Keep seat belt law
Regarding the Feb. 26 BDN article, “In the wake of last week’s 75-vehicle pileup, a bill to repeal Maine’s seat belt law,” this bill should be easily defeated. State Sen. Eric Brakey, R-Auburn, is quoted as saying “the issue isn’t whether seatbelts save lives, it’s whether the government should mandate that we wear them.” If his logic were applied to all proposed bills, there would be very few bills to consider.
I am sure if we take a close look at bills that have passed and already enacted, we would surely find some that were introduced, passed and enacted that would be mandates of the government. Who does he think he is fooling?
Alton Shedd
Lincoln
Slow down!
After seeing the results of the decreased driver skills and lack of common sense that resulted in a 75-vehicle pileup in Etna last week, perhaps it is time to ask the police to do a few things besides checking for seatbelts.
First, stop people from passing on the right, Next, stop people from tailgating. Driver training taught this old driver (51 years without one accident, ever) to leave a car length for each 10 miles per hour speed, on dry roads.
It is clear that too many drivers think they are NASCAR drivers, and weave, tailgate and go too fast with impunity until caught by the weather. Adjust speed and follow the rules.
Robert Finlay
Medway
Penobscots and the river
The state insists that the Penobscot Nation’s reservation, which consists of islands in the Penobscot River, does not include the river itself. Why? One reason is the state’s water quality standards are not up to federal requirements.
When the Penobscot Nation attempted to enact water quality standards that were as stringent as federal ones, in order to ensure their tribal members’ health and safety, the state pushed back, saying the Penobscots had no jurisdiction over the river. Currently, the Penobscot Nation is spending great quantities of time and money fighting a battle that is in all our best interests. They are suing the state to re-establish the fact that indeed the river is part of their territory and that they have jurisdiction to act to protect it.
Don’t we want our waters to be at least as clean and healthy as national standards (which some claim aren’t high enough)? The Penobscot Nation deserves our gratitude, but they need our support as well.
The towns of Millinocket, East Millinocket, Lincoln, Brewer, Howland, Bucksport, Mattawamkeag and Orono, which have discharge permits on the river, have sided with the state in the lawsuit. You have a right to ask questions of your town officials and insist that they withdraw from this action. You may also want to contact Attorney General Janet Mills and express your opinion. We should thank the Penobscots for their efforts to protect the waters we all share.
Shirley Hager
Chesterville
Senior Center praise
I don’t know what I would do without the Hammond Street Senior Center in Bangor. I spend almost every day there. I love the people, the art classes and the exercise opportunities. My friends at the center feel the same way.
The Hammond Street Senior Center gives us a pleasant and stimulating environment, and gets us out of the house. If you don’t live in a retirement community, having a place like the Hammond Street Senior Center means you can still stay busy and involved in life but return to your own home. I’m going to try a yoga class next.
We really have lot of fun, too. Right now we are rehearsing for our annual play, and this year it is a romantic comedy set in a circus. People are using their talents to build and paint the set, make costumes and design props. Research says that seniors who continue to challenge their brains stay healthy and active longer. Memorizing the speaking parts certainly challenges the brain.
I am always surprised how many seniors do not know about Hammond Street Senior Center. It is truly a great community resource.
Trena Sumner
Bangor
Netanyahu’s speech wrong
The proposed appearance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before Congress is an affront to the citizens of the United States. The prime minister has nothing of value to say. The truth is his appearance before Congress will only weaken attempts under way to neutralize by agreement an Iranian nuclear arms program.
Concerns about proliferation of nuclear weapons are serious issues, but not the only ones facing Congress. The serious business of the U.S. should be the sole focus of this Congress, not wasting time listening to the feeble bleatings of a lame duck politician from a miniscule Middle East nation that cannot stand on its own two feet without our wealth and power.
Perhaps if Mr. Netanyahu is re-elected he could be invited to come here to visit. But until and unless he is re-elected, his time is better spent working for peace with Israel’s immediate neighbors.
Inviting Netanyahu to address Congress now is merely another cheesy attempt by the right wing of the Republican Party to assault the office of the presidency. Enough is enough.
Roger M. Woodbury
Morrill
Clean water for all
Clean water, can we have too much? I don’t think so.
The Environmental Protection Agency has said that treaty obligations stipulate that the Penobscots have a right to clean water. Let’s honor our treaties.
The Penobscot Nation and the state are at odds over water quality standards for the Penobscot River. I can only assume that the state believes the best use of the river is as sewer for industrial and human waste. I reject that idea.
We live in a time of increasing threats to water and air quality. Clean water and air are necessary for the healthy lives of all critters. We should support the Penobscots in their desire to protect their river for all of us.
Read Brugger
Freedom