Return Leboutillier
Friday afternoon, I reflexively turned on my radio. Toby Leboutillier’s theme song was playing! Had Maine Public Broadcasting Network’s management relented? Would the “Down Memory Lane” program continue to brighten our Fridays? He started to speak. Yes! The show would go on! On the Internet … bah, humbug!
Diane Rehm’s voice followed: Blah, blah, blah, trillion-dollar national debt. Will the Republican’s cave in? Blah, blah, blah. Harsh budget cuts. Blah, blah, blah. In her promo telling us we could now hear all 10 hours a week of her show, Rehm says that “Maine Public Radio management got it” and decided to add her show to the Friday schedule.
Well, MPBN’s management hasn’t “got it.” They have scrubbed the last visage of authentic, quirky, unique, wonderful Maine content from their daytime schedule. The MPBN website tells us: “We know that many listeners have grown to look forward to spending time with Toby Leboutillier and his amazing music collection and we are pleased that it can continue to be offered to you.”
Offered to us? On the Web? There are 168 broadcast hours in each week. Surely MPBN can spare two for Toby, at a time when we can listen.
Bah, humbug. Blah, blah, blah.
Joel Pratt
Roque Bluffs
Choir kudos
Recently, a wonderful concert was performed by the Bangor Area Children’s Choir and Divisi. Divisi is a newly formed a capella choir that will soon be well known in the choral community.
BACC is in its 21st year and still appears to be somewhat of a secret in the greater Bangor area. Directed by Steve Weston, BACC offers a magnificent opportunity for young choristers. This December’s concert consisted of a variety of choral literature with a generous supply of Christmas selections.
While the arrangements were challenging to the singers, allowing them to hone their vocal skills, the pieces performed were also very audience friendly, making for a most enjoyable and polished concert. All involved in the evening’s festivities should feel extremely proud of their accomplishments.
James Paton
Carmel
The ‘other cliff’
Since the election, the news has focused on the “fiscal cliff.” What you don’t see in the news is that we have already fallen off the “moral cliff.” The election further exacerbates that, beginning with two states approving the use of recreational marijuana.
Physician-assisted suicide, already a law in one state, was on the ballot in another. Gay marriage was approved in three states in disregard of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
Since abortion was legalized, more than 50 million babies have been aborted. Contraception coverage is mandated for nonprofits with religious affiliations. The name of God is being stricken from schools and public buildings. Christ is being removed from Christmas even though he is the reason for the “holiday.” Critical issues that need action by our politicians are treated with a selfish unwillingness to compromise. Greed and unethical business practices are corrupting financial institutions and corporations. Our administration is being investigated for an alleged attempt to cover up mistakes it made in the Benghazi incident, and the list goes on.
Much can be traced to just being human with all of our inherent instincts and failings. The problem comes when we are bombarded and brainwashed with this garbage, that it becomes a way of life. With more than 50 percent of the electorate now accepting the foregoing as status quo, our nation’s morality has hit rock bottom. The only option left is to strive to follow the path of ethics and morality in our lives, lead by example, and hope and pray for the best.
Joe Bertolaccini
Orrington
Drug policy, questions
To all parents and students looking into college, ask a lot of questions on how school policies are executed. I say this because my daughter and roommate were asked to leave their college. The school could not keep them safe after they went to the police, reporting drug use in their dorm room.
Parents should ask the right questions of a school’s no-tolerance policy. It may just protect your child.
Joanne Carl
Brooks
Bipartisan work ahead
The people that we elected to represent us in Augusta and Washington, D.C., should do the job they were sent there to do. They should represent us, never mind what party they belong to. They should just do their job.
John Bennett
Enfield
Joe Bertolaccini–Your “moral cliff” is as much of a myth as the much deliberated “fiscal cliff”. People who want to scare us and then take our freedoms away from us seem to like these mythical cliffs.
I dunno–it looks like we’re fast approaching a myth cliff. I sure hope hope so. We could use a little bit of reality.
There are a few left wings myths out there as well.
For example… Spending less than the increase you really want and calling it a $1.6 trillion cut when it is actually a $8 trillion increase over 10 years.
That is a Democratic accounting “myth”.
It’s right up there with “President Obama has saved x-hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicare.” Oh really? And that money isn’t going into Obamacare? It’s going right into deficit reduction? And no interviewer stops them when they say it.
Myth Cliff was my second grade teacher. Luckily, I have gotten over my lisp.
Actually, Mr. Bertolaccini has it exactly right. Cultural decay leads to every sort of problem, and moral relativists like you are steering us into a very deep and dark hole.
When do we actually arrive at this hole? I ask this because people have been saying such things for generations. I don’t think there has been any point in history where everyone has agreed that everything is perfectly jake. There is always someone complaining about cultural decay.
Joe Bertolaccini
It’s 2012.
*Marijuana has been around since time began, it’s silly to keep it illegal.
*Dr. Kevorkian showed us a better way….
*Gay marriage assures equal rights for all. Isn’t that America?
*Abortion? My body my choice.
*Greed — nothing new .
*Benghazi, other embassies have been attacked also, Benghazi is now added to the list.
Besides, the Benghazi issue is the CIA doing CYA, not the administration.
Correct
MPBN has gone to the lowest common denominator style of programming.
Diane Rehms , et al.
Memory Lane was unique , original and REAL.
My family and friends have enjoyed Toby for ever.
But , alas and alack , he has been shown the door.
One more reason to NOT tune in MPBN.
Or give the whiny beggars any more handouts.
And another thing : what is up with all the British accents??
Is that the best they can do ?
Not impressed.
How bout a real Downeast accent, MPBN ??
Glad I get CBC ( Canadian Broadcasting Corp.) here at the house.
A breath of original , fresh air, eh ?
The news shows, commentary, etc. are valuable but hopefully they won’t continue to cut down on the musical offerings. Jazz, classical…if they keep cutting these programs, there will be a lot of outrage.
Many are very disappointed and upset about the removal of the Friday afternoon Memory Lane program.
The talk shows may be valuable to some, but tend to be redundant. I guess I don’t multitask well but I cant’ listen to talk and do something else at the same time. I can with several genres of music though, a moribund quantity.
I am the same way with those news and talk shows. It is easy to read and listen to music at the same time though.
I can’t believe that it doesn’t cost MPBN more to air those shows in the time slot that the volunteer Toby had….
I miss “Echoes” at 11 on weeknights. I like the calm and starry music that late. I also miss the overnight classical music. I do NOT like the endless yammering that it on at night now (except for “In Tune By 10,” but how much longer will THAT stay on???)
I did not realize they took “Echoes” off too! I enjoyed that music as did you. They have made too many changes, all at once it seems. What is the name of the call in show at midnight, do you remember? That was recently moved up an hour as it was too late for many, which is understandable. They didn’t take off the jazz on Friday nights, did they?!
They’ve imported a lot of British broadcasting for some time.
They would rather employ and pay people from Great Britain, they would rather send our money overseas than spend it here in the good ol USA. It’s why I will no longer subscribe, although the loss of Toby is the BIG reason.
Mr. Bertolaccini, our nation’s morality hit rock bottom in late 1860 when eleven states left the Union because they didn’t wish to honor the results of a Presidential election and wished to preserve slavery. One of our two major political parties seems to long for a return to those evil days. Please write to condemn that party in your next letter.
And the lack of morality continued with Jim Crow laws, KKK violence, etc., etc.
And it continues with the OWS losers and the union revolts.
How does OWS and Unions have a lack of morality? Quit being such a partisan, it cuts your credibility down to zero.
Violence and vandalism are immoral, and that’s what the OWS and the unions use to get their empty points across. Of course, if you watch the mainstream media, you won’t see either.
No, that’s what select isolated individuals did — not the groups themselves. There is a difference. Just like you say the Tea Party isn’t racist, just that there are a few isolated racists in the group. Right?
Good point. My union is ALWAYS resorting to violence and vandalism to get our point across (~rolls eyes~). You’d have us think that there is a huge left-wing media coverup and that unions all across the country are just brute thugs destroying property. However, you don’t see what the unions can do and could do for people like the hard workers at Walmart.
Joel Pratt–great letter. I didn’t contribute to MPBN’s end of year appeal because of their cancellation of “Down Memory Lane.”
And they still aren’t making DML available by streaming as promised. The last I looked, their website still indicated business as usual with a CML “ad” no less.
I listened to it on line last Friday. But it should be on the radio, not the web. They have canned most “Made in Maine” broadcasting, including Friday night jazz, and replaced it with “Big Box” programing…just flip a switch and we’re there. No pain, no effort.
Joe Bertolaccini: Your idea of morality is very narrow . Gay rights…..you mean treating other people (people just as deserving as you ) as you would wish to be treated? For your information (and it is very easy to understand) , contraception cuts way back on abortions (which are down thankfully according to recent statistics)….but no, you don’t like contraception either. You make no sense, to put it mildly. Such an absolutist, judgmental morality. There are many really good and moral people in this world who are happy when others gain equality and are treated more fairly, as they should have been a long time ago. They know that it is another victory for decency in this country, as was the end of slavery. Ending discrimination and cruelty to others and extending decency and fairness feels like a moral step forward to many of us, and the right thing for humanity.
Many would not want your version of morality.
And…..this “corporate greed” you spoke of….surely you do not blame just one political party for that. You could not be that deaf and blind.
“The only option left is to strive to follow the path of ethics and morality in our lives, lead by example, and hope and pray for the best.”
That should be and should have always been your first option. It is the best option.
Ethics and morality are contextual/societal at times.
Take yours to the Middle East and let me know how it works out.
Or how about these ethical and moral choices.
We only have so much money.
Should we take care of elderly 75 year old grandma and her home heating needs this winter? ….. Or should we take care of methadone addicted able bodied 28 year old nephew Ethan who has made some real poor life choices?
I love Gram.
Always so kind and generous.
…Oh yeah, Cousin Ethan, that jerk.
He still owes me $50.
The thing is, though, we’re going to spend money on the 28-year-old junkie anyway, either in the form of rehab, vocational training, subsidized housing, or prison — the last option being the most expensive, and the one we taxpayers will be stuck with after every other option is de-funded in the name of lower taxes. A four-year ride at the University of Maine is cheaper than a four-year ride in state prison (not that the junkie is necessarily college material). It’s not realistic to think that once we cut these people off they will disappear and no longer be a burden to taxpayers.
You’re right that we’ll spend the money on him anyway. But I can spend it in such a way that it discourages, rather than enables, the behavior.
What ways do you think discourages addictive behavior.
Great reply. Lowering taxes seldom equals lowering social costs.
I see Hank…. Only so much money… Let’s let Gram find another blanket.
There’s plenty of money. Our priorities are not focused on helping either Gran or Ethan.
Yeah you are right. We can always have the Federal Reserve print more.
It is astonishing how people don’t see the benefit of the long range picture. They seem to think that just cutting programs ,etc. will somehow solve the problems and that somehow they, themselves, won’t be affected.
How about this for a solution. We do a bit of research and find out why we have so many drug addicts and work on fixing what is causing the problem. My guess is that many people get into addictions because they can’t find work or they can’t find work that is respected and pays a wage they can live on. Seems like it might be cheaper to focus on good education, decent jobs and social respect for that job than to spend money on rehab once someone becomes a drug addict, a gambling addict or an alcoholic.
Oh My!! Lets do a study. Really?
It should be obvious. People like to get high. They do. That is the reason for the addiction. I have never bought into the idea and I think its a cop out to blame unemployment or poverty. I know lots of poor people who do not commit crimes or are drug addicts. I also know lots of well off people that have had problems with teens and drug use. In the end they just wanted to get high for whatever reason.
In addition we set up up an infrastructure to care for them. So there are no consequences to their addiction. In fact its supported. We provide all kinds of support services. Furthermore this infrastructure is making money. Everyone from slum housing to government social workers Hospitals and care givers and taxi drivers. All dependent on the money flow from the government.
You build an attractive infrastructure anything, even drug addiction, will grow in fertile ground.
Meanwhile the community pays the price with increased crime. Major drug dealers move into the area from Rhode Island (to feed the growing market) commit a few murders. The word from police is that we do not even see 5% of the crimes and things the cops have to deal with.
It’s always the easiest and most amusing reply to snarl and sneer at studying a problem. It’s ever so satisfying for conservatives to state that, ” Stupid intellectuals, not smart enough to run a business, always want to study a problem when, I, smart, savvy businessman that I am already know all the answers”
OK let’s not do a study (although I suspect one has already been done and we are ignoring the results) and continue as we are doing now. We have jails full of drug addicts. We have the largest prison population in the world. It hasn’t stopped addiction. So what else do you think might work?
While I agree some people just like to get high this would be a genetic characteristic and once most of the addicts were in jail there would no longer be a problem. This hasn’t happened. So, I’m interested in what we, as a society are doing to keep creating more and more addicts. And yes, a study would be helpful in know why that is happening.
Just a thought: Ever notice that drug problems occur in poor areas that most middle class and wealthy suburban areas don’t have drug problems? Would that be because they have education and jobs? Do you think education and jobs might help others?
I think our differences come down to a chicken or egg first question. My belief is that we as a society have made the problem worse by creating a cottage industry for drug treatment. Lets study that, though I think folks won’t like the answer. Follow the trail of Bath Salts around the state as it followed the methadone clinics. (The BDN had a story last year). The infrastructure and resultant money flow is a contributor to the growth of that (bathsalt) drug problem. Why is it then so hard to see that the same money & infrastructure contributes to the methadone/Oxy problem?
My belief it that too many people are making too much money to see the entirety of the problem. Medical people among them who only see it from a “treatment” perspective. Social worker types who see it from a “sociological” perspective. Both get to skim a little off the top as the money flows by and get to advance their cause while getting paid for it.
I fully agree that an industry has grown up around the increasing problem of addiction. I’m pretty sure the addicted population came first. Recognizing there is an industry is irrelevant to understanding where the addiction starts and why?
Otherwise you’d be saying that the addiction problem was started by the industry….
Its an integral part. The industry and numbers exploded from a relatively small problem to a large one with an ever increasing cost after Angus King pushed for federal funding for Methadone & Mainecare. Why?
Example:
There are those on the left that say we engage in wars only because we have a large military industrial complex. How does this differ?
OMG Cheese the sky is falling on you!
People have dealt with addiction since wine was created…. There are simply more people in this world to deal with now than there were then.
Addicts need treatment and humanity.
Oh come on. A wolfie like retort signals another possible screen name.
There is something more at work here other than “there have always been addicts.” Explain 10% of a small Eastern Washington county town being addicted to opiates. Or in Larger Bangor a number approaching 5% of the population. Its nuts and your simpleton like comments don’t even begin to address the problem.
Not me actually. Still only have one screen name and you still have no basis. More baseless accusations just serve to further highlight your paranoia.
ROFLMAO
I feel sad for you.
If you think I’m wolfie then you are truly paranoid. You sure do have a thing for wolf and believe there is a wolf behind every name.
I don’t know if I should feel insulted or flattered. I think I’ll be flattered.
I think Jesus would say that regardless of the sin, both are deserving of our love and help.
Ethics and morality. Do we continue to feed an addiction or pay for heat?
deleted
Repost , Id love to hear your opinion on this matter.
even if others dont.
Here’s my opinion. You probably won’t agree with it. LOL
Basic ethical codes are pretty much the same across all cultures. Different sects or groups twist these codes to suit their religious beliefs which have usually evolved for purposes of control.
Example: All ethical codes say killing is wrong: All religions manage to twist this to allow certain types of killings. The only difference between cultures is how their religion interprets the basic ethical code.
J. Pratt, J. Paton, J, Carl,J. Bennett: Good letters.
J. Bertolacini: the sky is not falling. I only fully agree with two of your tragedies: pervasive greed and lack of compromise. Otherwise, strawman arguments.
Mr. Bertolaccini, you are absolutely correct. We have hit rock bottom morally. You need only read some of the frequent posters on here to realize that they have no knowledge of history, the influence of propaganda, and what leads to the downfall of a society. They have no knowledge of men like George Soros. They are the low information society which is a product of the deliberate dumbing down of America which has been prominent in the government schools for decades. You get it. Keep the faith and keep setting the example. I believe things will get worse, however eventually they will get better. Good men like you must continue to speak up. Thank you!
LOL at Mr. Soros as a Republican stand in for the Devil and Mr. Bertolaccini as a shining example for all to follow.
I believe the dumbing down is going extremely well for Mr. Not4us. LOL
I thought we hit rock bottom when women started wearing pants? Or was it when Elvis was on tv? Maybe it was when the Beatles made the boys wear their hair long?
Yeah, Mr. Bertolaccini “gets” it. And we get that he and you are judgmental know-it-alls.
Mr. Pratt, MPBN Radio is making a ratings decision by increasing its news programming. The station can get more “underwriting” with a larger audience than it would by continuing to appease a much smaller audience that gives donations.
So greed, rather than serving it’s public, is the bottom line.
If the ratings are higher for news programming, that means the station IS serving the public.
Are they?
Are They?
Joe, let me tell you what is IMMORAL. It is immoral to foist religious dogma on others. Want to be religious? Good. Be religious all you want in YOUR home and in YOUR church and NOWHERE else. (By the way, ever hear of the first amendment? Church and state are to be SEPARATE ! So take your theocratic fantasy and put it where you may.) Many of us do not need these superstitious mythologies to find peace and moralty. And, more divisiveness, war, and death has occurred in the name of religion than perhaps any other entity. Want to know what else is both IMMORAL and UNPATRIOTIC? A shrinking middle class while millionaires and billionaires dance for joy with every offshored job and every tax loophole and shelter they get. It is immoral to pollute the air and heat the planet. It is immoral to hold middle class tax cuts hostage to protect bloated millionaires and billionaires who need to pay their fair share once again. And all this NONSENSE about attacks on Christmas are just that, SHEER DELUSIONAL NONSENSE. So please, keep your mythological dogma to YOURSELF where it belongs. PS: And as to the DISGUSTING and HYPOCRITICAL right wing witchunt about Behghazi, there is NO “cover up” of ANYTHING. You have swallowed FAKE-News LIES about this. Right wing TeaPublicans have no concept of truth nor morality. They are nothing but ULTRA CORRUPT CORPORATE TOADIES and nothing else who live to steal from the poor and middle class and give to the rich. That is it. That is all. (PSS: I willl only agree with you about the corporate corruption. That much is true. But religious dogma is NOT the answer. Ethics and morality exist well apart from religious dogma. You don’t need mythology to be moral and ethical.)
Tinserblic, It appears that YOU, have actually not read the First Amendment. If you had actually read the First Amendment as written by our founders, it states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. It does not state that Church and state are to be separate. Our country is now prohibiting the “free exercise” of religion, we see examples of this every day, particularly during the Christmas season. Your uneducated rant leaves little else to comment on.
Oh come on Mr. Bertolaccini, the world isn’t going to hell in a hand basket. Try looking at some of the good and fun things around you instead of sanctimoniously tsk-tsking about the religious failings of everybody except yourself.
Good points, Sally! There is so much good out there!
People like him come across so sour and negative.
Joe Bertolaccini – In the history of every great power, there are certain stages that they all go through before they fall. America has entered the last stage of that cycle, and we’re not long for greatness as long as we remain on this path. But, since we’ve turned our collective backs on the God that raised us to greatness, then we get what we deserve.
What we used to call good, is now called bad. What we used to consider bad is now acceptable. Selfishness has replaced compassion. Greed has replaced the spirit of giving. The family institution and the institution of marriage have been decimated. Love of freedom has been replaced by government handouts. American Exceptionalism has been replaced by a disdain for and jealousy of greatness and success. And our once strong Christian values have been declared unconstitutional.
America is in trouble. This last election proved it. There was no way that with the economic problems and the corruption in our government that the same band of thieves should have been reelected. But, that’s just a sign that more and more in this nation have lost their way. More and more have their hands out rather than their hands working. More and more are on the government dole and vote based on selfishness rather than what’s best for America.
America is in big trouble. The question is: Can we turn things around before the progressives in charge drag ever deeper into the abyss?
LOL always the cheerful word from EJ. It’s sad to have an outlook on life so sour that only the destruction of the country as proof that you are right will make you happy.
It’s sad to have an outlook that is blind to the truth.
It’s sad to wish back the times when people were rigidly cast into specific roles that society demanded. No room for individuality-men and women had to be a certain way in a certain role and any deviation was cause for being outcast or ever arrested. Of course, it was a grand time for straight white men, eh? God help all the rest of us.
Hey! I know of a few countries that are still like what you are advocating! Maybe you could go visit them and see what it’s really like to live in a country that isn’t as free for EVERYBODY as ours is!
They are stuck in the past. Yes, it was a pretty good situation for the straight white men. It makes them nervous and upset to see their little applecart view upset .
Never said any such thing.
Hey, RJ, you’re usually a pretty smart individual. You know I’m not advocating any such thing. I just want America to be great once more. I want to save this nation from the progressives that are trying their best to socialize everything and make us just like every other third world country.
Thanks, EJ, but it sounds like it. Okay, to be clear then, tell me what part of our history in this country would you like us to return to?
As for socialism, you know that there successful European countries that are more socialist than we are with our few social programs.
As I said, “I just want America to be great once more. I want to save this nation from the progressives that are trying their best to socialize everything and make us just like every other third world country.”
It’s not a matter of turning the clock back; it’s a matter of re-establishing American greatness, American pride, and faith in the American people. It’s a matter of encouraging Americans to do for themselves without government oversight. It’s a matter of getting the government out of the tax and spend business and reducing the enslavement roles that the progressives are building in order to build their voting base. It’s a matter of survival of this nation. If we continue on our current path, we’re going to fall into the abyss of debt, dependency, and weakness. But, if you want that, then keep supporting the present leadership.
By the way, capitalism trumps socialism every time. There are no socialist nations that are prospering in the say capitalist countries prosper, unless you count countries like China that suppress their peoples’ freedoms and liberties in favor of the government.
Did our society, as a whole, EVER call it good? Or do we always complain about how terrible it is now and that it USED to be good?
All my life I have heard people say what you are saying.
There have always been the nay sayers, and the doom and gloomers. Always has been, and still are .
MR. Bertolaccini, the DOMA has NOTHING to do with the state’s recognition of same-sex marriage. It makes it so that states aren’t required to recognize SSMs performed in other states, but it does NOT say that a state must not allow it.
What are people thinking? DO they really think these laws that allow SSM in Iowa, Maine, Vermont, Washington, etc., are in direct violation of federal law???