Letters

Published
February 2, 2014

Letter to the editor: Big changes in education warrant a much closer look

The current Legislature will willingly respond to the following terms – “federal funds,” “children” and “schools” – as would Pavlov’s dogs. The desire to expand our failing educational system to include 3- and 4-year-olds is nothing more than a salivary response. Minimum reading of various studies of pre-K programs nationwide – some of which included […]
Published
February 2, 2014

Letter to the editor: Maine communities of faith addressing climate change

I was raised a Protestant minister’s daughter in rural Maine, and now attend a United Church of Christ church in my local community. I grew up on sermons reminding me that the earth is a precious gift from God. Now when I hear such sermons I often end up in tears. I see the changes […]
Published
February 1, 2014

Letter to the editor: ‘Heroic’ organ donors need aftercare

It is gratifying that Gary Rutter received a long-awaited kidney and that Hallie Twomey has found solace in donating one of hers (“Six linked patients, three saved lives in series of kidney transplants,” Jan. 17). The marvels of modern medicine and the generosity of the human heart are breathtaking. However, while the article cited possible […]
Published
February 1, 2014

Letter to the editor: Editorial on Morsi could be informative to Rep. Pingree

I see in some foreign news outlet headlines that President Mohamed Morsi of Egypt is to shortly go on trial for breaking out of jail. He’d been a political prisoner of the Mubarak regime. Then he was elected president in internationally approved elections. Then he was overthrown by the military. I assume the jailbreak came […]
Published
February 1, 2014

Letter to the editor: Maine Voices writers offer nuanced views on issues

Two different Maine Voices writers converge on our culture’s need to exercise the qualities of humility and respect for complexity. Either/or labels (e.g., left and right, red and blue, pro-choice and pro-life, etc.) only make it easier to escape from difficult ethical struggles on issues both national and personal. Nicole Clegg of Planned Parenthood of […]

Published
February 1, 2014

Letter to the editor: Food stamp deal disregards the needs of the powerless

Republicans are fixated on cutting food stamps, heedless of the consequences. Democrats signal their willingness to compromise on the farm bill. The deal would slash food stamps by $90 a month for nearly 850,000 poor families. That is not a compromise. It’s a betrayal of needy families and a lamentable instance of political opportunism. The […]
Published
January 31, 2014

Letter to the editor: Singing on bus a nuisance, not religious freedom

If L.D. 1428 leads to 82-year-old women singing hymns and spirituals on Portland buses with impunity (“Maine Voices: Maine’s religious freedom bill correctly worded, sorely needed,” Jan. 23), then it needs to be immediately dismissed from further consideration by the Maine Legislature. It will promote public nuisance, not religious freedom. George Hixon South Portland
Published
January 31, 2014

Letter to the editor: Governors’ natural gas push not the best energy solution

What’s worse than big government? Government stooges representing big business and claiming to be tea party, like the attempt to use public funds to build gas infrastructure in our region. (“New England governors start push to cut cost of power” Jan. 23) They want to charge consumers in advance to expand private businesses with a […]
Published
January 31, 2014

Letter to the editor: Franklin Street’s future should start with the past

After seeing the two photos on the front page Jan. 27 showing what Franklin Street looked like in 1963 compared to now (“Franklin Street redesign to free up valuable city land”), it became apparent to me what the city needs to do to make the area beautiful again: Tear everything down and put it back […]
Published
January 31, 2014

Letter to the editor: South Portland tar sands ban reflects public opinion

The letter “Moratorium on tar sands oil ignores voters’ decision” (Jan. 23) misrepresents many key facts about events in South Portland. In 300 words, I can correct only three. The citizens of South Portland are, in fact, undertaking a clear act of democratic self-determination. • First, the Nov. 5 vote was on a specific ordinance […]

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Letters