protecting their exalted positions in government rather than promoting the values that served us so well for so long.

There is a point at which the middle class, the backbone of our society, will have had enough of trying to support their own families, only to have to also support the many who come into this country and receive huge government benefits, paid by the taxes of the working middle class. I wonder when the point will come when they say, “Enough. No more.”

Alice Leighton

Portland


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.