Letters

Published
December 23, 2013

Letter to the editor: Fix jail funding dilemma by changing role of counties

The state and counties are wrestling with county jail funding. Recently, the counties looked to the Legislature for funding, reaoning that overuse of property tax revenue burdens property owners. The Legislature agreed, offered funds and created a board without enforcement authority while placing performance requirements on the counties. All of them broke the agreement. Additionally, […]
Published
December 23, 2013

Letter to the editor: Some churches lack compassion of Christ

At this time when we celebrate the birth of Christ, I am deeply saddened by the Republican, right-wing churches that have advocated punishing the poor and the sick. Taking away food stamps, cutting children’s lunch programs, reducing unemployment compensation and fighting every attempt at universal health care somehow doesn’t seem to honor the One who […]
Published
December 23, 2013

Letter to the editor: LePage should sign pact urging cuts in pollution

After reading your Dec. 12 editorial, “Our View: LePage should sign anti-smog petition,” and following how cross-border air pollution threatens Maine’s air quality, I am completely in the dark as to why the governor is not doing more to advance common-sense public health protections to drive down health care costs. There is no doubt that […]
Published
December 23, 2013

Letter to the editor: Space race shows mixed-up priorities

Not too long ago we read of NASA’s desire to appropriate $170 million to “lasso” a meteor by using a specially developed and built spaceship in order to study said rock. Apparently we still have not learned our lesson and money continues to grow on trees in Washington, as they now are headed to Mars […]
Published
December 22, 2013

Letter to the editor: State must continue effort to interest girls in STEM

Considering how fast our world is being transformed by technology, you might expect the number of students studying computer science to be at an all-time high. You’d be wrong. According to a 2012 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by the year 2020 the U.S. will have 1 million unfilled computer programming jobs. Of […]

Published
December 22, 2013

Letter to the editor: A kind turn to be remembered forever

Many recalled Jacqueline Kennedy’s courage and graciousness as the nation recently commemorated the assassination’s 50th anniversary. Here’s a story I wish had happened to me – but rather, it happened to a childhood pal in New Jersey. Brian’s an amiable, “regular guy” (albeit a rabid Republican). It was early December 1983. The sky was dark […]
Published
December 22, 2013

Letter to the editor: Real environmental groups see benefits of wind power

It is unfortunate to see the number of news stories that have mischaracterized the Maine Audubon report “Wind Power and Wildlife in Maine” and the response by Friends of Maine’s Mountains as a clash between environmental groups (“Maine environmental groups clash over wind power,” Dec. 12). To be clear, the Maine Audubon Society is an […]
Published
December 22, 2013

Letter to the editor: October a better choice for Thanksgiving holiday

I don’t understand why it isn’t possible to change Thanksgiving to October. Year after year, with rare exception, travel becomes hazardous. The weather is generally lousy or worse with flight delays and cancellations; accidents due to snowstorms, icing. When I have written about this to members of Congress in the past, I have received the […]
Published
December 21, 2013

Letter to the editor: LePage welfare reforms merit hearing

I must admit that, for a multitude of reasons, Gov. LePage has had me scratching my head, over and over, throughout his gubernatorial term. However, a recent article on him (“LePage renews effort to target Maine welfare fraud,” Dec. 18) had me rubbing my chin instead. I’m actually in agreement with him regarding making some […]
Published
December 21, 2013

Letter to the editor: Tradition partly belies claims about race of Santa Claus

Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly and Megyn Kelly are claiming Santa Claus is Caucasian. They are partly wrong. Needed is a backtrack to New Amsterdam (now New York) in 1652, just prior to the English takeover of that Dutch colony. On Dec. 8 each year, tradition called for a person dressed as St. Nicholas – a […]

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Letters