Poliquin’s comic opera
What a comic opera Mainers are being entertained with Bruce Poliquin’s rantings against Dale McCormick and Maine State Housing. A couple of facts might serve to make the blackness of the humor clearer.
Even back in the late 1970s when the governor was an independent (James Longley), the Senate was Republican and the House, Democratic, government functions were regularly scheduled to be held at the Samoset resort in Rockland and Sugarloaf ski resort. Has Dale found an even more upscale venue than these?
Income inequality returned to the U.S. in the late ’70s and since then the gap between the income of the richest 1 percent and median income has steadily grown. As a result, new housing starts have increasingly been for second homes to serve the 1 percent while housing stock for middle income and lower has declined dramatically.
The private market has not provided any way near adequate low-income housing for the past quarter century.
Among his real estate holdings, Bruce Poliquin owns Dirigo Housing and Popham Woods in Phippsburg, where one can buy a “New England style model home designed for comfort, quality, and low maintenance.” Not to mention tennis courts and a small playground, and for an additional fee a beach club right on Popham Beach.
But somehow, reviewing all this, I seem to have lost my sense of humor.
Karen Saum
Belfast
Review Bangor ordinances
No city ordinance or policy should live forever.
Is it time for the city of Bangor to undergo a formal review of all its ordinances and policies? My answer is yes.
In 2010, a City Council-appointed charter review committee completed its review of the Bangor City Charter. Its recommendations were forwarded to the City Council for review. The council placed changes on the ballot in November 2010.
The same type of review should happen for ordinances and policies which are used to operate the city. As times change things need to be added, changed or deleted in order to stay current.
The time for review is now.
Steven Sleeper
Bangor
The help saves lives
We have in recent weeks seen and heard about the deficit in the DHHS budget. I have no argument with reviewing where cuts can be made. But as a taxpayer, I do not see the logic of cutting benefits for some of our most vulnerable citizens on the backs of the tax cuts that have been discussed. I fail to see the math. Where are the savings?
Every week I see, as a Medicare counselor, the actual persons who either benefit or would benefit from the help the Medicare Savings Plan provides. Many of these people struggle to pay for the daily necessities of life. I have seen people who do not have the resources to buy life-sustaining medications; are these the people we “throw to the wolves”?
I would hope the people of Maine have not regressed to the point that we would deny the less fortunate among us the compassion and help they need. If you agree with some or part of the above why not call or email your legislator and voice an opinion? Let us not let our Legislature take this life-giving help away on the back of a tax cut.
Grady Stevenson
Holden
Thoughtful, careful cuts
As we consider dropping tens of thousands of Mainers from the MaineCare program, let’s consider the impact on each of these fellow citizens. Let me describe the young patient I saw in my office today.
He is 23 years old. He suffers from Crohn’s disease and asthma. For a while these diseases were ravaging his body and he was disabled. His treatment was therefore covered by MaineCare and over the past year he has done well enough that he is now back working full-time.
Unfortunately he is now no longer considered disabled and is suddenly no longer covered by MaineCare. The three medicines he needs to keep his Crohn’s disease and asthma under control now cost him more than $2,000 per month — more money than he earns! I am afraid that the end result may be that he will relapse and again qualify for MaineCare only by virtue of being too sick to work.
I don’t think this is a very good outcome, and I don’t mind some of my many tax dollars going to help people like him keep their disease in check so that they can continue to be productive members of our society. Helping our neighbors is what makes us a civilized society. And for those who remind us that ours is arguably a Christian nation: Letting our neighbors go without health care is not a Christian thing to do. Cost-cutting is necessary, but it must be done thoughtfully and carefully so people are not seriously hurt.
Dr. Stephen Blythe
Jonesboro
Ross wants the best
We have known Glenn Ross since his first campaign for Penobscot County sheriff almost 30 years ago. He has earned the respect of not only his employees and others in local law enforcement agencies but those he comes into contact with each day in Penobscot County. He is a hardworking, honest and fair individual who simply wants to do the very best job that he can do.
We are not privy to all of the information surrounding the tragic demise of Robert Carlson but we do know that Glenn takes his responsibilities as Penobscot County sheriff very seriously. His decisions would have been made, first and foremost, to protect the inmates at the jail even as he was understandably reeling from the shocking allegations against his longtime friend. It was a sad surprise for many in our community.
We only hope that Glenn’s valuable contributions are not buried by senseless speculation about his actions and motives in this situation. Our community is very fortunate to have such a dedicated, professional, public servant.
Suzanne and Bob Kelly
Bangor
No delay needed
I am distressed by the disrespect shown to Gov. LePage in the BDN’s Jan. 24 editorial cartoon. A citizen in the cartoon says, “The governor’s address is on a five-second delay. He has a tendency to go off-script.”
I listened carefully to the governor’s State of the State address and found it to be an intelligent, passionate and wise presentation. He spoke from his heart, not relying on words on a screen in front of him.
Let us respect our elected officials. We don’t have to agree with everything, but we should be seeking to give them the honor due their office and not ridicule them.
Mary Pearson
Brewer
Grady Stevenson & Stephen Blythe,
When it comes to charity, so many excuses come up as to why this or that can’t be done or paid for… But when it comes to social welfare programs, we absolutely have to rob one to pay for another. Why must we continually look to government for help? Why can’t we just help each other? Why is it that it’s always okay to take someone else’s money (and not your own) to pay for other people? I mean, Stephen, you said you don’t mind your tax dollars going to pay for other people’s health care… Well what’s stopping you from donating your money directly to the people who need help the most? Cut out the middle-man of government, which needs a slice of your cheese to sustain itself, and go directly to the problem.
I’m not saying it’s right that people would go without necessary medical care, but I am saying that government can’t solve our problems. All the regulations and taxes of all the governments in the entire history of the world has not prevented one bad thing from happening, at all. We need to start helping our neighbors out instead of waiting for some person (who probably only cares about getting re-elected) to write a bill or make a speech about raising taxes on such-and-such to pay for the health care of the guy that lives down the road who died a week ago because he only recently got approved for treatment from the government today. (Yes I know, that was a long run-on sentence).
“He spoke from his heart, not relying on words on a screen in front of him.”
Miss Pearson, LePage was reading his speech, just like every other governor and president does.
GRADY
It is obvious you have a dog in this fight, so your comments are nil and void. You see people on paper only, and therefore your vision is clouded. Try following them around for a few weeks and the truth about who they really are will come to light.
DR. STEPHEN,
No one objects to helping the needy, but no one is stepping forward to weed out, or change the laws to stop the fraud. Do you know that if I’m on active duty in the military or have retired I can get full VA disability under the law for a medical condition that has nothing to do with my years of service. It’s legal, but still fraud, and veterans across this country do it all the time.
MARY,
It’s a liberal thing!
AMC, as far as im concerned, a veteran receiving help for a non-service related disability is not fraud. If you have the guts to risk your life for our safety, i think the least we owe you is medical care regardless of the issue.
I agree with you about 90% of the time, but this time i think youre a bit off.
I accept your point, but as a veteran, I would argue the point. We have veterans who serve less than six months and attempt to get full VA disability for the mental stress of service and have never served any of that time out of the country. Take the vet who has 20 or 30 years and is collecting a great pension, goes to the doc, and the doc says” we’ll call this service related ” and now gets a full tax free VA check . Service or not the VA’s intention is to serve military related disabilities. Both of the above cases are scamming the system, and these folks and there’s plenty of them are taking money they know is not earned. No different then any other welfare we conservatives oppose. May I add that these are not homeless Veterans. These are folks with great assets, and just wanting more,. It’s wrong.
Back in 1961 when I joined the Navy, we were told then if we served 20 years we would get half our pay as a pension and full medical for the rest of our lives. I believe the government has reneged on some of these promises already.
You can cherry pick individuals who have tried to take advantage of the situation but you can’t paint every one who served their country with the same brush.
Not painting at all, just stating the facts. Facts are there is a whole bunch of fraud in the government system including the VA and nobody seems to want to fix it. They especially will not touch the VA fraud or change the laws, and close the loop holes because it’s political suicide for any politician. I served, you served, but it doesn’t make it right to claim what isn’t ours just because everyone else is doing it.
As active duty AF I have to disagree with you on one point. The military agrees to pay my life and medical insurance as part of the contract for enlisting. If something disabling happens to me, whether flying a helicopter or not, I consider the military responsible for my care. This disability would have to be unavoidable on my part. Furthermore, all military disability does is increase your pay somewhat, the medical benefits stay the same as all active duty and retirees are entitled to.
LePage by any objective measure is a buffoon whose outrageous, low-class behavior has earned him much more ridicule than anything a mere political cartoon could offer. The Maine GOP will take a serious pounding at the polls come November, they are already conceding the House, and all the corrupt corporate Koch brother money in the world will not save your party’s political hide. The rational moderate Maine majority has had enough TeaNut nonsense. So you can dribble about “liberal…liberal…liberal…bla bla bla” like the college dropout numbskull druggy Rush Limpmind all you want. See you in November.
“So you can dribble about “liberal…liberal…liberal…bla bla bla” like the college dropout numbskull druggy Rush Limpmind all you want. ”
You are doing the same thing, just replace the word liberal with word TeaNut..
You crack me up..
Remember what day it is…..
I know, Freaky Friday, anything can happen.
Including the rabid right talking some sense? I’m not holding my breath.
The good ole rabid right, they like to bully..LOL.
How can legal be fraud!!!!! Just saying.
Taking on veterans now? Keep your head down.
Mary, I couldn’t agree more. What Gov. LePage said was what he really felt, with only the welfare of all Mainers in his mind. A great, inspirational speech it was. Quite unlike our uninspiring president Obama where every line of his speech was polled and written by someone else. It was like watching a robot.
Governor Le Pagesaid what someone else wrote for him to say. They no longer allow him to go unscripted because they are afraid of what he might say. Even with the script, he came off as a bully who has to have his own way or the highway. His speech was full of made up figures and misinformation that he can’t back up. It was just more of the same stuff we’ve been hearing for the last year.
And he kept losing his place and trying to fill in the long pauses with ers and ums, a very lame performance. He really needs to get a tele-prompter like most sensible politicians. Unfortunately, his party has acted so inane about tele-prompters conservatives have no choice but to to read from their palms or from papers on the podium. Hoist by their own petard, I’d say.
Dr. Blythe, I agree to helping people like a patient with Crohn’s as it can be very expensive. I disagree with doling out welfare to the eight or nine others that can’t go to work because of sipping too much Allen’s Coffee Brandy or snorting too many bath salts.
My question is if the patient works full time now, does his company offer health insurance? I know it’s costly (we have to fork out the hundreds each week). Or is he right on the cusp of making too much for Maincare, and not enough to maintain a policy? That is the gray area I would like to help people when involving Mainecare. Like you said, Bonny, the other eight to nine need to do something…anything.
GOODcitizen73: Five words–single payer national health care!
Absolutely: Five intelligent, caring, economical, sensible, money saving words: SINGLE PAYER NATIONAL HEALTH CARE.
Eight or 9? Data or more anecdotes?
Dr. Blythe, thank you for your voice of conscience. The minimal tax cut you and I would receive this year from the Governor’s recklessness might buy us a few more cups of coffee. It will cost thousands of Mainers their health.
The real beneficiaries of these tax cuts are businessmen like Bruce Poliquin, who is violating Article V, section 3, of the Maine Constitution by engaging in trade while serving as our State Treasurer.
Grady Stevenson. News Flash. No one is against helping the “less fortunate”. However, people are fed up with the the term “less fortunate” being used to define a multitude of people who are just plain lazy. The Governor is correct in his assertions that we have become to generous with social programs. We need to cull out those who could help themselves, but simply chose not to, from those who truly cannot provide for themselves.
Well said Mrs. Pearson something both sides need to remember.
I haven’t heard anybody publicly hurling egregious insults at LePage. I have however, heard a great deal of very disrespectful language and comments from LePage. Exactly who is supposed to start this respect business.
thank you for your opine
Mary, the gov doesn’t show much respect to the many people who supposedly represents in this state…
Karen Saum, Are you angry about Mr. Poliquin uncovering the mess that Dale McCormick has created at MSHA? Dale has used MSHA funds for hotels such as Ceasar’s Palace and George in DC, along with trips to Florida. She has also listed vendor payments to magicians, massage therapists, martial arts instructors, and payments to her former partner Betsy Sweet, also her own special interest groups such as “Equality Maine,” all of these payments were made with MSHA funds. MSHA claims that if there is a decrease in funding, people will die. Also, Dale granted non-performace based bonuses to employees. If Dale had stayed at places such as the Samoset and Sugarloaf, as Gov. Longley did, she could have saved us a lot of money. I’m not quite getting your connection with Mr. Poloquin’s real estate. He will expose the fraud at the MSHA just as he did at the MTA. He is doing a fantastic job. Why isn’t the BDN reporting on the waste at the MSHA?
Exactly right on all points, but especially on the BDN’s involvement. (or lack thereof)
Plenty of attack articles on Polquin, and not a peep from them about MSHA.
And Polquin’s dealings deserve a free pass? Talk about the pot and the kettle.
As to reviews, there was supposed to be a review of police and fire overtime. What happened to it?
Kellys – Sheriff Ross may well be hardworking, honest and fair. He may even be a great Sheriff. But he crossed the line when he let his personal relationship with Carlson cloud his professional judgement. At the least, he made a serious error in judgement. At worst, he placed his friendship over his duty to the public at a time when we can’t afford anymore violations of the public trust.
Mary, Mr. LePage has well-earned the satirical ridicule in the political cartoon. This is a man who has begged to be ridiculed with the outrageous outbursts, tantrums, bullying, and other behaviors beneath the dignity of the office he holds. As to his State of the State address, he chooses not to use a teleprompter so instead reads off sheets of paper. A script is a script whether on paper or screens.
“He spoke from his heart, not relying on words on a screen in front of him.”
Spoke from the heart, my eye!!! He spoke from written notes on the podium in front of him. He obviously and often lost his place and stumbled over the pauses while he searched for his place with his finger. For heavens sake get the guy a teleprompter so that he at least looks intelligent.
……”I would hope the people of Maine have not regressed to the point that we would deny the less fortunate among us the compassion and help they need”……..
First of all the assumption that all those on welfare are “needy” is patently false. Tens of thousands in Maine have simply found ways to “game the system” and derive largesse from the state.
As far as it being “compassionate” to help the needy, I agree with that…….if you give of yourself and your money. When “govenment” uses “force” to compel people to pay taxes, or go to prison, or lose their assets, that is not “compassion” that is extortion, and no matter how well intended the redistribution of that wealth may be, it is not “compassion” as the money was first “stolen” from he who earned it, thus the whole enterprise is ethically challenged. Our nation’s “founders” are on the written record as being totally against taking from one pocket and putting it into anothers!
This “redistribution of wealth” has created a mass of millions of people who are the modern day slaves, totally dependant upon “uncle sugar” for their entire well being and sustenance.
This is destroying our culture and our nation, all one has to do is to take close look at Detroit, MI and you can see the result of 50 yrs of socialism, the destruction of a society!
And those who derive their living from healthcare providers who accept government money for services rendered, are not exactly the most “unbiased” people on the planet. Cutbacks in government largesse are going to affect them in the pockets and, understandably, they don’t want to give that up.
I’d agree that there’s “redistribution of the wealth”, but it’s not being redistributed from the wealthy to the less wealthy. This link (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/10/26/income-for-richest-americans-outpaces-middle-class-study-finds/) from that paragon of “fair and balanced” reporting, Fox News, reporting on a CBO (Congressional Budget Office) report, shows that the incomes (wealth?) of those on the upper end of the income scale have increased dramatically while the incomes of those on the lower end of the scale have increased far less. The article says that since 1979 the after-tax income of the top 1% has increased 275%; the middle income has increased by 40%; and the income for those in the bottom 20% increased by 18%.
Most of us not-so-wealthy Americans support the free enterprise system and rewards for those do well and succeed. What troubles us is that the only ones who seem to be prospering are those at the top of the economic “food chain”. We’d just like to see “equitable distribution of the wealth”, not redistribution.
On Wednesday, on CNN, Rep. Eric Cantor, (R/PA), the House Majority Leader, was quoted as saying the following about Warren Buffett’s secretary: “We want her to make more money, we want her to have more hope for the
future. … (But) this notion that somehow the income that Warren
Buffett makes is the same as a wage income for his secretary, we know
that’s not the same.”
Apparently Rep. Cantor was trying to say that the income of Warren Buffett’s secretary’s “wages” should be taxed at one rate and Mr. Buffett’s income should be taxed at another rate, presumably the lower “capital gains” rate. This may seem reasonable to Rep. Cantor, but it doesn’t to me.
Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/27/v-lite/2001144/obamas-fairness-argument-could.html#storylink=cpy
Karen Saum: You never had a sense of humor and a lot of Dems are crooks.
“As a result, new housing starts have increasingly been for second homes to serve the 1 percent while housing stock for middle income and lower has declined dramatically.” I’m sure there are no statistics to prove this. Just another example of class envy and a sense of entitlement.
Mary: This paper never treated Baldy or any of his corrupt buds with the lack of respect they do for the current Gov. Leftist Liberal Biased media.
Respect is earned not given. What has LePage done to earn respect?
Mary P very well said! I couldn’t agree with you more.
Mary Pearson, Respect goes both ways. He hasn’t earned respect because he doesn’t give respect.
Hey, that’s what my teenagers always say to me….Perhaps some people should just be respectful even when they don’t feel they are respected because sometimes peoples’ perceptions are wrong.
Judging from the number of “likes” for sally102″s comment, I say you may have it wrong and sally has it right.
When the Governor says”What planet are you on” and “Kiss my butt” the perception of disrespect may be right.
What planet are you on? This is not a popularity contest. Popularity does not equal right or truth. Slavery used to be pretty popular.
It has nothing to do with popularity! Once again you’ve missed the point completely.
Respect is something that is earned. The penguin hasn’t earned anyone’s respect and is getting exactly what he deserves.
Karen– I don’t care where previous administrations held their conferences. There is a new crew in Augusta and the economy is in the tank. There is no excuse for using tax payer dollars for extravagant hotels and restaurants. In my opinion, there should be a set dollar amount for all state employees to spend on lodging and meals when conducting state business–if people want a more lavish hotel, or a more expensive meal, the difference comes out of their pocket.
As for Poliquin’s holdings? So what? His private, legal business dealings are none of anyone’s business. What is outrageous is that the “low income” housing being built under Commissioner McCormick costs probably as much as one of Poliquin’s luxury homes.
By the way, I like opera.
Since he’s a State official, his business dealings are our business.
Gary and the good doctor: I hear your point about the personal effect of cuts, but if there is no money to pay for something, what can the state do? Its unfortunate that some people are using the benefits of MaineCare when they could afford to pay their own insurance, resulting in others who really need the insurance to go without.
Let’s be clear: there is not a connection between tax cuts and the DHHS shortfall. The cuts have not even taken effect yet, so there is no way to take back money from that source for this current budget shortfall. I asked some representatives about where the shortfall came from–their response was that the previous budget used stimulus funds to keep funding programs, knowing full well that the next administration would have to make cuts once the stimulus money was spent.
Final point: lots of states do not cover all the people Maine covers. Their citizens are not dying in the streets–they are not flooding ERs, and they are not less healthy overall because of this. And some of these states have lower health care costs and lower health insurance rates than Maine. Maine people will survive the cuts.
“but if there is not money to pay for something, what can the state do?” Answer: rescind the tax cut to the wealthiest among us. That’s what he can do.
Mary–I think you need a nice massage to de-stress a little. I love LePage. I found the cartoon funny. You can’t deny that LePage has a tendency to say things you sort of wish you could cut out, if only because you know the press is going to run with it from one end of Maine to another and back again. There are enough libs out there with no sense of humor—don’t become like them.
I have one question for Dr. Stephen Blythe. While I agree with your letter 100%, can you explain why ALL of the plans nationwide both state and federal that help the less fortunate pay for much needed medical care only try to find ways to pay these obscene charges, and do nothing to try to stop the cost of health care being so ridiculously expensive that no one can afford the cost, or the insurance premiums to pay for the cost. Everything health care related has to have at least a 50% price reduction, or nothing else that the state or federal comes up with is going to work in the long run.
We could cut 1/3 of the cost of healthcare by removing for profit insurance companies.
Grady Stephenson:
Yes, many Mainers have regressed to the point that we would deny the less fortunate among us the compassion and help they need.
Just read the comments posted in the this newspaper.
It’s just plain sicko.
yessah
Mary Pearson: you may be distressed with the BDN’s lack of respect for the governor’s speech: however many of us are distressed with the governor’s lack of respect for the press, reporters, the elderly, the sick, the unemployed, the educated and the truth.
““If you want to be respected by others, the great thing is to respect yourself. Only by that, only by self-respect will you compel others to respect you.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky
I gave you a like for quoting Dostoevsky.
I agree that LePage doesn’t respect most of the press–but have they “earned” his respect?
I disagree that he does not respect the elderly, the sick, the unemployed, the educated and the truth.
Go ahead and disagree. He has done very little to observe the respect of anyone (except of party dihard zealots).
….
“Before we can work on the problems, we have to fix our souls. Our souls are broken in this nation.” Michelle Obama
I think she may be right
….
Unfortunately that seems to be true.
Karen Saum, Grady Stevenson, Dr. Blythe: good letters.
Mary, if you are distressed by a political cartoon you need to reevaluate how seriously you take things.
To the Kellys: Carlson’s death was not tragic. What he did to his victim all those years – and perhaps other young men – was tragic.
Mary Pearson: LePage read his remarks from paper in front of him. President Obama and all other presidents who have had teleprompters available to them have used them, so making a slam at the president about this is unreasonable. It’s a stupid point.