Bumper sticker logic
Ms. Fleming’s polemic (“Loyal opposition is rising in influence,” BDN, Aug. 13) on the need for activism by “real” Republicans drew a chuckle from this direction. Her party of choice is revolving in an ever diminishing spiral, and she fuels the descent with her pride in an innocuous, meaningless BS (bumper sticker), “Working People Vote Republican.”
Who can disagree with that? Of course they do! Working people also vote Democrat and independent. Some working people don’t vote. Many retirees vote as well. Why does she think such a benign statement would provoke damage to her car? The low opinion of her neighbors is revealing. Perhaps she might find a more worthy BS on the Web sites of some of the radio-heads who carry on endlessly on the AM frequencies.
Fred Ames
Fort Kent
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Notes to delegation
Our system is a representative form of government in which we elect people to Congress, pay them extremely well and also provide them with perks that very few of us will ever attain in our lifetime. For this we naturally expect certain things, such as that they read bills before they are signed, answer questions when we call and meet with us when we want to be informed regarding some of their decisions. After all, they serve at our pleasure and I don’t think we are being unreasonable.
With all the problems facing Maine and the rest of the country, and the many bills that have been brought to the table such as cap-and-trade, health care reform, TARP, cash for clunkers, the stimulus bill and the recession which is devastating our economy. As a citizen, I would expect that our representatives would be happy to explain to us (their bosses) their ideas and keep us apprised of their decisions. These bills affect all of us in Maine and the U.S. regardless of party affiliations.
Do they feel because of their status that they are better than we are? Or is it that we aren’t intelligent and need to be led like sheep? Who do they think we are? When I phoned all of our representatives, asking if they would read the entire bills before signing I never got a decisive answer. In my opinion, none of them belong in these jobs.
Peter Benedetti
Southwest Harbor
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Smoky fair
Last week, several articles appeared in the BDN about the success of the Bangor State Fair. Photos depicted children playing, engaged in family fun.
At the same time, information about Maine’s new clean air act banning smoking on beaches and other outdoor areas was also in the news. In my opinion, the fair should be held to that same smoking restriction. Having attended the fair for the first time with my three girls (enticed by the $10 fee), I spent the 25-minute car ride home listening as my girls complained, “The fair was really fun, but there was so much smoking!”
Out of the mouths of babes came my thoughts exactly. I was horrified at the number of smokers, walking through crowds of children, getting dangerously close to their bare legs and arms with their lit cigarettes. More than that, I watched my daughters wait in long lines for rides with teenagers standing next to them exposing them to their smoke.
Underage smoking was rampant at the fair, adults were careless and inconsiderate in the crowded atmosphere and workers took smoke breaks next to my family as we ate our dinners on the lawn! This was not my idea of family fun. It is my hope that next year, the fair will designate a smoking area for adults, forbid underage smoking and adhere to the newly passed clean air law.
I’d like to “breathe easier” at the Bangor Fair.
Jeri Misler
Winterport
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Raise taxes on gas
Why does the U.S. spend money to hire bureaucrats to tell us how many miles per gallon cars should get? If we taxed gasoline up to $6-$8 a gallon, we could let the bureaucrats go and let people decide what they want to buy.
Then, since people will want greener cars, the manufacturers will naturally want to make them.
Dictating a fleet average with low gas prices will not provide incentive to drive less. But higher gas prices will cause more people to drive less by riding bicycles, taking buses and trains, and riding together.
Raising the price of gasoline by taxes should be done slowly until the pre-determined price is attained. Then people can see what is coming and plan to buy greener vehicles. The tax money can be used to reduce our outrageous deficit or to reduce taxes in nonenergy areas to keep the total tax burden the same.
Many countries in Europe and other places already do this. As a result, their gasoline and diesel fuel usage has remained about the same, whereas ours has risen sharply.
What about those who can’t afford to buy gas at the higher price? If we reduced taxes in other areas, the poor might come out the same or we could supply gas stamps as we do for food stamps.
Wouldn’t it make sense to bring in dollars instead of spending them to keep gas prices low — and spending them in countries that don’t have our best interests in mind?
Edward Huff
Old Town
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Not-so-sweet dreams
The weatherman told me that last night would have pleasant weather for sleeping, so I took him at his word (he’s a popular fellow in these parts), and settled myself down for a late summer’s drowse. At 2 a.m., I awoke to the fear that Bangor had come under attack with a barrage of automatic weapon fire.
Getting my bearings and convincing my heart that it indeed did not need to be cowering in my throat, I climbed out of my foxhole and to learn that the fine staff of the Maine Department of Transportation was across the street from my house, playing with a jackhammer.
Hats off to you, my boys, and never let it be said that you aren’t diligent about your work. I can attest otherwise.
Lori Wingo
Bangor
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The root of farm woes
Maine farmers are experiencing a gigantic forage crop failure due to continuous soaking rains. Our dairy, beef and all livestock producers face feed shortages this year combined with historic low commodity prices. Dairy industry insiders predict that 25 percent of Northeast farms will fail this next year.
The message to our consumers should be that when farmers are not paid a fair price (government cheap food policy) and then when weather problems come along, our farms cannot survive.
Remember: no farms, no food.
Roger Fortin
Wales
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