Climate action needed
The president talked about holding BP accountable for the oil spill in the gulf, but as citizens of this nation we also need to hold our elected officials in Washington responsible for what is happening right now. The Senate is ruining any slim chance of passing legislation to combat America’s dependence on oil by refusing to take action on a comprehensive plan for energy and climate this summer. All the while the BP oil spill continues to rage.
Eight presidents and three decades of debate later, America is still trying to lessen its dependence on oil. The price hikes in the 1970s and again two years ago along with horrific accidents that ruin our coastlines have not been enough to get our senators to stand up for folks here in Maine and across the nation.
Rather than voting on comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation to address the country’s dependence on fossil fuels, our senators last week tried to prevent the EPA from taking action on this issue. Voting in favor of the Murkowski resolution, Sens. Collins and Snowe sided with big oil polluters and lobbyists.
Maine people were hoping they would lead the Senate to pass comprehensive reform to prevent further accidents. How many more weeks of gushing oil will it take for them to be proactive?
Noel Madore
Orono
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Littlefield no mystery
It was with great amusement that I read the ClickBack comments on Paul LePage’s successful win in the recent primary election. If the writer makes a habit out of looking into campaigns, he would know about Littlefield and Associates Consulting.
He would only have to switch on WVOM’s morning radio show where Brent Littlefield has been a regular political commentator.
My husband and I have known Brent more than 20 years since he was student body president at the University of Maine. Having grown up in Penobscot County, as a boy Brent delivered the BDN in West Enfield.
The writer implies that “someone higher up was keen on having Paul LePage elected.” Brent Littlefield may now live and work in the D.C. area (as many of our young Mainers live and work far away from Maine due to the lack of jobs here), but his heart and most of his family are still in Maine.
He has always loved Maine and is striving to promote Maine’s best interest. Right now, many of us believe that sending Paul LePage to Augusta in November is in the best interest of Maine. LePage should be applauded for selecting Littlefield Associates to guide his campaign to his resounding win. Mr. Littlefield chose to back a winner. Let’s join him in supporting Paul LePage as the next governor!
Mary K. Drew
Orono
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Drop ‘extreme speak’
A recent letter published by the BDN took some shots at Bangor Sen. Joe Perry. That’s fine — we all get the benefit of freedom of expression. However, we all risk unmasking our own strengths and weaknesses when we speak or write about others, especially when it’s negative.
The writer disparages Joe as “an Augusta insider [who] represents special interests.” What about business leaders who stay with one company for a long time? How about a college professor who stays with the same university for 25 years? And what about lobbyists and trade associations? We all have agendas and we all work for special interests, at least to an extent.
The irony in this case is that Joe helped lead an effort that most were clamoring for, did so in a fundamentally bipartisan manner, and is now getting hit for it.
And by the way, if someone is claiming “deceit,” they ought to show some proof.
I hope we get past the current phase of “extreme speak” and back to the center — we are all facing difficult times, and we’re really in it together.
Dennis Marble
Bangor
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Acknowledge service
One of the advantages of serving our country in the military is after your service, you are able to use veteran benefits.
There are a few retail outlets such as Home Depot and Lowe’s that recognize the service of veterans and offer them a 10 percent discount. The military offers proof of service by sending, on request, a DD-214. In the past it was acceptable as proof of the veterans service at these stores.
Lately, these retail stores are only accepting photo IDs given to veterans accepting veterans medical benefits. For those veterans not accepting medical benefits, no IDs are available. Therefore many veterans, even though they served honorably, are unable to take advantage of what is due them.
I think it would be prudent if these stores review this new policy and accept the only proof of service given us by the government. After all, we did serve honorably!
Richard Phillips
Winterport
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It’s not Mardi Gras
Although we are complimented by the BDN mentioning our parade in West Athens on the 4th of July in the “50 Best Things to Do in Maine During the Summer” article, we would like to make some cautionary remarks.
As a bunch of young back-to-the-land hippies, we started this parade in the early 70s as a celebration of our surviving the winter and also in honor of the freedom and alternative lifestyle we had chosen. As years went on, the parade and the political satire we perform in the gravel pit became more and more popular.
People come from all over Maine to be there so that there are more spectators on the parade route than participants and with that, in recent years, a rowdy and dangerously disruptive element has become a problem.
Please help us remind your readers to respect our town. The “wild costumes” mentioned are expressions of a parade theme, a protest or a costume for a play. Our “revelry” is just having a good time with our community. It is not a bacchanal, nor is it Mardi Gras. It is an unique down-home event in a small rural town.
Anna Freeman
The In Spite of Life Players
West Athens
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Leave Afghanistan now
Most Taliban fight within seven miles of where they live. They’re not going anywhere. The Pakistan Intelligence Service supports them because they want them as an ally against India’s economic investment in Afghanistan. Pakistan views India as its mortal enemy.
Afghanistan and the Karzai government are corrupt. The contractors who support our troops are making millions off our occupation of Afghanistan. We’ve been there nine years and U.S. taxpayers have spent $350 billion ($8 billion per month) with no end in sight.
Over 1,000 of our troops have died and many, many more suffered serious injury. Osama bin Laden’s openly stated strategy was to “draw us in and drain us.” Our occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan are at a time when we have many pressing problems here at home. At least 15 million Americans are out of work with little pros-pect of finding gainful employment and states are cutting services and raising taxes.
Our occupation of Afghanistan is causing more problems than it will solve. End our occupation and bring our war dollars home.
Ron Warner
Veterans for Peace
Bangor