News coverage

The BDN has glorified a thief, swindler and murderer. First, convicted domestic terrorist Raymond Luc Levasseur of Waldo, and now art thief Myles J. Connor. Why is that? Once again, the story appeared on the front page, no less.

It may be news that a film is being made of Connor’s sordid life, but it’s not front page news. There is no humor in his story. The BDN made him the story and gave him glory — terrible.

Mary Mcglinn

Woodland

Cate expectations

Cate Street came to the Katahdin area offering “Great expectations.” Instead of the BDN reporting on buildings being torn down and foreclosed properties being confiscated and sold for town revenues, it should report more on why Cate Street isn’t paying its local property taxes on time.

It is a two-way street. Cate Street has potential for the Katahdin-area economy, but if it wants help from the state, it should demonstrate it is responsible enough to pay local town taxes on time. What about the plans for an industrial park in Millinocket? Is Cate Street really serious about its local business plans becoming successful?

So far it has been given the benefit of the doubt, but along with local resident hope and expectations there has accumulated a strong sense of skepticism about snake oil.

Richard Mackin Jr.

Millinocket

LePage vote

My husband and I buy our own health insurance through Anthem. We have a $10,000 deductible. Our rates went up in 2014 to $813 a month. On the Affordable Health Care website, this same plan would cost us $1,262 a month. I called Anthem recently and was told our plan will now be canceled this coming October. My husband and I will not be able to afford an additional $450 a month to pay our premiums.

I am upset with the Obama administration and all the Democrats who voted for this law. The extra costs my husband and I will have to pay are what will be subsidizing those Americans who are getting their health care for free or at greatly reduced costs. This is unfair. Our government should not be in the insurance business and mandating a product. It is wrong.

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, 2nd District Democrat, voted for the Affordable Care Act. He is a lifetime politician who supports spending. He will not be good as Maine governor. I’m voting for Gov. Paul LePage.

Elizabeth A. Liscomb

Bar Harbor

Improvement funds

I am writing on behalf of the Bangor City Council to thank the Legislature for its support of revenue sharing. Passed in February, LD 1762 prevented an additional $40-million cut to revenue sharing after the program had already been cut in the previous year. The effect on Bangor would have been an additional $1.38-million cut to our budget for fiscal year 2015.

Specifically, I want to thank the entire Bangor delegation for its unanimous support of LD 1762, which will help limit property tax increases and prevent major service cuts in Bangor during the coming year. These funds will go toward infrastructure improvements, public safety and property tax relief.

Ben Sprague

Chairman, Bangor City Council

Bangor

Self-reliance

Among the many distortions of fact and language used to oppose Medicaid expansion, the myth of the “able-bodied adult” is particularly cruel and inaccurate, explained the BDN’s March 5 editorial, “Ministry of Truth.”

Many unlucky life circumstances can place childless adults in the Medicaid-eligible gap for health insurance.

There are people struggling with chronic mental or physical illness who nonetheless try to work but can never quite break the poverty line. Yes, for some, an official disability determination may be in their future — but what of the years of unsuccessfully trying to work without adequate health care to tip the balance toward self-reliance?

There are older folk, not yet Medicare eligible, unexpectedly unemployed and without the means to purchase health insurance. While they frantically look for work, a medical emergency or ongoing health care expenses — say, for a sick spouse — would plunge them into crisis. Add to this the anxiety of living with uncertainty day after day just when age is making you vulnerable.

There are proud working people with intellectual and educational challenges that limit the type of work they can do to very low-paying jobs. They are doing the best they can. Should they be denied health insurance?

Imagine yourself — or someone you love — in one of these circumstances. Please support health insurance expansion for all. Let compassion triumph.

Catherine Raymaker

Ellsworth

Leave us alone

I am responding to Kim Ervin Tucker’s OpEd published in BDN March 4. The first thing that I noticed is that the Sierra Club was involved. What is the problem with the organization and Searsport? It successfully thwarted the will of the state, which voted to expand the port to Sears Island. Now it wants to stop the improvement of Mack Point. Using two other ports as a comparison is just obfuscation. Each port is unique; each has its own location and physical properties. You cannot compare different ports, as each has its own shippers and needs.

Using the fact that two companies are foreign-owned is just a red herring. Anybody who thinks about today’s world in a rational way knows that most companies are not registered in the United States. Where was the Sierra Club when dredging was done in Bass Harbor? Could it be that there are some Sierra Club members who would not like the increased water traffic? That it might affect their recreational pastimes?

People need good jobs, and this project would secure the jobs that are now at Mack Point and maybe even expand them. This project could have a further effect in the state. An example would be the railroad that took over the Searsport line. If there is increased traffic, the railroad could add jobs.

At some point people will stop investing in this state if every project is turned down. Mainers need to tell the Sierra Club to leave us alone.

Geoff Anthony

Blue Hill