So this is Donald Trump saying the quiet part out loud. Republicans have long resisted any real immigration reform, no matter how loudly they beat the drum of “crisis at the border.” In fact, they love having access to cheap, disposable labor. But more than the cheap labor, Republicans love the issue. Immigration and border […]

I’m an international baccalaureate diploma candidate and a senior at Gray-New Gloucester High School. I’ve been studying the economic effect of immigration in Maine for an independent research project. I interviewed members of Maine government, educators and nonprofit leaders to determine if the effect of immigrants on Maine’s economic well-being is positive or negative. Through […]

I got sad when I read the Jan. 26 Page 1 article on Coach John Fitzsimmons’ resignation (“Falmouth High football coach resigns in wake of players’ petition”). I wonder what the parents behind the petition were thinking when they made it such a public event. I worked for John years ago and throughout my career […]

When shopping, I usually watch how many people reuse bags. Finally, I asked some checkout people. Their answer: “a little less than half reuse bags.” A study conducted by Freedonia Group found that plastic consumption in New Jersey tripled because of its plastic bag ban. Many New Jerseyans purchase reusable bags made of woven and […]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that he is simply trying to destroy Hamas. In reality, his policies are killing huge numbers of Palestinians, destroying their lands and buildings, their schools and hospitals, their way of life, and their economy. These actions follow a long blockade of nearly everything that Palestinians in Gaza need, often […]

Any Maine registered voter can vote in the Republican primary. Those who are registered as an “unenrolled” voter can vote in either the Democratic or the Republican primary, but not both. I changed my party affiliation to “unenrolled.” I plan to vote for Nikki Haley in the Republican primary. If enough others do this too, […]

Victoria Hugo-Vidal reminds us that alcohol is an addictive and deadly substance (“Decriminalizing drug possession is the way forward,” Jan. 28). Yet, alcohol is legal and alcoholic beverages are regulated by the government. Why not the same approach with other recreational drugs? The Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, argues persuasively for a shift from […]

I was pleased to see Victoria Hugo-Vidal discuss the benefits of hybrids in her Jan. 21 column. We hear a lot about electric vehicles. I don’t think enough people know how good hybrids are, especially while we’re waiting for more EV charging stations. Hybrids come in two varieties: gas-powered and plug-in. Gas-powered hybrids don’t require […]