Vaccine pros and cons
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting 28 doses of 10 vaccines from birth to age 6. Many of these vaccines prevent the spread of a disease from one to another. They also protect us and other generations to come. If the child is going to be enrolled in public school, it is mandatory for them to have certain vaccinations, with exemptions allowed for religious and philosophical reasons. According to the CDC, 732,000 American children were saved from death and 322 million cases of childhood illnesses were prevented for 20 years because of vaccinations.
On the other side of this argument, there are many cons. For example, many of these vaccinations can cause serious and sometimes fatal side effects. Some possible side effects include long-time seizures, coma, lowered consciousness and permanent brain damage. These vaccines can contain harmful ingredients. The flu vaccine in multidose vials contains thimerosal, which is an organic mercury compound.
Vaccines are going to save children and their parents money. If the child gets the flu or any other kind of sickness, they need to get the medicine to help with it. The medicine can get pricey even with insurance. Imagine not having it? We’re taking about $222 to even more. In 2008 an outbreak of the measles in California resulted in 11 unvaccinated children catching measles and resulting net public-sector cost of $10,376 per case.
Allison Jusczak
Orono
Chemical labeling needed
As a typical 20-something female, I use a wide variety of personal care and beauty products. But my before-bed routine became a health hazard when I found out hormone-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates, which make plastic durable and flexible, can be found in everything from perfume to liquid soap to nail polish. Even though scientific evidence links phthalates to health problems including asthma, birth defects, lowered IQ and learning disabilities, manufacturers don’t have to disclose when their products include this class of toxic chemicals.
There is a solution to the problem. Rep. Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, introduced a strong, bipartisan bill, LD 948, that will require manufacturers to disclose information about phthalates and other toxic chemicals in their products.
I urge everyone who cares about their health to contact their state representatives and ask them to support LD 948. I don’t want to wash my body with carcinogens or spray on hormone disruptors. I need to know if phthalates are in the products I use. Maine consumers have the right to know which products chemicals like phthalates.
Melissa Mann
Portland
Stop Agenda 21
A response to constitutional rights: People need to realize our nation is under attack by the United Nations Agenda 21 and the Humane Society of the United States, and what they are doing is trying to stop all hunting, fishing, lobster, animal agriculture and property rights. Sounds outrageous but true.
LD 161 is An Act to Ban the United Nations Agenda 21 in Maine. People need to search and learn what the HSUS/UN Agenda 21 is all about. Our freedom is at stake.
Gene Trisch
Springfield
Don’t allow discrimination
Sen. David Burns, R-Whiting, is moving full steam ahead with his religious war bill, which is modeled after the Indiana law that would allow businesses to discriminate against gay people.
Not only would Burns’ religious war bill allow radical Christian establishments to hang signs “No gays served here,” it also would allow radical Muslim-type establishments to hang sings “No Christians served here” and “No Jews served here.”
Burns is wasting time on a religious war instead of the important issues facing Maine and our economy. Not only has Burns’ political career peaked; he needs to have a very well-financed opponent willing to do the real work of Maine and our economy in his next election.
Burns needs to leave the religious wars in the Middle East. Those wars don’t belong in America any more than the signs that once read “No coloreds served here.”
Bob Jean
Lubec
Citizen rights vs. gun rights
On March 27, Jim Fossel wrote that Maine could take the lead on gun rights by passing a bill that would allow carrying a — legally purchased — concealed gun without a permit.
This law would encourage more people to carry weapons, which would invariably result in more accidents, very possibly in deaths, in more frequent gun use in domestic violence and in more suicides. Is that what we want in Maine? According to the Centers for Disease Control, the death rate by firearms in 2005 was greater in Maine than in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire.
According to recent poll results, a large majority of Maine voters find fault with such a bill. But gun-owners fight fiercely for what they claim as their “rights.” I would like to know what’s happened to citizens’ rights for safety? I guess many of us will now have to fight for those, too.
Patricia Stowell
Bangor
Protect people
In the general public, a lot of people think people are abusing the system for Social Security Income and Social Security Disability. There are just not a lot of people doing that. There is a growing misconception that taxes and benefits are paying for luxuries and that people are living well.
People with disabilities have to prove their disabilities — they cannot make up their problems — and it is difficult to qualify for SSI and/or disability. You have to go to doctors or a psychiatrist and prove it. And still anyone receiving benefits is looked down on, seen as less than.
Benefits don’t account for when bills go up with electricity, food, insurance or clothing, and it doesn’t keep up with the economy. There also are costs such as co-pays on medications.
I have struggled just getting a bus pass every month. There have been times when I have not been able to get to appointments. When my food stamps were cut this year, I had to focus more on getting food than going to appointments.
People paid into Social Security, so it should be available when they need it. Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins and Rep. Bruce Poliquin need to protect these programs for our future generations.
Gail Crowley
Bangor