Free markets betrayed
The “bailout” of certain financial institutions, passed by Congress betrays our free market system. In a free market, greatness thrives. Greed and risk-taking have guided those awaiting the next handout from our government.
In my life, I must live within my means. Otherwise I go without. Our president and congressional leaders cried that without this money there will be more home foreclosures, retirement funds will be jeopardized and life as we know it will end in America. My heart goes out to those that may be affected. However, those individuals, and the individuals running these financial giants are adults. Unless it is found that fraud was committed, contracts must be honored. Borrowing money from foreign nations through the sale of Treasury bonds will not make it better.
I cannot vote for any politician who supports this legislation.
Jenny Tibbetts
Jackson
• • •
What’s fair is fair
While reading the Sept. 24 edition of the Bangor Daily News I saw on the Business page a picture headlined “For the girls,” with the caption of a 604-foot Hong Kong oil tanker offloading its cargo of oil at Portland Harbor, Maine in which the oil will then travel via pipeline to Canada. How ironic is this situation? Is this the same Canada that won’t allow LNG tankers through Head Harbor Passage to get LNG to proposed terminals in Down East Maine? Does anybody but me understand how ludicrous this is? I say let the Canadians receive their oil in their own waters, at their own ports, and through their own pipelines, especially if they maintain their opposition to LNG passage through their waters to get to a U.S. port. What’s fair is fair.
Scott A. Bennett
Lubec
• • •
Palin an extremist
Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is an extremist with an appalling environmental record. In the Arctic, glaciers are receding at an alarming rate, huge sections of the ice shelf are falling into the ocean and it continues to experience the lowest levels of returning sea ice ever recorded. Despite this, Gov. Palin’s administration has joined forces with big oil companies operating in Alaska to sue the Bush administration for declaring the polar bear, which depends on this freeze for their very survival, as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.
She is an enthusiastic supporter of the aerial shooting of wolves and bears in Alaska. This inhumane and unsporting method of killing wildlife belies any resemblance to fair chase hunting. A pilot chases down a wolf or bear and a sport hunter then either shoots it from the air, rarely getting a clean kill, or the plane lands and the hunter approaches the terrified, exhausted animal to dispatch it at point-blank range. Palin’s administration sought a bounty on wolves where the hunter collects $150 by bringing in the foreleg of the wolf as proof. Alaskan courts said no.
She advocates unregulated mining in pristine watersheds, drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other environmentally sensitive areas of Alaska, seeks federally earmarked dollars for a pork laden “Road to Nowhere” that would severely threaten the wetlands of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and thinks of this as God’s will. Do we really need to go through this for four more years?
Bob Brooks
Montville
• • •
Focus on the issues
In response to Rosalie Johnson’s Sept. 25th Letter to the Editor, I was offended by her comments that women who will not vote for Sarah Palin are doing so because they are envious of her family life, beauty and religious beliefs. I am a well-educated working mother who has absolutely no interest in Sarah Palin’s personal life. I am far more concerned about the impact the current administration’s appalling policies have had on my own family and this country. I will vote for the people who I believe are the most qualified to turn this country around. In my view, Sarah Palin isn’t qualified for the job. Let’s stay focused on the relevant issues.
Judy Walker
Orono
• • •
Debate delusions
Regarding the first McCain-Obama debate, David Broder says there were no knockouts (BDN, Sept. 29). Other news commentators said there were no memorable moments or phrases.
Broder gives McCain higher points than Obama in that he was more aggressive, appeared to be the alpha male and showed studied indifference to his rival. Obama gets lower marks for saying McCain was right about some points and for frequent glances in McCain’s direction, even though the moderator repeatedly asked the candidates to look at each other. Civility and cooperation apparently don’t get good marks in a presidential debate.
It strikes me that the news media are very invested in their own self-interest, longing for some knockouts and memorable phrases or moments which they can hype. I, for one, wish for more boring debates where the candidates seriously discuss the issues, their differences and are polite and honest with each other. Yes, I am naive and too idealistic, but isn’t this a central part of the change both candidates say we need in Washington?
Donald M. Kimmelman
Sorrento
• • •
Hermon center vote
If the residents of the town of Hermon needed another reason to go to the polls in November, Sharon Nickerson and the recreation committee have just given them one.
It is unimaginable that in this time of financial uncertainty, high gas and fuel prices, declining excise tax revenues and declining home prices, that we should now be considering a proposal to build a $6.5 million community center. According to the town manager, this could increase our tax bills by 5 percent to 12 percent. What he did not say, however, was what it would cost annually to heat, staff, pay utilities, and maintain this center.
Councilor Nickerson said she was not concerned with the high cost. This attitude demonstrates an unforgivable lack of concern for Hermon taxpayers and suggests she became a town councilor to represent a very narrow constituency and has no regard for the rest of the community.
Robert O’Halloran
Hermon
• • •
McCain supporter
I wonder if the good people of Illinois are feeling particularly well-served these days. Sen. John McCain is, in a radical act of conscience and adult responsibility, actually doing the job for which he was elected by the farsighted people of Arizona. He is trying to save our collection of current generations from experiencing a Great Depression of our very own.
All the while the narcissistic Sen. Barack Obama is gleefully on the campaign trail prancing around in the spotlight as the serious threat of economic disaster is staring us in the face.
Quite a guy, that Sen. Obama. A real man of paper-thin resume and good judgment. I hope at least someone can sleep easy knowing that he might be our next commander in chief. I’m reaching for a tranquilizer myself.
Jerry Bono
Norridgewock