Share the wealth
Maine’ s $56 million income tax surplus (BDN, July 22) is like cake before the eyes of starving children — the children in this case being the rural schools whose budgets were drastically slashed last year. Schools in the Down East region have been crippled by these cuts, which apparently weren’ t necessary. In my town, the kids are looking at long bus rides, since their school is tottering on the brink.
Taking a school away is like ripping out the heart of a community. The majority of the townsfolk don’ t want it. The kids don’ t want it. It will further depress the local economy, affecting our hard-working small-business owners.
State legislators, give back some of the money you took away under false pretenses. The poorest regions of Maine where education is needed the most are being financially strangled.
Chris Crittenden
Lubec
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Bear history
After reading the article about the bear near Fairmount Park, I thought it might interest readers to know that it happened near that area some 38 years previous. The BDN did a story (front page as well) on Oct. 8, 1970. The reporter was Peter Taber. It happened at my parents’ house at 745 Hammond St. at the end of Norway Road.
I was only 4? years old, but I remember that night well. That poor bruin was put to rest as well after unsuccessful attempts with a tranquilizer gun.
Mr. Fahey was justified in his actions to avoid any harm to residents.
Greg Bailey
Bangor
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Scrap the bridge
I read the BDN’ s July 21 story reporting the scrap metal business is booming, and I wonder why the state of Maine is sitting on that scrap pile called the Waldo-Hancock County Bridge. It should be a prime target while the prices are high.
Gary W. Woolson
Newburgh
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Try unemployment
Penobscot County Republican Chairwoman Lois Bloomer said, “I don’ t really believe that at this point people are having to choose between food and medicine and housing, and if they are, it’ s because they made poor choices with their mortgages” (BDN, July 1).
I have the same mortgage I’ ve had for 20 years. I have never borrowed, refinanced or taken out a second mortgage. Yet a year ago my wife and I almost lost the house to foreclosure.
Ten years ago, my wife and I were solidly middle-class, had health insurance and savings. But with rising prices, stagnant wages, and eroding benefits we are worse off and the savings are gone. I can’ t afford to go to a doctor to get a prescription for Lipitor. I already have had to choose between food and medicine. And I blame this bad economic state on the president and his neocon buddies.
Regarding Bloomer’ s comments on unemployment: Last week, 26 of us DHL workers were laid off. If the attitude of the Republicans is that unemployed are people who don’ t want to (or can’ t) work, then they should try facing financial devastation. Try getting your hopes up for a job and never getting a call back. Try living with uncertainty and social stigma. Try knowing that if you get a job it means starting over with less pay. Try telling your kid he can’ t go out with his friend because you had to spend the last of your money on a quart of milk.
Steve Husson
Hampden
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Stevenson’ s brilliance
I was pleased and grateful for the column written by John Gilchrist (BDN, July 19-20) of Unity on Adlai Stevenson.
I lived in Chicago during Stevenson’ s tenure as governor and his two unsuccessful bids for the presidency. Few people in public office today have the brilliance, integrity and communication skills he had.
Thank you, John Gilchrist, for writing such a fine tribute, and thank you, Bangor Daily News, for publishing it.
Joan Torno
Castine
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Both sides
When it comes to politics, neither party can claim they are always right. We all know that issues are resolved when both sides come together in the middle.
Fortunately, we live in a state that recognizes the importance of electing independent, fair-minded people who will represent our best interests in Washington. Tom Allen is trying to convince Mainers that Susan Collins has caved to the pressure of the Bush administration. I know Susan Collins, and I know that is not true. The truth is Susan Collins is a senator who works with people on both sides of the aisle to get the job done for Maine. Please don’ t be fooled by those who will try to convince you otherwise.
Diane Hayes
Bangor
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Obama’ s experience
Maybe a word to the wise is in order for glib Republicans such as Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain. Perhaps they should tread a little more lightly on Sen. Obama’ s notable lack of experience in international affairs.
Granted, Sen. Obama does lack experience. But how soon we forget that when the great Republican George W. Bush was on the campaign trail eight years ago, he was beset on all sides by news anchors quizzing him on who the presidents or prime ministers of various countries around the globe were, and not only couldn’ t he come up with many of them, it was obvious he didn’ t even know where some of them were. But in typical George W. fashion, he responded with comments like, “Well, I don’ t know right now, but when I’ m president, I’ ll find out.”
Thomas K. Lyford
Dover-Foxcroft
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Wind blows, price jumps
Crude oil price goes up a little, gasoline goes up a nickel or a dime. In three days, crude oil dropped over $15, yet gasoline went up 2 cents in Caribou.
Let’ s face it: Oil companies, distributors, refineries and gasoline dealers don’ t need a reason to raise prices. If the wind blows from the west, raise the price. If the wind blows from the east, raise the price.
Soon the oil CEOs will say, “We had to raise prices to pay for our bodyguards.”
Kirk Hersey
Caribou
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Gas tax cowardice
The BDN’ s July 22 editorial missed the point defending automatic annual increases in the state gas tax. The issue is not funding amounts for highways. The true issue is accountability for government actions.
Perhaps a good case can be made for higher gas taxes. But that is the responsibility of elected legislators providing rationale for their decisions and standing scrutiny of going on the record with a roll call vote. Automatic indexing of the gas tax annually allows the cowards of Augusta to shield themselves of that responsibility.
Today it is the gas tax. What is next? Any tax increase — no matter how small or how benign — belongs on the legislative agenda. To do otherwise makes taxation without representation.
Victor Berardelli
Newburgh