Deadly migration
This fall, many of our sea- and shorebirds — ospreys, bald eagles, sandpipers, herons, ducks, loons and countless others — will migrate to the areas affected by the oil disaster. Some, such as the endangered piping plover, may never be seen again.
We now have learned that more than the gulf shores will be affected; the “loop” current may carry oil up the Southeast coast as well, creating vast toxic dead zones where seabirds will head to overwinter or rest up.
This is yet another looming disaster, and I have not yet heard anyone address it.
We can’t stop the migration but can anything else be done — perhaps collecting breeding pairs to prevent them from flying south? Does anyone have any ideas?
Marilyn Muth
Spruce Head
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Palin for oil spill czar
As we approach the two-month milestone of the ecological and economic disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, Americans are loudly clamoring for leadership. As detailed last week in the New York Times, an alphabet soup of federal agencies are too busy colliding against one another to pull together the material and human resources needed to address the magnitude of this mess.
Here is an urgent suggestion for President Obama: Immediately appoint a qualified leader to take charge of capping the leak and cleaning up the spill, someone with proven skills in overcoming systemic corruption, ordering oil companies, outfoxing career politicians and overriding government bureaucracies.
Former Gov. Sarah Palin offers these credentials. As the rare political leader who would begin Day 1 with the strong support of majorities on the Gulf Coast, she can quickly repair this spill, and fortunately she is available.
Should she fail, then the malicious slander about her lacking smarts and leadership may for the first time prove true, and at little cost, as the bumbling Obama administration has proved it can do little more than lob excuses, expletives and lawyers at the problem. If Gov. Palin is successful, every living thing left on the Gulf Coast wins, perhaps at the mere cost of the Democrats’ 2012 presidential chances.
Should President Obama implement this solution, I will for the first time believe him when he asserts he prefers not to be a mediocre two-term president, but a really good one-termer.
J. N. Martin Jr.
Stillwater
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Positive campaign
Thank you to the voters of Belfast, Belmont and Northport for your support in the June 8 primary. I am honored to be the Democratic nominee for state representative for House District 43.
On Election Day, I very much enjoyed meeting and speaking with many of you at the polls. For those I have not yet met, I look forward to listening to your interests and concerns as I go door to door between now and November.
I pledge to conduct a very honest, respectful and positive campaign that focuses on the interests of the people who live here. I feel so fortunate to have grown up in this community, and it is my strong desire to work hard to create opportunities for all of the families and businesses in District 43.
Thank you again, and I ask for continued support through the general election in November and beyond.
Erin Herbig
Belfast
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Breaking the cycle
I’m sure reporters will have a field day twisting and turning Republican comments or just taking them out of context (“Just call him ‘Front Page LePage,” Renee Ordway column, June 12-13).
Something must be done in Maine because we will be a slave to the state if this type of welfare continues. With no jobs and no prospects of jobs coming to Maine we have two choices: either cut government or raise taxes.
Unfortunately keeping the status quo only gives us the option to tax Mainers more heavily.
I like Paul LePage’s proposed welfare reform because it gives not only the welfare recipient an opportunity to climb out of welfare but it also saves the state money. Companies can give recipients raises as they work themselves out of poverty. This a common sense proposal that has winners all the way around.
Limiting the time a person can receive aid is an incentive for recipients; they should look for work and improve their conditions. This is not harsh or imposing for anyone, as many have had hard times in life and welfare should be a short-term helping hand, not a lifestyle.
So Renee, spin it any way you want but what Paul LePage says is truthful. We all should be glad we have Paul LePage who has a plan to give the people on welfare an opportunity to break the cycle.
David Lincoln
Old Town
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Clifton alert
The members of the Clifton Select Board and the planning board would like to thank the large number of residents who voted on June 8. We sincerely appreciate your interest and participation.
We also remind you that there will be a Special Town Meeting on at 7 p.m. June 17 at the Clifton Municipal Building. The subject will be the wind turbine moratorium.
A yes vote means up to a 180-day moratorium. A no vote means no moratorium.
This is a very important matter to you and the town of Clifton, and we invite you to attend and vote your preference.
Clifton Select Board
Clifton Planning Board
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LNG is safe
Over the next couple of months, we are going to hear a lot about the LNG terminal proposed for Calais. I have been hunting, fishing and boating in this part of Washington County for decades, and I believe it won’t do any harm at all.
We’re used to commercial and industrial activity on our waterways and on our lands. This project won’t have much of a negative impact on wildlife or on our outdoor activities — in fact, it might even improve things. Opening up second-growth forests in a few places will make new habitat.
Some people believe this facility will be dangerous. I have served on our Washington County Local Emergency Preparedness Committee since 1999 and have taken FEMA courses in a dozen different areas of disaster response, and I can tell you LNG is harmless compared to a lot of the other substances we already have nearby.
I live less than a mile from this proposed facility — if it weren’t going to be safe I’d want to know. I’ve toured the site, looked at the plans and researched the process. I don’t think any of us, wildlife or people, are at risk from this facility. This LNG project is a good thing for Calais, not something to be afraid of.
Nancy A. Feiner
Calais