I get a kick out of local law enforcement when they make a “big marijuana drug bust.” In reality, they are opening the doors for out-of-state pot dealers.
Of course, the price increases if it comes from Revere, Mass., or Hartford, Conn. Or even imported from Detroit. These lawmen actually keep the price of pot high enough to warrant guns to protect the product from being stolen.
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Now years ago, when pot was $15 an ounce, it just wasn’t worth stealing and fighting over. Even when it became $30, most policemen didn’t know what a marijuana plant looked like. But by chasing pot growers and sellers, the price has increased to $45 to $60 an eighth of an ounce. Therefore, it’s worth taking a risk for potential pot sellers who see quick easy money.
That’s what it’s really about. If the profits weren’t worth the risk, then why bother? Not to mention the expense and time involved by various law enforcement agencies trying to keep up with these pot growers.
It figures like Prohibition from many years ago. Supply and demand: If the public wants the product, someone will acquire it and sell for a big profit for the risk factor.
How many sheriffs, troopers and other law enforcement officials, along with courtroom personnel, does it take to catch and prosecute a feller growing 35 pot plants? The state has plenty of funds, I am sure, for the man hours involved.
Either way, these folks are breaking the law and should be punished, no matter what the cost.
Greg Locke
Portland
Robotics team is a credit to South Portland High
I am writing about one of the South Portland High School teams.
It’s not the usual team of basketball or football. It is the FIRST Robotics Team 58, the Riot Crew.
Some may think it’s not exciting to support a robotics team. Or ask why that team is important compared to sports teams.
The robotics team is a team of students with diverse interests. Some are on sports teams or in band, in drama, and some aren’t on any other teams.
Students on sports teams dream of scholarships and maybe even a professional career in sports. The students on the robotics team will get scholarships. There is over $14 million given in scholarships to students from robotics teams.
They have career opportunities because of being on a FIRST Robotics Team. Companies like to see a prospective employee was on a FIRST Robotics Team. Representatives from companies like BAE & DARPA speak at competitions about their desire to hire these students after they graduate from college.
And, as wonderful as sports are, not many people still play football and lacrosse when they reach adulthood. Whereas, when someone has taken part in robotics and has the experience of working hard for a goal with a diverse group of people, they will benefit as adults.
The Riot Crew won at the New Hampshire Regional competition against 47 other teams. They earned the chance to go to the championship in St. Louis, Mo., to compete against teams from all over the world. (There are 2,343 teams worldwide).
We as a community should show our support for the Riot Crew. They have brought more awards back to the school than any other team. Smart money backs successful enterprises.
Contact Ralph Newell at South Portland High School to find out how you can help out.
Kandi-Lee Hoy
South Portland
‘Right to Work’ bill: bad for business and Maine
Last year, hundreds of Maine’s workers gathered at the State House for a public hearing to defeat a bill that would disenfranchise unionized workers in both the private and public sectors.
The so-called “Right to Work” bill met such opposition that the Labor Committee killed L.D. 788, which went after our private sector, and tabled L.D. 309, the public-sector section, until this next legislative session.
Now, in 2012, after having lost 7,200 jobs last year according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, and with an already failing state economy, we’re faced with the decision to either continue taking steps backward in the representation of our workers or maintain what we have and instead focus on attracting businesses in order to re-employ Maine.
As a retired educator, I am dismayed by the current climate of negativity toward schools and teachers — toward workers, in general, and unions, in particular. Teachers’ unions and those of other public-sector workers have been demonized when they are simply standing up for fair working conditions, not only for their membership but for all workers.
This bill only serves to create disparity among workers and attract big businesses like Walmart, which, in turn, would force out small local businesses. If it has this effect on the private sector, what would be the effects on the public sector? For example, how would children’s education be affected?
Workers in states that have right to work laws have consistently lower quality of life than other states. Wages are lower, poverty and infant mortality rates are higher, there is less access to needed health care, and their children have poorer educations. When labor is represented, all workers and families benefit.
Mainers are rightly proud of our high quality of life. L.D. 309 is a bad idea for Maine and bad for business. Period.
Linda West
Portland
Letter got facts wrong about health insurance
A letter to the editor appearing in the March 26 Portland Press Herald (“Government workers should pay toward health insurance”) incorrectly asserted that federal government employees receive “100 percent” free health insurance.
This is not correct. All employees pay at least 25 percent of their federal employee health benefit premiums. Some pay more: Employees selecting the Blue Cross/Blue Shield standard family option pay 33 percent. See: http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/rates/nonpostalffs2011.pdf
Sylvia Kraemer
Portland
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