I read in the Jan. 19 paper an article (“Bill would revise terms ‘prisoners,’ ‘inmates’ in statutes,” Page B1) that would be quite humorous if only it were not true. Our State House has before it a report based on a bill that legislators passed last spring to rewrite statutes to refer to prisoners as […]

Re: “Portland charter commission to discuss changes for mayor, city manager” (Jan. 17): Though I empathize with the goals of the members of the Portland charter commission who want to ensure everyone is heard and empowered through city government, I believe that a strong mayor model is not going to achieve that and, in fact, […]

Electric cars are a great option now. In the past year, you have seen an increase in natural disasters. Climate change is here now. Fifty-four percent of the greenhouse gasses produced in Maine come from gas powered vehicles (Maine DEP January 2020) If you are buying a car, consider an EV. Gas is up about […]

You wouldn’t know, after reading Bill Nemitz’s Jan. 16 column (“Breaking their silence on abortion – bless them every one”), that it is actually possible both to hold pro-life convictions and also to empathize with the tragic reasons behind why many women choose to procure an abortion. Although I could never agree with the ultimate […]

In my 30 or so years of writing letters to and requesting meetings with elected officials, I’ve felt frustrated and heartbroken numerous times. But never before have I felt utterly and completely ignored. Until recently, that is, when I reached out to Gov. Mills to request a meeting with a handful of Maine Quakers to […]

The past two years have given us an opportunity to really use our knowledge of science and math. We need to understand the basics of vaccines, viruses, antibiotics, antigen and PCR testing, and disease transmission. Even evolution, as viruses keep mutating and creating new strains. The math we need is in statistics and probability – […]

Jan. 15 marked the 20th year since the day when, in 2002, the Guantanamo Bay detention camp was opened by the United States. In this “military prison,” located within the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, people are subjected to torture and abuse, and they’re held indefinitely. And without charge, without trial! To be held in prison […]

I wonder what planet Jim Fossel lives on. In his Jan. 16 column, “Democrats must start thinking smaller” (Page D1), he is long on blaming Democrats and short on solutions to our current inflation. Turns out there aren’t easy solutions, and he admits that, but still goes on one of his familiar rants, excusing Republican […]