Collins, stones and sweeping
A while back, friends, including Sen. Susan Collins, went down to Belfast to try curling, a sport few of us had played. Reflecting on that trip, one aspect of curling is a metaphor for a prized senatorial quality.
In curling, players slide and spin stones down the ice, the winning team ending with the most stones closest to the target, called the house. Additionally, sweepers with brooms strategically sweep the ice ahead of the stones, changing ice texture and hence the curve, direction and speed of stones, sometimes knocking out an obstructionist’s stone, other times to head for the house.
Washington is gridlocked by stone throwing and spin. By contrast, our senator is known for getting ahead of issues, more for pull than push initiatives towards legislative resolution. From my perspective, as Maine commissioner of professional and financial regulation, Collins established policy pathways that helped resolve Maine’s contentious, unravelling workers compensation morass. Chairing post-9/11 Homeland Security Committee, her focus on consensus outcomes of balance between constitutional values of national security and personal privacy led to melding well-intended yet conflicting draft legislation. On the Appropriations Committee, she set an outcome marker of actually passing a budget. This helped break down the impasse of conflicting advocacies. Such out-front quality contribute to recognitions of Collins as a significant national leader.
In curling, this is called sweeping. In Maine it’s called Dirigo, “I Lead” and is one more quality that enables Collins to serve Maine well.
Bill Beardsley
Ellsworth
Appreciation of simplicity
Lots of people want to learn to live off the grid, which I have for over 15 years now. They say “I want to go green.” This has become a popular trend for companies as well to “Go green.” But it is different for me. Let me explain how.
Living off the grid to me means living with the natural resources, which means learning to shut down when they do, surrendering to the night and lighting some candles or learning to charge alternative lights for night use. My mother told me that I do not surrender to it but rather welcome it and seek this powering down.
I’ve been to the conservation commissioner to advocate for ground level application for alternative energy programs to put this is the hands of the people, to be able to learn and be a part of where your energy is coming from, to be conscious and connected. To flick a switch and turn a knob is just too far removed from what creates and sustains these basic needs.
Could this concept be bleeding over into other areas of how we interact and function? Such as creating illusive lines between each other with different standards of application and perceptions? Can one illusion potentially feed into another?
I challenge everyone to sit at night with alternative lights and shut off the grid. Play a game of cards and talk about how you feel. Then welcome yourself to my peaceful world, appreciation of simplicity.
Carolyn B. Rae
Dixmont
Maine deserves Michaud
The recent controversies involving candidate Mike Michaud, including secret recordings and videos, are in poor taste and we have hit yet another campaign low.
I’ve known Michaud for the over 30 years. He has no malice or ego. He has worked for and with the common man all his life, not to mention his tireless efforts for our veterans. I have watched Michaud evolve into one of the most decent, knowledgeable men I have ever known.
He deserves to be our governor over any other candidate. The state of Maine deserves him. It’s crucial.
Constance Holmes
Southwest Harbor
Confused on bears
For all of the 60-plus years of my life, I have heard wildlife experts tell me not to feed the wildlife because it habituates them to human food and makes them become nuisance or even dangerous animals. Now all of a sudden I see a select few Maine wardens and biologists telling me that feeding bears donuts and cupcakes will help prevent nuisance bears. Am I confused — or are they?
I for one have lost a lot of respect for the Maine Warden Service for their endorsing a political position.
Stephen Blythe
Jonesboro
Yield versus merge
The I-95 speed increase was ill considered by not only the Legislature but also the Department of Transportation in regards to driver safety. The real issue is the use of “yield” for entering traffic at the on-ramps within the Bangor city limits. The increased speed, to 60 miles per hour, increases the difficulty for oncoming traffic as most entering drivers do not understand the yield requirement when entering high-speed lanes. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles manual says: “It means you should slow down to wait for traffic to clear on the road you are entering or crossing. Give the right-of-way to all vehicles and pedestrians.”
All vehicles includes oncoming traffic. Turning on the turn signal does not absolve one of responsibility for causing an accident as one lazily drifts into oncoming high-speed traffic. It is not always possible to abruptly change lanes, as you approach an on-ramp, so that, in deference to the laws of physics, entering drivers should execute the yield operation correctly for the safety of others.
If DOT does not expect entering drivers to actually yield, then they should erect merge signs for all oncoming traffic. That is what the Turnpike uses for its on ramps.
Fred H. Irons
Orono
Collins not moderate
Sen. Susan Collins voted to block, through a constitutional amendment, the overturn of the Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court. She showed her allegiance with the extreme wing of the Republican party and aligned herself with the likes of Ted Cruz and the Koch brothers. This amendment would have granted Congress and the states the power to regulate and cap campaign spending by third parties.
Then, on Sept. 15, Collins voted to block the Paycheck Fairness Act. This act would have prevented employers from discriminating against workers who discuss their wages and would have expanded workers’ ability to seek damage for wage discrimination.
Such a voting history is really no surprise. It does, however, make one wonder how Collins can see herself as a moderate. Yet she persists in presenting herself this way.
If you want a moderate and independent thinker, vote for Shenna Bellows.
Catherine Buotte
Bath
Thin-skinned politicians
Upon hearing that Maine’s governor had some hurt feelings and lashed out at U.S Rep. Mike Michaud over a campaign ad, I was reminded of a quote from former Rep. Barney Frank about former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. Frank remarked that Gingrich was the “thinnest skinned character assassin I know.”
I would argue that Gingrich now has some competition.
Michael Dunn
Bangor