Republican debate drama
I am amazed at how much the Republican presidential candidates whine about their treatment by the press. It’s almost all they can talk about. What exactly did they expect when they decided to run for president of the United States?
My advice to them is get over it. This is what it means to have a free press in a democracy. If they have only been in the closed circuit of conservative media, they might not know this. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz only wants moderators who have voted in Republican primaries. That hardly seems democratic because less than 20 percent of Americans fit that category.
If someone can’t take tough questions from other Americans, how as president would they deal with the German press or the British, which can be quite nasty, not to mention Al-Jazeera and the Russian propaganda machine? Whining doesn’t win votes over there.
If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Linda Buckmaster
Belfast
Reduce pollution from dirty stoves
On Oct. 22, Sen. Susan Collins introduced the Clean Cookstoves and Fuels Support Act that will address dirty and inefficient cookstoves in some of the poorest parts of the world.
Nearly half of the world’s population cooks on open fires or with dirty stoves and fuels. This legislation would provide funding to help 100 million homes worldwide adopt clean and efficient stoves by 2020. These efforts will greatly reduce carbon pollution that drives climate change and impacts the personal and economic health of the world’s population, including the people of Maine.
Maine continues to have one of the highest asthma rates in the country. Mainers suffer from unhealthy air by missing school and work, as well as bearing the expense of increased costly emergency room visits. By reducing global carbon pollution through this initiative we can make great strides in addressing climate change leading to healthier air.
The American Lung Association in Maine applauds Collins for her leadership in addressing climate change by reducing the harmful pollution caused by dirty cookstoves.
Lance Boucher
Director of public policy
American Lung Association in Maine
Manchester
El Faro salvage not worth it
The tragic loss of the cargo ship El Faro hasn’t ended the tragedies yet. The government has squandered millions of taxpayer dollars looking for the ship. This is a colossal boondoggle. If the El Faro is worth salvaging, the ship’s owners should do it, not the taxpayers.
There is no mystery surrounding the sinking. A horrible mistake was made by going into the hurricane winds with a topheavy craft such as the El Faro. This mistake should not be paid for any more than it has been already by the loss of lives on board.
Let’s stop the nonsense. Leave the El Faro where it is unless someone privately wishes to exercise salvage rights to it.
Dick Brooks
Phillips
Planned Parenthood harassment
I recently read the article about the substantial legal fees incurred by the city of Portland as a result of a court ruling that favored a group of anti-abortion protesters. These protesters claimed their First Amendment right was infringed upon by the city’s ordinance that created a buffer zone around the entrance to Planned Parenthood, thereby forcing them to demonstrate across the street. They asserted that this restricted their ability to “counsel” people using Planned Parenthood.
What about the rights of those Planned Parenthood clients who just wanted access to the many reproductive health services it offers? Why should they have to endure “counseling” — I deem it harassment — from strangers who have no business telling others how to conduct their affairs? Why should someone who needs a pelvic or breast exam, a prescription for a yeast infection or contraception information — thereby reducing the need for abortion — have to run a gantlet of demonstrators just to access this health care?
I thought Portland provided a good solution to the situation when they created the buffer zone; the protesters could still express their opinions, but the clients, their families and the staff of Planned Parenthood could access the facility without being harangued, intimidated and vilified.
I am saddened that Portland’s attempt at compromise was overturned by the court. I hope that, going forward, the protesters will respect the rights of those seeking health care at Planned Parenthood, allowing them to enter and exit the facility without being “counseled” and challenged.
Sara Hessler
Ellsworth
Gun control at the border
My wife and I just returned from a holiday in Quebec City. The Canadian border agent was well aware of Maine’s new gun law and stated her opposition. After the normal questions about address, occupation and the purpose of our visit, the conversation continued as follows:
Agent: “Do you own guns?”
Me: “Yes.”
Agent: “How many?”
Me: “Three.”
Agent: “Is there a gun in your car?”
Me: “No.”
Agent: “Do you own a pistol?”
Me: “Yes.”
Agent: “Is it in your car?”
Me: “No.”
Agent: “Do you carry a pistol on your person in Maine?”
Me: “No.”
Agent: “Do you carry a pistol in your car in Maine?”
Me: “No.”
Agent: “Again, do you have a gun in your car?”
Me: “No.”
Agent: “Drive ahead, park and shut off your engine.”
They searched for 30 minutes. After clearing U.S. customs on the way back, I mentioned the incident to the U.S. agent. He said: “That is unusual, because you don’t have an NRA bumper sticker. The stickers usually get them going.”
Jake Morrel
Sangerville