A recent Quinnipiac University poll found the vast majority of Americans – 68% of Republicans and 95% of Democrats – support stay-at-home orders in order to protect vulnerable citizens from the coronavirus. And then there is that selfish minority that refuses to be inconvenienced in order to protect others. I have never referred to Donald […]
Forecaster Opinion
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Give us liberty, or give us death
Founding Father Patrick Henry’s famous words still ring true today as Mainers’ personal and economic liberties are trampled by an overreaching state intent on preventing further deaths by the coronavirus. “Give me liberty, or give me death” is what Henry said to the Second Virginia Convention on March 23, 1775, helping to motivate the American […]
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Posted inForecaster Opinion
Life Unwound: Let’s not forget the good parts
The words “social isolation” fail. Maybe bodies apart/people connected succeeds as a term for this time. Isolation wouldn’t be healthy. Don’t people need people? Hunkering down works. Hunkering down would include aloneness without loneliness, would include sorting old photos, doing puzzles. Solitude might bring benefits. Maybe in these at-home hours, we could grow more creative, […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Reader disappointed in Balentine, disagrees about COVID-19
As a longtime independent, I read John Balentine’s column to get both sides. His most recent column leaves me disappointed (“Lockdown madness must end May 1,” April 24). He claims that the lockdown will kill more people than COVID-19. Where does this information come from? Nobody wants to get back to normal more than I […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Balentine spreads misinformation about pandemic
I find it appalling that The Forecaster would publish John Balentine’s latest column, full of misinformation about the critical medical situation now facing us – COVID-19. He calls our current shutdown of non-essential businesses and travel “government-imposed madness” and also demands that it end on May 1. Every reputable scientist and doctor in the country, […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Voting is more important than ever
Voting has never been more important or more of a gift than it is now. Almost 30 of my 50 years of voting have been in Harpswell. I remember my first trip to the Orr’s Island Schoolhouse to vote, where the sense of community was so obvious and welcoming. In recent elections I’ve been spending […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Balentine is right; the madness must soon end
I am writing to concur with John Balentine’s excellent column, “Lockdown madness must end May 1” (April 23). I personally think this whole pandemic and our response to it is way overblown. There is not a single person alive on this planet who had ever lived through such a nightmarish experience, the complete shutting down […]
Posted inForecaster Opinion
Letter: Mainers’ healthcare not top priority for Collins
As a primary care physician in Maine, I have had a number of uninsured patients and have seen the direct results of this lack – delayed care, unfilled medication prescriptions, treatment delayed until too late, etc. The current pandemic makes it even more imperative that healthcare coverage be available to everyone. Susan Collins has, once again, […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
The Universal Notebook: Happy (belated) Earth Day!
If I had been on the ball, this column would have appeared last week, just in time for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. But I’m getting old and forgetful. On Wednesday, April 22, in order to atone for this oversight, my lovely wife Carolyn and I walked around the middle school playing field behind […]
Posted inAmerican Journal, Forecaster Opinion, Lakes Region Weekly
Here’s Something: Maine ingenuity aiding coronavirus fight
Many residents would probably be surprised with just how much manufacturing is taking place in Maine. Sure, we hear a lot about well known, large scale operations such as L.L.Bean, Poland Spring and General Dynamics, which are awe inspiring and jaw dropping in scope, but we have many small and medium sized companies providing awesome […]