Taxes and patriotism
The next time you hear Fox News talking heads and others complain about all those who are unpatriotic, ask them this: Are all those wealthy individuals and corporations too good for this country to pay taxes? Are they too good to pay their share for our soldiers who have made huge sacrifices? Are they too good to help support the children of this country by paying their share of taxes?
Fox News and the corporate media will never ask these questions, because they’re not a legitimate news source. Their only priority is to protect the wealthy from being seen as the criminals they really are.
If I pay 30 percent taxes and you pay 30 percent taxes, in what way do you justify those others not paying? Thirty percent is 30 percent, no matter the total that you make.
Ask yourself, if you made more money, would you demand to pay less taxes? Would you not fund our troops, even though every other hardworking American was paying their share to make this a safe and better country, to give our children a better place to grow up?
Seems a bit unpatriotic don’t you think? Un-American even.
Ralph Hirtle
Cherryfield
Wind’s tourism opportunity
I was surprised that Lynne Williams (“Time to define green jobs in community context,” Jan. 24 BDN OpEd) thinks that our 170,000 tourism jobs might be at risk if we allow more wind turbines in Maine. This is scaremongering and like trading a bird in the hand for two in the bush.
The hundreds of millions of dollars spent in Maine during wind farm construction are real. While we should not underestimate the importance of tourism to areas of the state with wind farms, visitmaine.com‘s 2010 report states that “the southern Maine coast, Greater Portland and the Down East and Acadia regions remain the most widely visited regions in Maine.”
In fact, we may be missing an opportunity to increase tourism in wind farm areas by promoting ecotours.
Prince Edward Island reportedly enjoys 60,000 visitors a year at the North Cape Wind Farm interpretive center. Hy-Line Cruises, longtime opponent of the Nantucket Sound wind farm, is joining forces with Cape Wind in a Hyannis-based ecotourism business. Alberta has also enjoyed surprising interest in their wind farms. The same in Scotland. Why not look at the wind farm “problem” as an opportunity?
Rather than rely on anecdotal stories such as “when the wind turbines go up, we’re not coming back,” perhaps we should actually get some data. I have written the Maine Office of Tourism to ask them to investigate this question. I suspect wind power opponents may be underestimating the positive impact wind turbines have on Maine’s clean image.
Frank John
Brooklin
Carlson, another view
I’ve had an opportunity to read more than once the OpEd by the Rev. Belcher and Rev. Wells in the Jan. 21-22 BDN. What an uncharitable view they espouse. I didn’t know Rev. Carlson, but based on his works that I do know, I wouldn’t remove the title “Reverend” from him. Belcher and Wells apparently don’t recognize that humans are flawed; that some of the most accomplished among us are perhaps almost always flawed, but hopefully we would all be judged in our totality of what we have done.
I’m not making excuses for Rev. Carlson, nor do I have any idea whether the things that he’s alleged to have done wrong are true, but I do know the tragedy is that he’s gone from us, leaving some very complex issues to resolve.
It’s tough on his family, associates and those whom he has helped. It’s tough, too, on those whom he has not helped, perhaps even exploited, but nonetheless he ought to be judged in the totality of that.
Belcher and Wells’ central theme, among others, seems to be that they don’t want anything to do with any reverend who is associated with what they perceive not to be the ideal that they espouse. Thus far, there has been no established confirmation of the accusations of abuse nor of his lack of credentialing. Therefore, condemnation is premature. They ought to help lift the “darkness” to which they refer by leading the way to understanding rather than heaving small boulders from the side of the road.
Jon R. Doyle
Richmond
Dim those lights, please
For as long as I can remember, Mainers have been noted for their common sense and courtesy. Unfortunately, this seems to have disappeared where nighttime driving is concerned.
People seem to have a habit of driving behind others without dimming their headlights. A good rule of thumb to follow is: If you can see the taillights of the car in front of you, the driver can see your headlights, so please dim them.
Another thing to consider is that when the roads are less than perfect, which happens quite often at this time of year, you should leave a few car lengths between you and the car ahead of you. This is not only for your safety, but for the safety of the other driver.
It is time for Mainers to reclaim their common sense and courtesy, especially when operating their cars after dark.
Dennis Dow
Sangerville
Children not to blame
Our young children did not cause the financial crisis that the state of Maine is in, however, services that support these children and those who care for them such as Head Start, home visiting, early childhood education and child care subsidies for working families are being slashed and in some cases eliminated in order to cover shortfalls within the Department of Health and Human Services, all to balance the state budget.
In the federal “Race to the Top Early Learning Grant” proposal submitted by Maine’s department of education and DHHS, Gov. Paul LePage and DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew were in complete agreement as to the importance of early childhood education and programs for our young children. Unfortunately Maine was not awarded one of these federal grants, so we must use our own state dollars to support our early childhood programs.
Tragically, now no one in Augusta sees these same children and the programs that support them as a priority. In his State of the State address Gov. LePage said we should all be “outraged.” Well, I am outraged. Outraged that our state government would even consider balancing its state budget on the backs of our youngest residents. They deserve better.
Eileen McAvoy
Hermon
RALPH,
Unpatriotic is sitting home and taking others money.
EILEEN,
I don’t blame the children for their position in life, or the financial crisis, but I do blame the folks who produced them. Notice I didn’t say parents.
So who do you blame? Ever considered family polanning?
Oh come on AMC, you know that you would like to find a way to blame the kids for their position in life. You just can’t do it with a straight face. How about my disabled veteran friend sitting home collecting your money AMC? Is he unpatriotic? lol. Or the mother with 3 kids whose husband abandoned them? Is she a commie, in your opinion, because she is taking your money too? Since you seem to be the arbiter of who is patriotic or who is fit to “produce” kids, please give us a master list to go by. Most of us do not have the capacity for judgement of others that you do. Please help us.
Dude, you are way simplistic.
It’s always nice to know where these commenters are coming from;
Eileen McAvoy
Title
Child Care Resource Dev. Center Director at Penquis CAP and Individual & Family Services Consultant
Demographic info
Bangor, Maine Area | Individual & Family Services
Current: Child Care Resource Dev. Center Director at Penquis CAP
Thanks. Good to know we’re hearing from an expert (unlike much of what’s seen in these posts).
Or someone with their personal income at stake. Worst mistake I ever made was taking my child for a “free evaluation”. You do and your child is no longer your responsibility its theirs. I had to fight my way out.
Yes, those evil social workers are all in it for the money.
Too many social engineers out there and their incomes depend on driving up census numbers.
John Doyle’s implicit defense of “Rev.” Carlson seems to overlook the rather crucial fact that the man committed suicide rather than face and, if innocent, refute the charges against him. Given Carlson’s wonderful reputation and large number of important friends, he might have countered the accusations if he were, in fact, innocent. Does anyone else seriously believe that he was merely a bit flawed and that he suffered more than his alleged victims? The article that Doyle tries to refute is, to me at least, compelling Let’s see what Doyle has to say about the many deceased Catholic priests alleged to have abused boys and girls? Does their being deceased thereby likewise alleviate them from guilt? Has the Catholic Church in any country or American city really done all it could to resolve these accusations? Doyle just doesn’t get it. It’s more than a matter of Carlson deserving a title or not.
I seem to recall Jim Jones from California who had a lot of people in high places that thought he was just dandy. That is until he fed his congregation poison to kill them.
Mr. Dow, that’s not a wise rule of thumb to follow. The law allows you to use high beams down to 300 feet behind a vehicle in front of you.
Mr. Doyle, Carlson made up his credentials. That’s a fact. It’s also a fact that he chose to avoid facing an accusation that he molested at least one child. He is not worthy of reverence.
I think that law was designed for headlights now obsolete. Especially if you’re driving an SUV or truck since the lights are mounted higher. I follow Dow’s practice since I know how I react to others coming that close to me with highs on. Also not mentioned is the courtesy of dimming highs to oncoming traffic, again within a suitable distance.
What is legal and what is common courtesy are not always aligned. Keeping your high beams on 300 feet behind someone is rude.
From the “State of Maine Motorist Handbook and Study Guide”:
“In order to avoid last minute moves, you need to look far enough ahead to see things early… Expert drivers try to keep looking 10 to 15 seconds ahead” (Page 39)
“Use the high beams whenever there are no oncoming vehicles nor vehicle [sic] close ahead. High beams let you see twice as far as low beams. Be sure to use high beams on unfamiliar roads, in construction areas, or where there may be people along the side of the road” (Page 45)
Incidentally, the law used to be 100 feet when behind a vehicle. Then it was changed to 300 feet.
Frank. Ecotours? Are you serious? Hey kids, here are you options this summer. Funtown/splash town followed by ice cream or…. ready for this…. An ECOTOUR!
Try it, you might find out it was fun to learn new stuff.
Sally Jones?
Yeah, sounds like it.
They spin.
(A short interpretive center)
The turbines don’t spin as much as their pathetic prostituting shameless shills.
Ecotours to see unspoiled wilderness, sure. Love to do it myself. But a tour to go see wind turbines in action? Crazy talk.
I know: one of the craziest things I’ve heard in a while…
Ralph Hirtle–Not only do the ultra wealthy cheat America by buying lower tax rates through their lobbying and political donations, but, according to the IRS, the wealthy have a “misreport” rate about three times higher than working folks–21% as opposed to 7%. They are not only unpatriotic and selfish but they are also criminal in their cheating.
The ultra wealthy take advantage of the convoluted tax laws that they’ve bought and paid for, enacted by the Senators and Representatives that they’ve bought and paid for. The wealthy are not to blame for using the system the way it’s been designed. It’s the elected officials that have made things the way they are. By the way, the blame goes to BOTH parties on this one.
Back the Fair Tax, or at the very least the Flat Tax, and get rid of all the loopholes and unfairness.
Our congress critters are responsible for allowing the selling out of our laws to the highest bidder and there is some overlap between the two and I agree this is not a partisan problem–they almost all benefit from it. However, I still put the primary blame on the ultra wealthy who are doing everything they can to game the system so they can continue to extract wealth from the commons.
I have my doubts about a fair tax being viable–certainly not the one proposed by Steve Forbes. Perhaps if all income is included, both personal and business–including all capital gains and inheritances, but my suspicion is that if you crunch the numbers, you will find that this system would still benefit the wealthy at the expense of the working class. I posit that a progressive system similar to what we had in middle of the 20th century is the most effective.
You should research the Fair Tax. It actually hits the wealthy harder than any other class. The Fair Tax is the only tax system that has been researched and tested and proven to work. It eliminates the IRS, rescinds the 16th Amendment, and helps the poor and middle class. The reason politicians are against it is because they lose their ability to tax at will. Boo hoo.
It’s easy to blame the rich, but the real responsibility is with lawmakers. They ALLOW themselves to be purchased, they feather their own nests, and swear they work for the Little Guy. When they throw some pork to the Little Guy, seemingly, we send them back to Congress and encourage them to bury their snouts deeper in the trough.
Hate the game, not the player. Our elected officials could put a stop to it today…THEY refuse to, because to change the system means to reduce their own power, and they won’t do that.
Who is more to blame, the person offering a bribe or the person accepting a bribe. Personally I think the latter.
Eileen McAvoy–If the LePage regime’s misplacement of priorities concerning our children is not enough reason to be outraged, one needn’t look far to find many more reasons. Only 1,087 days left.
Dennis Dow, very valid. If I ever win the lottery I’m going to build a car with a giant mirror that will be opened facing backward on those who insist on tailgating with highbeams on.
patom1: with all due respect, what has Jim Jones’ cult following–even unto mass suicide–have to do with an individual minister who might have molested boys? Hitler also had lots of admirers in high places, including Charles Lindbergh, but that’s exactly a relevant analogy here.
I was refering to your mention that Carlson had important friends. This is not to say that all people who have important friends are charlatans. This is to say that just because they have important friends does not make them above the law. So far nobody has come forward to say that Carlson was really ordained as a minister. If he wasn’t then that cast some aspersions on the people who accepted him as one and allowed him to operate at that level. So far I haven’t seen anyone come forward with incontrovetable proof that he was a child molester or not. I believe that investigation is still in progress, although I don’t see the point in that Carlson has taken his life and can’t possibley be here to defend himself.
Jim Jones is a poster child for people who seek a mentor or leader to follow. They should always reserve a little skepticism. Especially in regards to who they might trust with their children. Be the religious leaders, Scout leaders, Choir leaders, teachers, etc. When it comes to the safety of your children, it behoves you to keep your eyes and ears open. Your vigilence can be the only thing that saves your child.
“…Carlson has taken his life and can’t possibly be here to defend himself.”
Some of this is very clear. A thorough and fair investigation will tell…He either was ordained or was not. He either got a degree from said university or not. He either was asked to leave said church or not. Let’s hope for good recordkeeping.
If MSP and BDN are really paying attention to Bob’s life timeline by making the “right” calls, I have a feeling they will find some very clear answers. How great that will be for those who were, and some who still are being manipulated by him.
One of the big reasons the investigation is ongoing is to give any additional abuse victims a chance to come forward.
Mr. Doyle:
If someone discovers that their surgeon is not really a doctor, should they still call him Dr? I would have a problem with that.
To be honest, I never once called Bob “Rev” anyway, mostly because of his arrogant behaviors and I never felt “reverence” eminating from him.
If I was Rev Belcher or Rev Wells or Rev Whoever, I would be disgusted that anyone faking being a Rev is still being looked at as someone to admire. This has nothing to do with flaws. While he was wearing a collar and preaching about things like truthfulness, he was lying to the people in the pews.
If the investigation shows us proof of Bob being ordained, I will then refer to him as Rev.
Until then, it’s Bob.
I don’t think predicting a loss in tourism from an excess of turbines is “scaremongering.”
How many turbines is too many?
People come to Maine to see the natural world, not the mechanized one.
I agree with LGTV. Hundreds of miles of hills with industrial wind turbines are not what people spend thousands of dollars to see. They want escape from mechanisation. They want nature, beauty, peace and quiet. Maine has such a goldmine. Please treasure it; don’t destroy it.
I suggest Mr. Frank John visit the Lincoln area and count the dozens of For Sale signs on recreational properties.
And ask a local realtor about the “average time on the market”
People are trying to sell but there are no buyers.
That is real research with real data. Not some report from an organization that has political and financial motives.
Recreational users do not want to look at turbines. It’s as simple as that.
Ralph, you must feel that GE, is very unpatriotic, they pay “0” taxes and talk about the billions in profit, every news media around has reported this yet nobody has done anything about it
And they (GE) are one of President Obamas biggest supporters…
The largest companies in the US that pay no taxes give heavily to both parties. That way they are covered no matter who is in power. Both parties are beholden to those that finance them for their next election. That’s what it’s all about anyway. Not public service but staying in government for as long as possible. And after they are out of office they can become “consultants” or “lobyists”.
Except that GE heavily lobbied the Obama administration for tax breaks during the stimulus debate. That allowed GE to pay zero taxes as a result. GE paid Obama back by Jeff Immelt being on his jobs council and politically backing him in the press at various times. I would back Obama also if it meant no taxes.
Ralph Hirtle,
Paying taxes is neither patriotic or unpatriotic. I would rather no one pay taxes to support undeclared wars of aggression than taxing the rich just for the sake of taxing the rich. Besides that, not one cent of payroll taxes goes to funding the military. 100% of the corporate tax supports the military.
Ralph Hirtle – Quit complaining and call your Congressmen and tell them to back the Fair Tax. It’s the only way to get rid of the loopholes and level the playing field.
EJ could you explain exactly how your Fair Tax will get rid of loop holes. Do you have a secret plan to get rid of lobbyists and the people that buy them?
The Fair Tax eliminates the IRS and income taxes altogether. No IRS or income taxes; no loopholes.
But just like today’s tax code, Congress will pass laws exempting certain items from the consumption tax in order to promote certain activities. They can’t help themselves and they can’t be trusted.
If the Fair Tax is fully implemented, the 16th Amendment has to be rescinded which will take away Congress’ power to tax.
And so who would impose this Fair Tax? The president? The Supreme Court? Perhaps EJ has been appointed to impose the Fair Tax? LOL
But in the mean time, just keep supporting those with crazy tax plans that aren’t fair at all and disproportionately benefit the hyper rich. Right?
The Fair Tax people understand how devastating their plan would be to working class people. TThey have a fairly complicated system of “prebates” worked out. This implies some sort or governmental agency in charge of these “prebates”. So we would be exchanging an IRS for the Federal Underwriters Corporation for Kickbacks.
A Constitutional amendment, eh? I’m on the fence about the Fair Tax (although probably worth a shot), but realistically, do you think we’ll ever see this passing? Congress can’t agree on ANYTHING. Good luck with the numbers for this one…
If enough people get behind it, there is a chance. But, there is going to have to be a drastic shift in public opinion and in Congress in order to get it pushed through.
Exactly: The first thing to be exempted would be automobiles costing over $50,000 and homes costing over $500,000. Then yachts, private club membership, and diamonds. The possibilities are endless. I believe Maine did exactly that with their sales tax. Wasn’t there a big fight over getting Maine made luxury boats exempted from the sales tax? And aren’t they still exempted?
You shouldn’t comment. You don’t have a clue what you’re talking about when it comes to the Fair Tax.
Then enlighten us, please
you should read my earlier post about voters keeping in the people that give them the most. Same thing applies to Congress and the executive branch.
Ralph Hirtle, Dennis Dow, Eileen McAvoy: good letters.
On
Monday, Jan. 30, 2012
Frank John said:
“…the southern Maine coast, Greater Portland and the Down East
and Acadia regions remain the most widely visited regions in Maine.”
and “In fact, we may be missing an opportunity to increase tourism
in wind farm areas by promoting ecotours.” and “I suspect wind
power opponents may be underestimating the positive impact wind
turbines have on Maine’s clean image.”
Frankly, Frank, given the ever increasing understanding of how
industrial turbines pollute CO2 (They cannot sequester 1 molecule of
CO2 as could the trees cleared to make space for the industrial grim
reapers. They would blight our scenic Western Mountains, (the tourism
to Maine’s wilderness places is sacred to many like me. I lost count
of the nights I slept atop Bigelow and count of the many people I met
along the Appalachian Trail who were from around the World as well as
hikers from our own region. Ruination of Maine’s mountains and
wilderness would definitely have international and political
consequences. Young hikers from around the World will have lost a
safe place to meet and relate as comrades. This itself is priceless.
More and more people are becoming aware of the havoc industrial
turbines have on ground and airborne wildlife. Fragile wildlife is
threatened/killed and evidence of these occurrences are often
covered-up. The theft of hard earned tax dollars, going to subsidize
these boondoggles, goes on by corrupt politicians and corporate
tycoons siphoning subsidy tax monies from the tax payers to line
their pockets. The wind may be free but it’s no cleaner after passing
through industrial turbine blades and turning it into a weak
vacillating current that is to be all sent out-of-state on ultra
expensive power-lines where too much of the electricity is lost to
resistance along every foot of its way South; can you spell, “rate
hikes, tax hikes and diminishing returns?” I didn’t think so.
I spoke by phone a few days ago with a man living on Vinylhaven.
The property value of his home was ruined and he lost all his life
savings trying to fight it. Now he must suffer the wop-wop-wop of the
turbines as his electricity cost climbs. Frank, I’ve heard it over
and over from tourists that if Maine allows the thieving liars of the
wind industry to instal more of these monstrosities, which they
vacationed to Maine to get away from, well, they just will not come
back to Maine.
They must have given Frank John two first names as they would be easier.
Mr. Doyle, Carlson was an imposter, not a reverand. No degree, no ordination none of the things needed to have the title.
Ralph Hirtle- Patriotism went the way of the disco ball in this country. The only thing people are loyal to anymore is themselves, not their country. How could some fecal stain pack up their factory and move it to China and put their fellow Americans out of work and then turn around and wave a flag on the fourth of July? How could politicians get us upside down in trade agreements with 88 different nations and call themselves patriots? Or wear those cute little American flags on the lapels of their suits while selling us out to the Chinese and the top 1%? How patriotic is it to hide money in the Cayman Islands or Switzerland to avoid paying your fair share in taxes? Someone should ask Oven Mitt or Newtie if all their assets are here on U.S. soil where they are subject to taxation.
Ralph Hirtle, I agree the wealthy should pay their equal share, but maybe they need to also use Reagan’s “investment tax credit” where if they invest in American companies creating American jobs this would give them a choice. They pay the taxes or they help the rest of the American people by creating good paying jobs. I believe they would rather invest a certain amount in companies.
Dennis Dow I couldn’t agree with you more. Just one more thing to add to your comment how about turning on the lights at the edge of dark, during a rainstorm and when it is foggy. I have noticed a lot of cars who don’t. I was taught when the windshield wipers go on so don’t the lights and when it starts to get dark to turn the lights on. Great reminder for all of us!
Go you one better: Ignition on? Lights on!
Be seen, no matter what the lighting conditions, at ALL times. Remember that the beautiful sunset over your shoulder, illuminating the landscape in front of you with golden hues…
…is busy blinding the drivers coming towards you. Give everyone a fighting chance–they might only see you because of the two pinpricks of your own headlights shining out from the glare!
Great point!
I believe it is the law that if your wipers are on then your lights have to be on.
You are correct but I see a lot of people out there driving with out them on, especially rainy days.
LURC’s adviser during the proposed Bowers Mountain Project clearly stated that the Lincoln “area has become defined by the turbines”. How nice. While the immensity of a turbine tower and the size of the blades is impressive on first encounter, that’s it. You don’t think back for years on what a wonderful experience you had seeing it and you don’t look forward to seeing it again and again.
“the southern Maine coast, Greater Portland and the Down East and Acadia
regions remain the most widely visited regions in Maine.” Yes, and there are no “wind farms” there, even though the wind blows harder. The remote beautiful northern regions of the state need to get some of those tourism dollars and the proliferation of these towers is making that effort even more difficult.
Dear Mr John: If you think turbines will not influence tourists I would ask the public record of DEP to show you the 100 letters and 704 signatures in the petition StopOakfieldWind which were gathered in about one month’s time- people from as far away as Kansas, Texas, California and all of New England said they come to our area for the pristine untouched historic lakes highly ranked by the State- the same State that did not care that these people begged not to have it changed as they had searched long and hard to find a place so special as this to purchase camps or visit yearly- You have truly got too be kidding me that you think wind farms will provide eco-tours- they are in 43 states so you don’t need a tour to find them- and they are killing the birds left and right (one farm in W Virginia reported 34 birds in one day for one turbine )- what is so eco about destroying 5 acres of woods per turbine, creating noise that has proven to cause stress in animals and sleep disturbances in humans? I know the wind companies want you to think this is good for the environment and not bad for health but anyone who knows about power can tell you wind is intermittent at best, especially in wooded hilly areas- and watch the film windfall to get an objective look at how this really affects areas economically and otherwise. Why are they not rushing to put the wind offshore where it is supposedly more viable? Because those coastal regions do not want their tourists scenery impacted most likely and do not consider wind farms an eco-asset for tourism. Those of us who have researched this know the other side- the jobs are not local, the companies bring in people to construct and their own people to operate- there are many reasons Maine is not a good place for them- and people DO count in rural Maine and have tourists there saw well- our town has 800 people but 3000 taxpayers..what does that tell you?
Many enjoy our area in the tourist season. Island Falls- Pleasant and Mattawmankeag Lake, ranked 1B and 1A for pristine nature by the State.
Jon: If he wasn’t a reverend…then he wasn’t a reverend…although I guess he could have wandered around calling himself the King of Siam…but others don’t need to refer to him as such.
Ralph: C’mon Ralph…Those millionaires and billionaires were being patriotic when they bought and paid for those members of congress to pass tax laws which amount to giveaways for them…and not for you.
Frank John – read here:
http://www.windaction.org/documents/c121/?startnum=1 and here http://www.windaction.org/news/c121/
In response to Mr. Frank John and “Eco-Tourism”
Mr, John, if what you’re saying is true, can you show me one single flyer, brochure or pamphlet put out by the Office of Tourism that has pictures of wind turbines and promotes them as great destination vacations?
The same goes for lodges, resorts, sporting camps, motels, Guides, inns, B&Bs, Chambers of Commerce, etc. Can you produce one single piece of marketing literature that promotes the presence of wind turbines as an attraction?
I didn’t think so.
Mr. Doyle, it has been confirmed that Carlson made up some of his credentials. An article awhile back confirmed this when someone finally checked up on some of the colleges he said he attended and some of the degrees that he stated that he possessed. At at least two of the schools, they had no record of him ever attending there. As for the molestation charge, he was informed of the investigation( that’s another story), visited the alleged victim, and jumped off a bridge. If you were innocent wouldn’t you be shouting it from the highest rooftops, or at the very least offer some denial or explanation in a suicide note? The fact that he killed himself without an explanation, only allows us to “put two and two together”, and the only answer to that equation is “four”, I’m sorry to say.
I am also wondering why the Bangor Daily News has not had an editorial condemning Ross for violating the trust of the State Police and the citizens of Penobscot County. Forget what the inquiry board said, the fact is that he lied to the State Police and he did inform an alleged child molester(his friend) that he was under investigation. That decision potentially put other lives in danger. If it was to “protect the inmates”, he would have told him immediately. He took days to make that decision because he knew it was the wrong thing to do. If one of his officers had done the same thing to protect their friend(s), my guess is that the officer would have been fired, and rightfully so. The inquiry board is just a group of law enforcement buddies protecting their own, which would also be another enlightening subject for a BDN editorial. The BDN is just exposing itself as the biased newspaper that it really is. How much do you want to bet that if our Governor, or someone else that the BDN “doesn’t like”, had done something like this, there would be a daily barrage of BDN editorials calling for his head, calling him a liar, unethical, corrupt, untrustworthy, and whatever other adjectives their editors could think up. And if that were the case, they would be right in doing so, in the name of protecting the public’s interests-the same reason they would be right to do so in this case. Society needs to be able to trust it’s law enforcement agencies and it’s news agencies. In the case of both the sheriff’s department and the Bangor Daily News, it is becoming increasingly clear that we can trust the integrity of neither.
Winf turbines as a tourist attraction?
Great idea!
Lets put up 500 foot tall wind turbines on top of Mt Katahdin – should be lots of wind up there!
Lets also also put up hundrerds of wind turbines off the shore of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park! Lots of off-shore wind there!
I’ve heard that the National Park system is going to put up wind turbines on the north rim of the Grand Canyon and Yosemite Valley to increase eco-tourism opportunities.
Nothing says Natural Beauty as 500 foot tall wind turbines with bright red strobe lights shining in your face!
Get real – do you think we’re idiots?
I wish someone would explain why Ross’s actions are not a violation of the victim’s right to due process.
Wind turbines are running seasonal people out of their quiet camps all across Maine. These seasonal people will go else were to meet their demands of a quiet secluded world. The Spruce Mountain Wind Project has destroyed the Concord Pond solitude and privacy with noise from wind turbines and blade flicker. Add Shagg Pond and the numbers go up. That is just one project. Our courts across Maine and lawyers, are busy with lawsuits for depreciation of properties and nuance of wind turbines. These seasonal people had no vote and yet they pay taxes just like the regulars. Something has to give and the people will be affected and will react. These seasonal people bring multitude of dollars into our economy during the summer and should be counted as a loss, all it will take is one Summer to see the influence of industrial wind turbines. Tourism has been taughted as our means of economic sustinance, yet, with the mountains being covered with wind turbines that shadow our ponds and hide aways, we will loose our inviting world of peace on earth.
When in lived in New York, I was told
that the Mafia buried bodies in the Wasteland of Secaucus N.J.
It was a curiosity to me, but I never traveled to see the wasteland,
even if an occasional body was reported to be seen surfacing
from the bogs .
After all, scheming and scamming is not an
attraction to most.
Nor are the wastelands produced by the
scheming and scamming of the wind projects of Maine.
People travel to this state for nature(unobstructed by Enronesque wind turbine developers like First
Wind).
Industrial sprawl and waste is not an attraction to most.
Wind’s tourism opportunity? Seriously? They stand nearly five hundred feet tall. Each blade weighs over seven tons. They spin (even when the wind isn’t blowing, quite a mystery). They blink, 24/7. They make all sorts of noises. They draw power off the grid. They break the law by chopping raptors and migratory birds out of the air. They kill bats. They produce intermittent and insignificant amounts of electricity. By the way, how are those eco-tours at Mars Hill doing?
Frank John, let me get this right. Family in New Jersey drives 8 hours or so to Maine to view—wind turbines?! Yeah, and I am going to drive 8 hours or so to Perth Amboy, New Jersey to view the majestic oil refineries.
Eco-tours of industrial wind sites? Does that include demonstrations of how to blast away and level mountains? Will it feature Reed & Reed’s “biggest crane in New England” demonstrating turbine assembly? Watch the clubbing of raptors by spinning blades? Gawd, the entertainment possibilites are endless!
What an asinine idea. The turbine arrays all look the same, yet these sprawling industrial sites destroy areas that are totally unique—every mountain, every lake, every vista is different. That’s what visitors to Maine’s interior regions really want to see!
Frank John, you are entitled to love windsprawl if you want to, but if you call windsprawl tours “eco tourism” you are incorrect. Eco tourism is like a trek thru a bog or mtn. trail or a paddle somewhere where the heavy hand of man has not yet destroyed everything natural. A tour of wind turbines is an industrial tour, such as one might take thru a paper mill or a waste treatment plant. You are putting lipstick on a pig but not fooling anyone. Hi line Cruises must have been bought out by a wind company and Alberta and Scotland are seeing unprecedented protest against windsprawl. They are realizing they were lied to and the turbines are a scam.