Letters

Published
January 19, 2017

Letter to the editor: Newspaper should examine veracity of Trump’s claims daily

Throughout his campaign, and still today, soon-to-be-president Donald J. Trump exhorted us not to believe reporting by reliable news organizations. He rallied supporters by pointing to the “dishonest media.” But at the same time, he fed the public and news organizations many items that were demonstrably false. For example, when he said in 2015 that […]
Published
January 18, 2017

Letter to the editor: Replace Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew with someone who cares

My husband and I regularly volunteer at our local food pantry. We are so angry that Mary Mayhew, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, has taken it upon herself to deny vulnerable Maine residents access to nourishing foods for infants, young children and their mothers. The loss of $1.4 million in […]
Published
January 18, 2017

Letter to the editor: Medical student jumped to conclusions in faulting Sen. Collins over Affordable Care Act

In her Jan. 13 commentary, second-year medical student Margaret Hayden accused our senator Susan Collins of not being able to stand up to her party, ripping health insurance from millions of people, sacrificing lives, placing Mainers in harm’s way, being a coward and losing her moral compass. Ms. Hayden doesn’t seem to know either Sen. […]
Published
January 18, 2017

Letter to the editor: Free speech shouldn’t mean you can fly American flag upside-down

In reference to the Jan. 2 letter to the editor by Walden S. Morton of Cape Elizabeth, “Flying flag upside down an exercise of free speech“: I am a World War II veteran and military retiree, with 41-plus years active/Army National Guard/Army Reserve service. I find it very disturbing in that what the letter writer […]
Published
January 18, 2017

Letter to the editor: The question of the hour – Where are we headed?

As we approach Jan. 20, I feel moved to share the words of the writer Henry Beston. These thoughts were penned in 1948 and contained in his book about life in Maine, “Northern Farm”: “What had gone out of American life …? Essentially … a sense of direction. To use a metaphor, we are all […]

Published
January 18, 2017

Letter to the editor: Put elementary school bond to a vote before the cost of repairs skyrockets

It’s no secret that Portland’s elementary schools are in bad shape. Tutoring happens in hallways. Phys ed happens in classrooms. Roofs leak. Bricks are crumbling. Only half of Reiche School is protected by a sprinkler system. We’ve known for decades that they need rescue, but we’ve consistently shirked our responsibility. Over the last 22 years, […]
Published
January 17, 2017

Letter to the editor: Education pick unqualified, an enemy of public schools

On Tuesday, the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold hearings on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as secretary of education. It is imperative, for the future of public education in this country, that Sen. Susan Collins and other HELP Committee members reject her candidacy. DeVos has absolutely no relevant experience for […]
Published
January 17, 2017

Letter to the editor: Boycott of L.L. Bean a dumb distraction as Republicans take control

Linda Bean is like the offbeat aunt at family holidays whose ideas are met with eye rolls. She’s been trounced at election time, just as, I’m sure, she is most likely ignored at L.L. Bean board meetings. So this dumb boycott move is embarrassing to us old liberals. The boycott is undemocratic, unfair and misguided. […]
Published
January 17, 2017

Letter to the editor: Women deserve full rights at work, home, in the courts

On Jan. 21, I’ll be standing in Kennebunk in support of women’s rights. One of the most pressing needs of women is affordable reproductive health care. Supporting Planned Parenthood allows many low-income women to receive such services as cancer screenings, birth control information, prenatal care and safe, legal abortions. In the workplace, women should be […]
Published
January 17, 2017

Letter to the editor: Election interference makes FBI director Comey a traitor

I recently turned 36. I try to eat well and exercise regularly. I wish FBI Director James Comey to know that he can expect me to spend the rest of my life telling people that he is a traitor to the United States of America. He has placed his loyalty to the Republican Party before […]

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Letters