Governor’s agenda
My usual appreciation for the quality and fairness of the BDN was diminished by the editorial accusing Maine teachers and the Maine Education Association of playing politics and misinterpreting Gov. Paul LePage’s agenda.
When the governor has repeatedly and publicly denigrated public education at all levels, when he has stated that creationism and prayer will improve schools, when he has pushed hard to pass laws giving public tax money to for-profit corporations and religious schools, when he has claimed that Maine has one of the worst educational system in the nation, when he has freely and frequently stated his antagonism toward teachers and unions, LePage’s agenda becomes almost impossible to misinterpret.
Starting in the late 1950s, religious ultra-conservatives have worked hard to destroy respect for and confidence in public education with the goal of transferring public tax money to private religious schools. They have recently extended their agenda to support for-profit educational corporations. LePage belongs to this group and it is their goal of privatizing public education that he supports.
It is not the MEA or the teachers of Maine that are playing political games, and the BDN might be gracious enough to publish another editorial contrasting their agenda and their political activity with that of LePage’s aggressive pronouncements, political maneuvering and conservative agenda.
Janet M. Alexander
Old Town
Great research
Great story by Brian Swartz about Maine’s Civil War soldier, Morris Leach of Penobscot, based on letters written to John and Joanna Gray.
His brief and poignant pursuit of Flora Gray ceased with his death of “debilitating illness.” These letters were found in a trunk in my husband’s and his sister’s home (great-great-grandchildren) and were donated to the Orrington Historical Society Museum. Especially thorough research and knowledge by Swartz in all his Civil War articles.
Mary E. Gray
Orrington
Dec. 7 deadline for Medicare
The election season has passed and regardless of their political persuasion, people across Maine and the country can now take a deep breath and go about their business.
One issue that was the subject of a great deal of political wrangling was Medicare. It can be difficult when such talk comes during the annual election period, the only time when most Medicare beneficiaries can make changes. Many plans offer new options, so it is a good idea for seniors to see what’s out there.
But seniors only have until Dec. 7 to make a change. And, contrary to some of the fear tactics we heard during the election, Medicare plans remain. The acting deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently said, “While you can’t predict everything in life, you can do your best to be prepared. Medicare will be there, stronger than ever, to help.”
Over the next couple weeks, I encourage seniors to explore resources that can help answer questions. Visit www.medicare.gov to learn more about different options, including Medicare Advantage plans.
People should talk to those they know who are already enrolled in Medicare about their lessons learned and advice.
Making choices about Medicare can be challenging but seniors shouldn’t feel like they have to do this alone.
Larry Henry
Portland
Why not?
I have been thinking for the last month or so since the Zumba case broke about the issue of prostitution. I understand that the act of prostitution is a touchy suspect and could potentially hurt relationships, damage careers and cause community issues, but at its core prostitution is one of the oldest jobs in the world.
Although I disapprove of the act, why should someone, as the great George Carlin once said, “be charged for something people give away for free anyway”?
What’s the difference, for example, in taking a woman out on a date, paying for her meal and then having a romantic escapade afterwards? Is that not a form of “prostitution”? I’m not saying it should be legal, and by all means it’s probably wrong. If a woman can make money using her body, in this economy, then why not?
Jon Coburn
Monson
Crimes against humanity
It is sad and disappointing to see the energy and passion devoted to so many protests around the world condemning the actions of Israel this week as it tries to defend its citizens from rocket attacks launched by Hamas terrorists in Gaza. In the same week that Israel takes extraordinary measures to minimize collateral damage to Palestinian civilians, the Syrian regime has butchered more than 300 of its own citizens, the Egyptian government stood by while a bus of 50 Egyptian children were killed in a train crash, and the Jordanian government jailed 89 citizens for up to 15 years for protesting government policies. But where are the outcries against these atrocities?
The “special treatment” given to Israel by the “concerned” public is truly misguided and representative of a warped worldview. Their attention would be better spent addressing real crimes against humanity.
Alex Shapero
Bangor
Maine is a treasure
The time has been coming for years, now it is at our doorstep. It’s time the little people confront the big people and say stop. I’m not talking about size, but rather power. Do we, as people dedicated to the natural beauty and resources of nature, overlook what the gigantic corporations see as necessary procedures to provide jobs, enhance state profits, make life more livable for us?
Isn’t it time each of us learn what those big guys are planning right here in Maine? Read what Irving Limited, a large Canadian corporation, is hoping to accomplish on Bald Mountain in Aroostook County. An open-pit mine is planned that would add to their finances but what that project would do to the surrounding land and water sources would bring serious damage — not just today. Contaminating the area is a serious factor in that plan.
All this, plus far more will take place right under our noses if we overlook our responsibility to maintain the state as it is today. There is far more to this environmental problem than I can accurately report because I, too, am just an onlooker.
What I would suggest, if this is a subject you feel strongly about, contact the Natural Resources Council of Maine at 3 Wade Street, Augusta, Maine 04330-6317 and get the facts simply and factually stated. Maine is a treasure. Residents should be concerned about the state’s future to make sure it will be here for our children and grandchildren long after we have left!
Katy Perry
Hallowell
Alex Shapero: great letter that deserves widespread readership. As you surely know, some of Israel’s greatest enemies these days are mainstream Protestants who really want to see Israel eliminated every bit as much as Israel’s fiercest Arab neighbors (not all its neighbors, to be sure). It is by now painfully familiar to see the tiresome one-sided condemnations of Israel and the refusal of these Protestant denominations EVER to say one word about abuses of Arabs and/or Muslims in the Middle East or Africa by other countries. Their hatred of Israel betrays their anti-Semitism. No wonder that some Jews who are otherwise liberal vote Republican because many decent evangelical Christians support Israel’s right to exist. This happened in the November election, though not to the extent that might have helped Mitt Romney. Still, his support of Israel–like that of Senator Collins, God bless her–is heartening.
I honestly believe that the problem is the Holy Lands itself. Most of the bloodshed in the world over the last 10,000 years or so has originated through one religion or the other that has a common claim to these Holy Lands. It is a force of nature, like walking in a rain storm will get you wet. Living in the Holy Lands leads to wanting to spill someones blood. It’s almost automatic that someone from whichever side will do something to offend the other side which results in someone having to blow someone up or just whack them.
Ever since I can remember there has been peace envoys trying to bring peace to the Holy Lands. It should be evident that there is no one living or dead that has that ability.
Might I suggest that they put up a wall around the entire Holy Lands and have gates set up that only allow you to enter. Once there you can feel free to slaughgter each other as long as you don’t disturb the rest of the world or try to spread your disease.
Katy Perry
Yes, lets preserve every piece of Maine just as it is so the rich tourists can come and enjoy it.
You, Me, and our children can be their slaves, sorry, servants while they are here. And if we grovel and bow low enough and say “yassah massa” maybe they will throw a few extra coins at our feet when they leave.
Janet Alexander – has it ever occurred to you that conservatives may be as fearful and concerned about the progressive agenda, as you are with the conservative agenda? Conservatives were here first. We’re trying only to defend what was ours in the first place. You progressives have come along with your divisive, atheist agenda, and have tried to indoctrinate children at the expense of their parent’s rightful authority. Conservatives have rolled over and let you progressives stomp on them for too long. Now we’re getting tired of it. Now you know what it’s like to have some opposition, and lo and behold, you don’t like having it, just like we conservatives, who were here first, don’t like your opposition to us.
You progressives have come along with your divisive, atheist agenda, and have tried to indoctrinate children at the expense of their parent’s rightful authority. Really??!!
The “conservatives” I have seen over the past 10 years seem to adopt policies right out of the dark ages. Far right conservatives do not believe in science and the garnering of empirical data . which are also known as scientific FACTS!
Divisive? What do you think the impact is on Latino’s when they hear a rich white guy saying the answer to our immigration issue is “self deportation”
Divisive? How do think women feel when they are told Planned Parenthood is going to be shut down? How do you suppose that feels for the millions of American women who use PP as their ONLY SOURCE of health care?
Divisive? If you’re gay or lesbian . .how do you think it feels for those citizens to see you guys pushing for DOMA? Gays and lesbians are not entitled to seek their own version of the pursuit of happiness?
Divisive? How do you think it feels to be a women and listen to old white men with two dollar haircuts talk about rape as having to be “forceable”? Rape is rape . . . .
Perhaps you did not get the full message regarding the results of the most recent general election. This Nation is moving on . .continuing to realize it’s full potential. You can be angry and upset . .or . .embrace the changes with excitement and anticipation.
FORWARD!
The no longer “conservative” republican party has broken our government.
More like reactionary (along with a few other negative adjectives).
“Conservatives were here first”
The garbage you guys come up with on a daily basis is startling — even worse, you actually believe it.
Heisheone: Public education was and is for everyone. Perhaps you could explain your ridiculous statement that you were “here first” and what there was about public education that you consider belonged to you.
You are in serious need of some historical facts if you think public education was a conservative idea or that the people advocating for that agenda were conservatives.
good replies to the genuinely conservative Heistheone who, not long ago in another BDN online rant, condemned Martin Luther as having been inspired by the devil in order to explain the Protestant Reformation H. despises. So, in a sense, HIS conservatives date to the origins of the Catholic Church. But what about Jews who were attacked theologically as well as physically by the “radical” Catholics? Because H. sincerely believes that God speaks only to him and his fellow ultra-orthodox Catholics and to no one else, my historical perspective will escape his grasp of history vs. his theological fanaticism. Pathetic. He’d have loved being part of the Inquisition.
LOL He would indeed have enjoyed the Inquisition. I believe his frustrations stem from the fact that he cannot stomp through the modern world making judgements and executions according to his beliefs. It’s a terrible burden to have to consider the rights and freedoms of others. LOL
I also remember his parroted, indoctrinated rant on Martin Luther who was trying to reform the increasingly corrupt Catholic Church, not start a new one. How about considering all of the abuses of the faith perpetrated by the Catholic Church, before and after the Reformation, to be works of the Devil? A lot of us sure do.
Jesus, was a progressive, he was a socialist, and a free thinker.
Christians will be and are the persecutors in these modern times.
You sound completely delusional.
“Conservatives were here first”?
And all this time and I didn’t know the Red Paint People were conservatives.
Conservative thinking has contributed to making America a great country, but progressive thinking has been equally, if not more, important. . Your statement is ridiculous on several counts. If being in a place first somehow grants you special rights, then you better go talk to the Red Paint People. Many of the first settlers to this country WERE the progressives who wanted change. That’s why they got the heck out of Europe. Beyond that, of course, are all those who arrived as indentured servants or slaves. Without progressive thinking we would still have slavery, women wouldn’t vote, and children (or poor children at least) would be working in factories. As for school being “indoctrination,” if you believe the teaching of science is indoctrination, then you have a huge misunderstanding of what science is.
Speaking of indoctrination … You persist with an unwarranted martyr complex.
They love the self victimization routine. Somehow they can’t imagine how, let’s say for example a gay person is discriminated against daily, but then at the same time, they think there is a war on their religion if you wish them “happy holidays”. It’s absurd.
Tired of it? What? The rest of America disagreed on November 6. And, an ever growing band of surviving republicans are beginning to see the light in what their gross actions of their top picks have caused to the country and the party.
The abuses of power by both Bush and Cheney, preceded by the imperialistic and ruthless Nixon years, have done great damage to the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of government. The republican-“conservative?”-party and its tag-along Tea Party are a self – serving party of the affluent.
What are you going to do godman?
Hmmm? Ever think that it is your admitted desire to harm those you dislike that has turned people against you and your “message”?
Good letters all.
Like Janet Alexander, it is hard to understand why the editorial writer posted such a favorable editorial about Le Page’s Tea Party education policy.
As part of a massive privatization policy under direction of the Koch brothers the public school system would be almost abolished. Charter schools would selfishly exclude all students unable to afford this select form of education geared only to the children of rich parents.
For two years Le Page has scorned teachers, students, state workers, and municipal employees. The man has absolutely no use for anyone except the rich and supporting their agenda. That’s what he was paid to carry out.
Role on and unravel two more almost insufferable years of this dictatorial tea party ruler. A true example of what is wrong with the gross authoritative ultra radical right wing republicans.
Jon Coburn, you ask: “What’s the difference, for example, in taking a woman out on a date, paying for her meal and then having a romantic escapade afterwards? Is
that not a form of ‘prostitution’?”
No. There’s a big difference between having sexual relations because of mutual attraction, and paying for sex with a prostitute. It’s been many decades since I’ve been on a date with anyone other than my wife, but I still know the difference between a date and a business transaction.