Edgar Allen Beem says he “could buy (albeit more expensively) at Whole Foods if I could stomach the conservative politics if its owner, John Mackey.” Beem once again regurgitates the progressive talking points with regard to “conservatives.” I am a conservative. Unlike Beem, I do my homework before condemning a person’s political stand. In the […]

Over the years, I have sometimes been accused of being anti-business. As a progressive, I tend to favor labor over management, the common good over corporate profit, cooperation over competition. But there are some companies I love despite myself. I am spoiled, of course, by having a spouse who works for L.L. Bean. Not only […]

Here’s a question that most people outside the capitol in Augusta could answer correctly with very little policy background. If Maine wanted to encourage retaining high-wage manufacturing jobs would it A) increase the tax on fuel and electricity used in manufacturing or B) retain or even reduce the tax on energy? While most citizens know […]

Most successful business owners have had setbacks in their careers. The proof of a successful career is one’s ability to bounce back from tough times. Not only has Les Otten helped create many hundreds of jobs in the Bethel area, but most of these jobs still exist. Otten is still creating jobs in Maine through […]

Six years ago, in another of his soak-the-rich socialist screeds (“Who needs property tax relief,” March 4, 2004), Edgar Allen Beem volunteered that less than $10,000 separated him from the poorhouse. In other words, he counted himself among that segment of the population consuming almost as much as it produces, an addiction that for the […]

Congratulation to the Falmouth Town Council for listening to residents and removing the 750-foot dimensional standard around vernal pools. Yet, a landowner with an insignificant vernal pool 10 feet across will have 4.69 acres of her land affected by this new regulation. Why? The state only regulates significant vernal pools, but the Falmouth Long-Range Planning […]

I would like to thank the town of Cape Elizabeth and Central Maine Power Co. for removing the trees and overgrowth along Sawyer Street between Eastman and Fickett streets last week. High winds consistently uproot trees and break branches near the utility lines, causing extended power outages to the households in this area. I was […]

The rules which govern the economy should move us towards good jobs, healthy families, environmental sustainability, respect for human rights and access to essential services. Paid sick days are necessary for our public health and workplace productivity and, frankly, just the right thing to do for Maine’s hardworking citizens. No employee should have to choose […]

I can’t believe Edgar Allen Beem can be so out of touch with reality. At first glance, I thought “Raise taxes, please” was sarcasm. Then after reading the piece, I realized that he just doesn’t get it. Maybe he is a rich man, so maybe a few thousand dollars a year in extra taxes doesn’t […]

Thank you for the revealing look into gubernatorial candidate Les Otten’s past business dealings. Unfortunately, in this economic climate, it’s an all too familiar story: CEO manages company into oblivion, then scampers away mostly intact while his employees and investors (of which I was one) take the hit. Then goes on to “save the Boston […]