GMO labels
The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, H.R. 1599, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed last week, blocks states’ rights to mandate labeling for GMO products. Nine out of 10 Americans polled wanted the label. But there is still an option — requiring a label for the herbicide glyphosate would effectively label most GMO products. Glyphosate is said to “probably” be carcinogenic by the World Health Organization. I know probably doesn’t mean is, but it does mean more research needs to be done before it can go unlabeled.
I have contacted U.S. Sen. Susan Collins asking her to write a bill requiring glyphosate labeling as this would label nearly all GMO products. My voice alone won’t accomplish this, and I would love to get others to do the same. There is a way to go around H.R.1599. I would love to see this spread through the anti-GMO groups and the people of Maine.
Our voices were not listened to, so we must try another approach. Please join me in contacting our representatives.
Scott Okusko
Bucksport
Planned Parenthood
The recent video about Planned Parenthood alleged illegal selling of body parts from aborted babies was not a surprise. Life Dynamics reported this about 15 years ago, but the liberal news media ignored it. If it weren’t for all the coverage on Facebook and other social media, it would never have been printed in the paper or on TV.
Dr. Deborah Nucatola’s casually remarks, while eating, about how she makes sure to only crush the head and legs of a fetus so she can save the internal body parts, such as kidneys, which are more in demand. In another video, another Planned Parenthood doctor, Mary Gatter, made a comment, or hopefully joke, that maybe she could bump up the price on livers so she could buy a Lamborghini. This is unbelievably gruesome.
We give Planned Parenthood $500 million per year. I for one pray this monstrous government-supported organization can be stopped. We are all involved because we are paying for it with our tax dollars.
Thomas Coleman Sr.
Dedham
GOP candidates
Maybe what the Republicans need to do is have a caucus to determine who is the best person to take on Hillary Clinton and then the rest of them drop out. If it keeps on the way it is going, every Republican will be after the prize.
John L. Clark
Bangor
National park opportunity
I’m writing to encourage Maine’s congressional delegation to get involved and help create a new national park and national recreation area in northern Maine.
Our state is wasting a tremendous opportunity.
A nonprofit foundation has proposed investing $100 million in the Katahdin region with the creation of the national park and recreation area. Hundreds of potential jobs are at stake.
I’ve seen our political leaders bend over backwards to try to lure suspect businesses such as Cate Street Capital to Millinocket and East Millinocket. They’ve traded tax breaks and loans, taken over landfills and given away millions of dollars with little to show.
It’s about time our leaders show the same interest in a national park and national recreation area. While the old saying goes “nothing’s a sure thing,” there aren’t any examples of national parks anywhere in the country that aren’t successful.
My town is struggling. We’re losing people and small businesses. My business, the Appalachian Trail Cafe in downtown Millinocket, a local restaurant for nearly 80 years, closed for the winter. I can only afford to be open in the summer months when we have tourist in the community. We need our political leaders to help us find a way out.
A national park and national recreation aren’t a silver bullet, but they are a foundation for building a brighter future for our kids.
Jaime Renaud
Millinocket