GOP talking points
State Republican Chairman Mark Ellis’ letter defending Penobscot County Republican Chair Lois Bloomer deserves a response. Bloomer stated, “I don’ t really believe … 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. & I don’ t see what’ s wrong with the unemployment rate. It’ s not that bad. I think the unemployment rate is mostly for people who don’ t want work anyways.”
According to Bloomer, we’ re a bunch of slackers and whiners and any economic difficulties we face are our own fault. Ellis says Bloomer was expressing a personal opinion, not representing the Republican Party. But these comments sound eerily familiar.
They sound like former Sen. Phil Gramm, a co-chairman of John McCain’ s campaign, who recently called America “a nation of whiners” about the economy.
They sound like Susan Collins, who became the only member of Maine’ s delegation to vote for every Bush economic policy for $14 billion in Big Oil tax breaks and for Sen. Gramm’ s bills letting Enron off the hook and putting millions of Americans’ mortgages at risk.
Leaders like Tom Allen will bring much-needed change to the nation. Allen has proposed short- and long-term energy plans: low-interest loans up to $5,000 to buy heating oil, low-interest loans for home weatherization, and immediate plans to invest in domestic energy. The bottom line? Democrats have solutions while Republicans blame Americans for their struggles. We can do better.
John Knutson
Chairman, Maine Democratic Party
Brooklin
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Prius envy
Ben Redman’ s op-ed, “Alternative energy won’ t help poor, middle class,” (BDN, July 18) makes sense. I am from Mars Hill, where we have a wind farm, and I am very much in favor of alternative energy. I think getting energy from sun, wind and water is long overdue.
However, it would be impossible for me, individually, to fund a project of this nature for my personal use. I live in a mobile home and recently paid $2,266 for my fuel for the coming winter – over $1,000 more than it cost last year. Paying that much ahead for fuel took money that is needed for other necessities.
My parents lived through the Depression and knew how to recycle and conserve everything. I believe as good citizens we should all conserve resources, but Redman is making a realistic point here. We can talk about the evils of drilling and problems with gas and oil emissions, but most people do not have the money to buy a Prius or a battery driven car. I own a 1994 car, which I drive as little as possible.
People are finally serious about getting off foreign oil, but until we have practical ways to make alternative energy feasible for everyone, we should drill our own oil and gradually implement affordable alternative energy.
Our legislators like to talk, but I don’ t see them doing much that is practical for us “little folks.”
Sandra B. Leighton
Mars Hill
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Iraq and ‘ yellow cake’
In response to Rich Blake’ s letter to the editor, (BDN, July 21), I would inform him that members of the Armed Forces have the chance to earn college credits while in the service. I taught a master’ s program at Loring.
Secondly, a hidden trove of “yellow cake” was removed from Iraq on July 1. Five hundred and fifty metric tons was sent to Canada. Why did Iraqis need that nuclear material? Surely they were not going to generate electricity with it, not with oil running out of their many wells.
Philip Turner
Caribou
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Disrespected memory
My father, sister and I were grand marshals for the Lincoln Homecoming Parade this year in honor of my brother, Sgt. Blair Emery, who was killed in Iraq. It was moving to see people clapping, waving, taking their hats off, standing and saluting as we passed. I would like to thank everyone who showed us they remember and honor Blair.
Sadly, not everyone respected Blair’ s memory. Once our ride was completed, we watched the rest of the parade. The group Lincoln Peace was carrying the names of fallen soldiers on banners. The person holding Blair’ s name was holding it so low that it trailed on the ground. I yelled to bring attention to this fact. Blair’ s name continued dragging.
When they stopped I approached the group and was appalled at the response. Only at the urging of others in the group did that person eventually try to apologize. One person mocked me but did not approach me directly. Only one member made a sincere attempt to speak with us and apologize. The leader told my sister that we were “too emotional”! I have asked that my brother’ s name be removed from future Lincoln Peace events.
I understand and respect people’ s freedom of speech. As a veteran myself, I defended that freedom. What I cannot understand and will not respect is a group that states it “respects and honors” fallen soldiers when their actions so clearly demonstrate disrespect.
Hilary Emery
Lee
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Bear ignorance
Not since the 2004 referendum aimed at banning bear hunting was the general public’ s ignorance of Maine black bears more evident than in the emotionally driven BDN reader comments disparaging game warden Jim Fahey for shooting a bear that became lost, confused, and potentially dangerous in a Bangor neighborhood last weekend.
Among the unfounded comments, many of which expressed anti-hunting, anti-gun and anti-game warden sentiment, was the statement that female black bears weigh 400 pounds, male black bears weigh 600 pounds.
The fact of the matter is that the average weight of an adult Maine black bear is about 130 pounds. Nevertheless, bears are cat-quick, incredibly strong and unpredictable. Obviously, the people gathered near the errant bear, rightfully shot by Fahey, were unaware of the risks involved.
The black bear is an extremely intelligent, resourceful and man-shy animal. However, it is known to attack, maul and kill when forced into a “fight or flight” situation.
Like all wildlife, bears are being forced out of their habitats by the continuous encroachment of civilization. So it was that a black bear’ s life ended in a Bangor backyard last weekend. All told, it was an unfortunate way for such a remarkable animal to die. Jim Fahey would be the first to say that.
Tom Hennessey
Hampden