Ethical questions can be thorny, and especially in a small state like Maine the ones regarding conflicts of interest can be the most complicated to answer.

It’s sometimes hard to know when a lawmaker is putting real-world experience and a lifetime of associations to work on behalf of the people who elected him, or when his judgment is clouded by the source of his paycheck.

Let’s all thank Sen. David Trahan, R-Waldoboro: He’s given us an easy one.

Direct democracy is a safety valve built into Maine’s political process, giving voters a chance to make laws when their elected officials won’t, or to strike down the really bad ideas that come out of Augusta.

Used with restraint, the citizen initiative and the people’s veto give voters a chance to have a say in their government. But when overused they can be more of a monkey wrench than a safety valve, paralyzing representative democracy by replacing hard work and compromise with a contest of slogans.

We are in a period where direct democracy is being used with more frequency and on a wider variety of issues than Maine has ever seen. While we trust the good sense of Maine voters and agree more often than not with the outcomes they reach, we think people should be more concerned about who they send to Augusta than in trying to do the legislators’ jobs for them.

Roger Clemens may get off after a mistrial, but he still faces the court of public opinion.

For the second week in a row, an unexpected outcome in a trial that attracted intense national coverage has drawn the public’s eyes to U.S. legal procedures.

Earlier this month, Casey Anthony was found not guilty by a Florida jury after being charged with murdering her daughter. The resulting outcry was heard from coast to coast, with some jurors going into hiding and one woman who slightly resembled Anthony being attacked in Oklahoma.

Where turbines go, and what they look and sound like there, may soon be covered by law.

Gov. Rick Perry of Texas is being sued for supporting a prayer rally. That’s ridiculous.