Letters

Published
October 4, 2013

Letters to the editor: Why not set criteria for having kids?

As an editorial in the Portland Press Herald points out (“Our View: Childhood poverty rate a disgrace for Maine,” Sept. 22), more than a quarter of the children under age 5 in the state live in poverty. As the editorial states, “This is a problem not just for poor children and their parents, but also […]
Published
October 2, 2013

Letters to the editor: Online sellers caught between Amazon, state

Hundreds of small online entrepreneurs recently received a disturbing message from Amazon. In response to what the company calls “the unconstitutional Maine state tax collection legislation passed by the state legislature and signed by Governor LePage,” it is canceling all its advertising link contracts (“Amazon curtails program in Maine,” Sept. 28). These contracts, known as […]
Published
October 2, 2013

Letters to the editor: Public funding key to well-run elections

I was appalled to read that the 2014 governor’s race will be entirely funded by private money. What happened to our first-in-the-nation Clean Election option? According to your article (“Donor lists criticized in Maine gubernatorial race,” Sept. 24), the funds for gubernatorial candidates were cut in Gov. LePage’s budget proposal, and this cut apparently made […]
Published
September 30, 2013

Letters to the editor: Mortgage interest a flawed deduction

In these days of ever-expanding inequities between the top 1 or 2 percent and the rest of us, one of the best ways to make sure the economy works well for everyone is to make sure that tax breaks and incentives benefit the people who need them most. As Congress considers reforming the tax code […]
Published
September 30, 2013

Letters to the Editor: Veteran: Access to VA care ‘a godsend’

Having recently received great service at the Togus Veterans Affairs Medical Center, I write to say, “Thanks.” In 1979, I joined the Navy. I wasn’t a patriot. I just needed a job. My father and older brother went Navy, so I went Navy. I worked hard, made rank and helped my shipmates advance. But I […]

Published
September 29, 2013

Letters to the editor: Park plan, forest group linked

You published a story Sept. 15 titled, “Roxanne Quimby’s son offers new hope for national park plan.” Shortly after, ReStore posted a comment on their Facebook page with a link to a similar Bangor Daily News article. The comment above the link said, “Major progress toward a Maine Woods national park!” No surprise, but rather […]
Published
September 28, 2013

Letters to the editor: Portland rules make it harder to recycle

Recently, the city went to great lengths to tell residents that recyclable materials that are not in a blue bin will not be picked up. As with everything else, we are getting less and less for our money. First we were told we had to use the outrageously, ridiculously overpriced blue trash bags, the reason […]
Published
September 27, 2013

Letters to the editor: Alleged Maine ties to violence overplayed

Reading the headlines surrounding the possible involvement of a Somali-American Maine resident in the bloody terror attack at a Nairobi, Kenya, shopping mall, one might think this is the first time that a Mainer has been linked to terrorism, but that would not be true. In the 1970s, Sanford native and Vietnam veteran Raymond Levasseur […]
Published
September 26, 2013

Letters to the editor: Smartphones also enable rude adults

I appreciated Meghan Gaven’s Maine Voices column regarding smartphones and audience etiquette (“Misused, smartphones a tool for teaching kids to tune out live performances,” Sept. 16). However, I must insist that this is not only a problem with kids. The commentary could be totally rewritten, addressing the behavior of self-centered, ill-mannered adults. I have had […]
Published
September 25, 2013

Letters to the editor: Lobster industry should end cruelty

I was shocked at the revelations of horrific abuse of lobsters at Maine processing plants. I have been a vegetarian for many years, and at the top of my list of reasons is the inhumane treatment of most animals raised for meat. I make occasional exceptions for fish, since they lead free and natural […]

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Letters