Letters

Published
December 28, 2013

Letter to the editor: Tar sands panel best left to the experts

There is no question that reducing tobacco use is a worthwhile community goal. Kids are healthier and do better in school, workers are more productive and health costs go down for all of us. Public health experts are constantly developing new and innovative strategies to prevent youth smoking, but giving the tobacco industry veto power […]
Published
December 28, 2013

Letter to the editor: ‘Personhood’ decision slights chimps

We should have known it would come to this (“Judges deny chimps ‘legal personhood,’ ” Dec. 13). In 2010, the Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, effectively granted “personhood” to corporations like Walmart, Fox and Google. And now, some lower court judges in New York have denied chimpanzees the same privilege. In […]
Published
December 27, 2013

Letter to the editor: Cost of higher education called a major injustice

The cost of education in the United States is a major social injustice issue; many citizens will never be able to afford a college-level degree. A college education is associated with the quality and health of a human being’s life. Some countries have successfully implemented universal education, where their citizens may obtain degrees at all […]
Published
December 27, 2013

Letter to the editor: Yarmouth pair’s daughter needs second kidney ‘gift’

Twenty-five years ago, Katie Costello’s kidney failed. If I can use the word “fortunate,” she was; her brother’s blood type matched hers and she received the gift of his kidney. She could now resume her life with a husband and an adopted daughter. We always ask – why are good people faced with more than […]
Published
December 27, 2013

Letter to the editor: State EBT cards help pay for vacations in Florida

Working as a cashier in a Florida beach community grocery, I can say for certain that EBT cards are being used by people on vacation. Each day I am amazed by the number of people in my line, well-tanned and relaxed, using EBT cards. Since the state is printed on the card, I’ll often say, […]

Published
December 27, 2013

Letter to the editor: Political skills give Michaud the edge

In a letter to the editor, Betsy Smith presented a glowing endorsement of Eliot Cutler for governor (“Why a gay rights activist picks Cutler,” Nov. 20). She praises his vision and leadership, confident that “he will create an environment that promotes collaboration to achieve a secure and promising future for all Mainers.” I agree that […]
Published
December 26, 2013

Letter to the editor: Bipartisanship is good, not so the budget deal

Last week in Washington, D.C., a federal budget deal passed the Congress. I am glad that we are not facing another government shutdown, but this deal is not a good one for our country. For too long, all of our budget talks have focused on cuts, but there is not much left to cut that […]
Published
December 26, 2013

Letter to the editor: Veterans challenged to top stranger’s act of kindness

A week ago Saturday while shopping in Portsmouth, N.H., I turned in to a local gas station to fill my tank before the oncoming storm. I was approached by a complete stranger who reached into his wallet and gave me a gift card from Dunkin’ Donuts and thanked me for my military service (as marked […]
Published
December 26, 2013

Letter to the editor: Oil interests have no place on tar sands study group

Re: “Our View: Moratorium allows South Portland time to craft tar sands policy” (Dec. 18): Your editorial asserts that the committee to be appointed by the City Council “should include local petroleum industry representatives as well as opponents of tar sands.” Five of the six councilors who voted for the moratorium explicitly stated that they […]
Published
December 26, 2013

Letter to the editor: Older drivers need safety programs

I write in response to the editorial regarding older drivers and driver safety issues in Maine: “Our View: Blanket limits on license renewals not the way to cut senior driver risk” (Dec. 11). The editorial raises some important points. We can all agree that increasing the number of safe and conscientious drivers on the road […]

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Letters