Supports Rep. Rosen
Kimberley Rosen is the clear choice as state representative for House District 40.
As her colleague on the Transportation Committee, I have witnessed Rep. Rosen dedicate numerous hours to public hearings and work sessions dealing with transportation policy, the highway fund, highway and bridge construction and railroads — just to name a few.
Rep. Rosen was a staunch supporter of two measures that will put Maine into compliance with Department of Homeland Security demands to tighten state driver’s license security. One new law requires that an applicant for a license show valid evidence of legal presence in the United States and the second law requires an applicant to show proof of state residency.
Rep. Rosen also supported bonding $160 million to repair many of the state’s bridges that will need work in the coming years. Furthermore, she was instrumental in working with the Maine Turnpike Authority to have a directional sign erected advising travelers on how to reach the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and the Visitors’ Center.
I urge you to vote for Rep. Kimberley Rosen. She works very hard for her constituents in Bucksport and Orrington as well as for all Maine residents.
Rep. Bill Browne
Vassalboro
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Vet widow for Obama
I am supporting Barack Obama for president to honor my late husband, who died last year with complications from his exposure to radiation during World War II. This exposure gave us many opportunities to use the VA system of health care and while each individual provider could not have been more concerned and professional, the system as a whole was much like negotiating a never-ending maze. I do not want any other military family to face such a heart-rending process as they care for their loved ones.
It appears that many veterans were exposed to harmful radiation without much regard for their personal safety nor the well-known effects such exposure would have on future generations. Now the veterans have been exposed to other dangers and are returning with serious, though not always visible, wounds. Many wives like myself will become daily caretakers and will need to negotiate a system that has been broken for too long and desperately needs repair.
I believe that it will take someone like Barack Obama with energy, commitment, and a far reaching vision to bring some degree of efficiency and compassion to this system. I am proud to give him my full support.
Linda H. Small
Bangor
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Inspired to vote
Obama and Biden are the two people who got me out to vote. I never wanted to vote for anybody before. I don’t like the attacks that McCain and Palin put out. I thought McCain was a better person then that. I guess I was wrong. He said he was going to run a good race. Maybe if he got a different VP it would have been better for him.
Rosanna Gray
Camden
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Obama for president
A letter by Rodney Webb of Newport (BDN, Oct. 13) cites, as reasons not to vote for Barack Obama for president, “his proposed liberal policies, his personal and political associations and his life choices.” These, the letter continues, “go to his character, his lack of judgment and the absence of leadership skills.”
Having read Sen. Obama’s first book, “Dreams of My Father,” and followed his campaign, those are among the reasons I will vote for him.
His life choices, for example, include turning down lucrative corporate jobs in favor of helping poor people on the South Side of Chicago organize to speak with a strong voice to slum lords and city managers about such vital needs as heat and absence of toxic materials in their apartments.
His leadership skills are hardly absent. Rather than leading from the top down, he has learned to lead from the bottom up, empowering many people in the process. Certainly, seeking and finding how he can strengthen and help individuals is a way of serving them and in the process the country.
The Republican propaganda machine has repeatedly attacked Sen. Obama about three of his former associates. Each of these men, undoubtedly, also has positive aspects to his character, which the propaganda never acknowledges. By contrast, we have seen Obama’s strength of character in his and his staff’s refusal to make personal attacks on his opponents.
Ann Fogg
Monroe
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Not Obama, not now
Having Obama as our president would be very bad for America and the world. He is playing a game, trying to get more votes, and what he is promising he will not be able to do. He has no idea of what is really going on in the world let alone in his own country. Let him wait eight more years and then if the people still want him, OK.
Eugene Bowden
Bangor
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Fed up with services?
I have a few questions for the “Fed up with Taxes?” crowd whose selfish rhetoric we have to endure at most every election. Fed up with good schools?
Police and fire protection? Unemployment compensation? Health care? Good roads? Safe bridges? Clean air and water? Food and drug safety? Snow-plowing and garbage pickup?
If yes, then go ahead and cut taxes, cut taxes, cut taxes. If no, act like responsible citizens, and pay your taxes like the rest of us.
Phil Locke
Bangor
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McCain plan costly
The health care platform presented by Sen. McCain will not only cost the taxpayers an estimated $160 billion, but will bring an end to any regulation of insurance companies. Insurers will be able to choose whether or not to cover pre-existing conditions, and people with health issues will be forced into high-risk pools. Their premiums will be larger and their coverage less.
Having dealt with insurance companies for more than 21 years as the parent of two children with type 1 diabetes, I can assure you that once deregulation occurs, many people will find premiums unaffordable. Health insurance as it exists today is not great, but under Sen. McCain’s plan it will take us back at least 20 years to the good old days when insurance companies could pretty much do as they pleased, and traditionally, that is making money.
Please consider this issue before you make a decision on election day. Your life may depend on it.
Leslie Mansfield
Bangor