Letters

Published
June 29, 2016

Letter to the editor: Invest in Portland’s schools now to save on future cost increases

Neglecting to fund our schools now will only cost us more later. The taxpayers of Portland have been paying for school building studies for the last 22 years. Experts at Oak Point Associates have finalized the most recent and comprehensive study, for which the taxpayers of Portland paid $717,000 since 2012. In four years, the […]
Published
June 28, 2016

Letter to the editor: It’s time for NRA to join list of terrorist groups

It is time for the State Department to put the leadership of the National Rifle Association (not its membership) on its list of nations and organizations that promote terrorism. After all, they are responsible for more American deaths every year than all the “radical Islamic” groups combined. Eric Van Note Scarborough
Published
June 28, 2016

Letter to the editor: We need new ideas to curb terrorism and gun violence

As an independent, I’m disgusted by both parties’ presumptive presidential nominees, who I think will do little to break the gridlock in Washington or unite the warring factions in our country. I am a semi-retired public administrator, a veteran and owner of two .22-caliber rifles. The battle between President Obama/Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump over […]
Published
June 28, 2016

Letter to the editor: Young people disrespected by increased tobacco age

I realize I’m in a small minority of people who feel that the Portland City Council made a grievous mistake by raising the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21. It seems very wrong to me that an adult, 18 to 20 years of age, can offer his life for this country, then come […]
Published
June 28, 2016

Letter to the editor: LePage should look at other ways we can cut sugar intake

It was exciting to see Gov. LePage’s recent interest in supporting nutritious purchases for Maine’s most vulnerable and underserved. It’s a slippery slope, however, to restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program purchases of foods and beverages that contain one target nutrient (e.g., added sugar). Breads and cereals contain added sugar. So do granola bars and chocolate […]

Published
June 27, 2016

Letter to the editor: LePage fails to understand value of natural resources

Gov. LePage should use the power of his office to lift up the people of Maine and bring us together to make Maine “the way life should be.” Instead, LePage pits Mainers against each other with falsehoods, name calling and statements like this: “The Natural Resources Council of Maine is fiercely opposed to any economic […]
Published
June 27, 2016

Letter to the editor: November’s ballot initiatives bad business for Maine

Eleven years ago, I returned to Maine after a 25-year absence. I brought my family, purchased a business and felt at last, once again, I was home. For the first time in my life, after reading November’s ballot initiatives, I feel unwelcome. I feel that as a business owner, I am no longer wanted. I […]
Published
June 27, 2016

Letter to the editor: LePage’s interest in mines tantamount to fool’s gold

After reading Gov. LePage’s latest op-ed (June 21), I have to ask: Did it arrive at the publisher’s desk by carrier pigeon or telegraph? Setting aside his usual tired, cynical attempts at dividing us along this or that imaginary line, just how seriously are we supposed to take a 19th-century economic proposal by a sitting […]
Published
June 27, 2016

Letter to the editor: Anti-abortion passion better spent in other areas

I have been reading on and off articles about folks protesting in front of Planned Parenthood buildings. I applaud their passion and energy to fight for life. However, I believe their time and energy could be used to help children already here. There are babies born addicted who need to be held 24/7 to fight […]
Published
June 26, 2016

Letter to the editor: DHHS errs by taxing the poor for government’s mistake

Mary Mayhew, commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, has found a way to make the poor and elderly on Social Security pay for the DHHS’ computer mistakes. The DHHS benignly refers to it as an “agency error.” They do this by having the Internal Revenue Service garnish the paychecks, each month, […]

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Letters