Oct. 14 Letters to the Editor
10/14/08 | 14 comments
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Oct. 14 Letters to the Editor


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Shameful ad

The full-page political ad (BDN, Sept. 30) featuring an angry “Rosa, Laundry Worker,” proclaiming, “The Union Intimidated Me” along with the scariest photo of Tom Allen ever dredged up is shameful.

I have been self-employed most of my working life and have never been a member of a union. But I support the right of the working people, especially those working for large corporations for low wages and few or no benefits, to form unions to improve their lives.

I suspect that intimidation, threats and firings are more likely to come from the employer than union organizers. The world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart, maintains squads of union busters ready to move into any store at the least sign of trouble. The top executives of these corporations pay themselves millions of dollars a year, but are unwilling to share profits with the people on the floor.

The bill the ad refers to, and Allen supports, would automatically establish a union as soon as a majority of the workers sign a membership card. The problem in the past is that corporations have been able to postpone elections almost indefinitely and in the meantime push out objectionable employees. Shame on them for smearing Tom Allen because he stands up for working people.

Gene Bryant

Palermo

• • •

On Down East health

I write in response to the editorial, “Washington County Health,” (BDN, Oct. 6) and in keeping with Mental Illness Awareness Week.

My career in community mental health spans two decades and five Maine counties. Washington County lags behind in delivery of mental health care for residents with a higher burden of disease including depression, substance abuse and suicide. Access to care is extremely limited and the county lacks programs and services for specialized mental health treatment.

Basic mental health care is often shifted to other delivery systems and to natural supports often ill-equipped to meet the need. Primary care providers, the county jail and churches do much with little and collaborate with limited mental health resources admirably.

As a resident of Washington County I am heartened by increasing public awareness of our dismal health conditions and I am particularly concerned about mental health treatment. Please support the CDC and state legislators in improving mental health treatment for Washington County residents.

Ann O’Brien

Cutler

• • •

Sen. Smith needed

Regarding the Oct. 6 BDN story, “Alaska governor defends linking Obama to terrorists”: It has been 58 years since McCarthyite tactics were first used in a national election campaign (the 1950 midterm elections). At that time Maine’s Republican Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, appalled at the direction the campaign was taking with the tacit support of her party’s leadership, acted to preserve her honor, that of the Senate and that of Maine.

In her historic “Declaration of Conscience” she deplored those who resorted to “character assassination” and said she didn’t want to see the Republican Party ride to victory on the “Four Horsemen of Calumny — Fear, Ignorance, Bigotry and Smear.”

Dare we hope the cynics are wrong and that the old-fashioned virtue of honor has not been entirely driven out by frenetic sound-bite politics? Perhaps one of Sen. Smith’s successors can summon the degree of courage that it undoubtedly took in 1950 to put her obligation to decency and fair play above the “benefit” of polarizing the electorate and stoking cynicism.

A new “Declaration of Conscience” is very much needed.

Robert Rackmales

Northport

• • •

Spellman for House

On Nov. 4, Brewer residents will have the opportunity to elect Ruth-Marie Spellman as their House District 21 representative in Augusta. I initially met Ruth in the late 1970s when she and I served together on the Brewer School Committee. Since that time I have come to admire and respect Ruth as a diligent, compassionate and dedicated servant to the Brewer community.

For 29 consecutive years (1977-2006), she served as a member of the Brewer School Committee, including several terms as chairperson. For 24 years, Ruth has served as a member of the United Technologies Center in Bangor, and is currently serving as its chairperson. Further, throughout her entire adult life Ruth has been a tireless volunteer and advocate for numerous civic and charitable groups serving Brewer residents.

Ruth-Marie Spellman has worked and lived in Brewer her entire life. She has given much to her community, and now Ruth wishes to extend her long and exemplary record of service to Brewer residents by representing them in Augusta. She truly deserves this honor and privilege.

Bill Davis

Brewer

• • •

Palin’s indiscretion

As a 92-year-old mother and grandmother, I felt that Sarah Palin’s indiscretion at the Republican National Convention was appalling.

Exposing to the world her daughter’s private life was degrading. A mother’s natural instinct is to protect and shield her children from airing intimate details of their lives. I furthermore disapprove of Palin’s exposure of her 4-month-old infant as a trophy for political gain.

A mother should take into consideration the environment her newborn is subjected to. Instead of her baby being in the quietness of a nursery listening to the soft music of a lullaby, this infant was in a convention hall attended by thousands of delegates and exposed to earsplitting sounds.

Palin states that she is in this race for “you.” Don’t let a pretty face fool you. Palin’s only concern is Sarah Palin.

Carmen de Carlo

Abbott

• • •

English only

On June 6, 2007, the U.S. Senate considered a bill that would have made English our national language and the following senators voted against it: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd and Barack Obama. Are these the kind of leaders we want in charge of keeping this country free when they put votes ahead of our country’s language just to appease those that have immigrated here to enjoy our way of life and want us to adapt to their ways?

You have a right to choose in this country what your language is and your way of life and that is the way it has been since we started but English has been our language and we reserve the right to learn other languages if we so choose.

If you took a nationwide vote what do you think the outcome would be? Can you hear the hollering then? English has been our language since we began this nation. This is the language we print on our money and on all official documents and we have no desire to print them in several languages.

All we expect of a visitor to this country is a little common courtesy and a respect for our language and our way of life.

Robert L. Tufts

Stockton Springs

• • •

No’ on Belfast recall

We do not support the effort to recall Jan Anderson on the basis of her voting record as a member of the Belfast City Council.

Recalling a member for not voting is a matter deserving of consideration for recall, in our opinion. We looked at the community involvement Jan has exhibited in the past as the basis for supporting her for a seat on the council. Jan represented Belfast on a team trained in problem solving skills by the U.S. Department of Education. The team’s task was to identify and develop programs to solve community and school problems. From this experience Jan learned that the effective resolution of communality issues is based a thorough and representative expression of all points of view followed by a resolution that fits the problem as defined by the entire community.

More recently, Jan saw the need for reducing the use of illegal drugs by young people in our community. As head of the Belfast Areas Task Force on Substance Abuse, she devoted many months of her personal skills and energy to drawing together a truly representative group of citizens to significantly reduce that problem. In this process, Jan exhibited her ability to facilitate communication and problem solving by a representative group of citizens. These are skills that readied her to be an effective city councilor.

These are the two most important reasons we supported Jan Anderson for the council and, in the absence of any evidence to the contrary, we will vote No on the effort to recall her.

Jane and Bill Dopheide

Belfast

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14 comments on this item
On 10/14/08 at 4:14 AM, Johninphilippines wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

GENE BRYANT: There are always articles from both sides, pro-union and non-union. What are depicted in those ads are up to the person initiating the ads and the media reporting it. Yes...Wal Mart has a lot of union busters, and I've seen them at work. You don't want to be there. These guys are bigger than any cop I have seen, and it does not take much to scare the union guys off. But, Wal Mart won't hire anyone, anyway, if they are affiliated with unions. I've never heard of employers intimidating employees, as they are bound by federal and state statutes, and corporate rules, not to do so. Union stewards have "little ways" of twisting stories around and making it look like they are innocent. It is election season, Gene, better know this system works before you laud unions.

ROBERT RACKMALES: Good article. But remember, Margaret Chase Smith was, as you pointed out, "58 years ago"..."at that time"..."old-fashioned virtue of honor"...are gone, now. Socially, times have changed. We desire for those times of being nice to people, but socialism like it was before, is no more. I agree with your letter. I did have the opportunity to meet Senator Chase-Smith when I was young. She was a very beautiful, and appropriate woman and helped bring about lots of rule to this country.

CARMEN de CARLO: In today's society, nothing is secret anymore. It was to Mrs. Palin's benefit to reveal, and not be too embarassed by, her daughter's personal situation. Agreed, it was personal, but so many people try to be so Victorian about this, they criticize Mrs. Palin for it. Things happen, Maam. It is popular in today's age, time and circumstances, to surround yourselves with your family. All politicans do it. They want us to see just how normal their families appear; no different from our own. Circumstances are different, however, between her family and even mine, for instance. I'd want my son and wife with me, too.

ROBERT TUFTS: No other country in the world requires their own indigenous people to give up their language, and adopt "any language" into their cultures. It is like Babylon...everyone speaking different languages together, and nobody understands anybody! It's stupid and foolhardy to demand the USA to forfeit English, just because we have 12,000,000 aliens from other countries, most of them illegal in the first damned place, to speak whatever language they want and then expect US benefits and employment and schools in return. English, or go back home. Be legal or go back home. If you don't like it, you get thrown back over the borders. Good letter, Bob.

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On 10/14/08 at 9:36 AM, ckc1996 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Carmen de Carlo,

After the media and democratic activists invaded Alaska to dig dirt on Gov Palin. what choice did she have?

Life is full of things and her family or any other politicians family is not immune to problems

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On 10/14/08 at 9:52 AM, duckwa wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Johninphilippines, I do also thank you for your service and the sacrifces that it required. I have no higher respect then I do for the selfless members of our military, past and present. Not joining the Marienes is on of my few regrets so far in life. I had always planned on it; my mother even has letters of rejection from when I tried to join at the ripe old age of 11. Then my juinor year of high school I met a girl and you know how the story goes.... didn't want to leave her. Lucky for me I married her and we are very happy. I still think that the military would have given me skills that now I am still working on 15 years later.

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On 10/14/08 at 11:03 AM, pjramsay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

To ckc1996 - In Ms. de Carlo's defense - I agree with her. I am always shocked to see Ms. Palin handing her youngest child off to the youngest daughter after the photo-op. The families were to be off-limits. The oldest daughter's pregnancy should have been kept to the family. But the Palin's saw it as a way to look "normal." It is a shame.

Having lived in Alaska, I have many friends in the "Last Frontier." I 'm always asking them if they have run into this horde of democratic operatives everyone seems to think has invaded Alaska. Most say they must be hiding behind the slew of Republican lawyers and spin doctors that are currently running the state while the Governor is gone.

Your comment about digging up dirt? If the Republicans had allowed Ms. Palin to be vetted like McCain, Biden and Obama, there would be no dirt. But by keeping her from the press, they have fostered this notion that she has something to hide. And as all good little reporters do - they snoop.

Most of my friends in Alaska will probably vote for McCain. Why? Because they do not want Ms. Palin to return.

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On 10/14/08 at 12:14 PM, duckwa wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Pjramsay, your comments are very interesting. Your friends that hope Palin never returns must live on the "last frontier", the facts show that she has the highest approval rating of any Govoner. Also unless I missed it she never announced it. The press brought it up and also accused the poor girl of birthing her little brother. I love how you consider her family incedious but I bet you thought it was great when the O'bama children ran the stage every night.

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On 10/14/08 at 12:23 PM, duckwa wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

One time that keeps coming to my mind as I try to invision the Dem's as being the party that keeps kids out of it.... That is both Kerry and Edwards (real family man, so much so he has 2) going out of their way to both point out that Cheneys daughter was gay. Keep the family out of it??

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On 10/14/08 at 3:55 PM, Johninphilippines wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Gee, "duckwa" up until this time, I thought YOU were a girl. Thanks for fixing that thought! Yes, I spent 4 years in the US Army as an active participant...I enlisted. I also enlisted in the Air Force, and Navy. All my service was honorable. My mother did not raise hell that, during the Vietnam war, her only son...her only child, me, enlisted in the US Army. But, off I went, anyway. I almost got into the US Marines, but the Navy "picked me up" just hours before I was accepted into the USMC; although my uncle was in the Marines, albeit WW I. I also met a girl, prior to the Army days, but that did not stop me in my hard-headiness! SkyCop is now on board with us, posting, too. He's a retiree.

"pjramsay"...I, too agree with Mrs. de Carlo, and your posting. What my contention was that pressures are imposed on all candidates, because sooner or later, the public will know about the revalations within her family and possibly then criticise her that she was trying to hide those facts from the public. And what about the other politicans? Note :duckwa's" posting on the 14th at 12:14 and 12:23pm.

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On 10/14/08 at 4:55 PM, KellyD wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I agree with Gene - isn't Susan Collins on a soap box about Allen's negative advertising? Looks like the pot calling the kettle black!!!

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On 10/14/08 at 8:09 PM, pjramsay wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

To Duckwa - She has been sinking in the polls since the Republican Convention.

When I lived in Alaska, I knew of her, but never met her. I did know her predecessor, Tony Knowles. He always said that "Sarah's friends feared her, her enemy's hated her and her subordinates gave her a wide berth." She also has a temper that equals her running mate.

After all is said - is she qualified for the job? - yes. Is she capable - not likely.

By the way - I haven't seen the Obama kids at any of their events except the convention or on weekends..........

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On 10/14/08 at 8:10 PM, searoses wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

there will be an OBAMA RALLY AT THE AIRPORT MALL THURSDAY we will start gathering around 7:00 AM hope to see all you DEMS there and bring signs

we want to make sure we are seen

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On 10/14/08 at 8:15 PM, Woody1 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

KellyD - She's not on a soap box, she's only defending herself weeks after Allen and his third party friends began their smear campaign. It's only natural they would run a negative campaign against Collins. They can't find enough good to say about Allen to make a 30 second positive commercial. He's a do nothing absentee. I don't agree with all of Collins" votes. But at least she's around to vote and I am represented. Allen is much too busy with personal stuff, probably for self-aggrandizement, to be around to vote and provide us, you and me, with representation.

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On 10/15/08 at 3:59 AM, brassycop wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Just because your 92 years old and a grandmother it doesn't give you a right to be stupid. The press reported on President Harding's' sexual indiscretions back in 1921 when you were 6 years old. Your letter reveals a certain sort of sourpussness. Your sureness and self righteousness concerning Palin makes me enquire of you: Is President Bush a nice guy? Somehow, I am guessing your answer is no.

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On 10/15/08 at 5:46 AM, HermonStout wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Mr Tufts............you said....................

On June 6, 2007, the U.S. Senate considered a bill that would have made English our national language and the following senators voted against it: Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Chris Dodd and Barack Obama. Are these the kind of leaders we want in charge of keeping this country free when they put votes ahead of our country’s language just to appease those that have immigrated here to enjoy our way of life and want us to adapt to their ways?

I am guessing since you don't want these 4 Democrats as leaders of our country; that you must be a Republican?

Isn't the Republican ideology SMALLER GOVERNMENT, less interference in our lives? WHy then would you want the Congress to make a law FORCING us to recognize English as the language of the USA. Shouldn't that be left up to the "self governing" individual?

I agree with you that people immigrating to this country should master english, immigrating groups have done so for several centuries.

I witnessed an immigrant who didn't speak english, in our library to have copies made; he didn't speak english and he couldn't run the copy machine. therefore he took up more of the librarians ( her salary paid for by the taxpayers) time than he should have while others waited for her service.

But I would have hated to see the Police Chief rush in from his office next door and arrest the man. That would put us in a police state.

Is THAT what you want? The RULE OF LAW carried to extremes? Liberals ARE FOR FREEDOM!

Did you hear about the retired man in Florida who was thrown in jail WITHOUT BAIL, for having brown spots on his lawn? He was struggling to keep up his mortgage payments and probably couldn't afford a lawn service to correct the problem. His self satisfied neighbors (members of the Homeowners Association, did nothing to help; BUT other people in town went over and resodded his lawn for him, to get him out of jail.

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On 10/15/08 at 8:11 AM, searoses wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Iit sickens me to think that someone could get put in because his lawn had a brown spot....I've read that some places in Vermont having an outside clothes line is forbiden ....cause the neighbors don't like to look at others undies I guess ...I personaly love the look of laundry on the line it means I'm not helping OPEC

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