Save Mainers landline service
FairPoint Communications is trying to deregulate basic landline phone service in Maine. Two bills before the Maine Legislature, LD 466 and LD 1203, would make it possible for FairPoint to dump its rural landline service.
Since 2008, FairPoint has served as the provider of last resort, providing landline service to many areas not services by cell phones. During a power failure or other emergency, for those without cell service where they live, especially the elderly and the handicapped, that landline is a lifeline. Others rely on landlines for home security, medical monitoring of pacemakers, implantable cardiac defibrillators and more.
AARP Maine, along with other agencies, is battling to prevent these bills from passing. It is imperative for Maine residents who want to save basic landline service to contact their representatives and senators to stop the passage of these bills.
Carolyn McCabe
York
Caregiver support
I just learned that Rep. Drew Gattine, D-Westbrook, received AARP’s 2015 Capital Caregiver Award. There is no legislator more deserving of the award than Gattine. It’s difficult for me to thank him adequately for the work he has done for Maine’s 178,000 caregivers and their families in making the CARE Act and its three important provisions law.
I was a caregiver to both of my late parents. I know first-hand the struggles, frustrations and all the other range of emotions that go with the job of caring for a loved one. The caregivers of today will benefit greatly from the increased communication and support required in the CARE Act.
Gattine’s leadership, sincerity and passion to help caregivers and their families in his own district and across Maine have produced fruitful results. I thank him sincerely for his dedication to Maine’s caregivers.
Amy E. Madge
Wells
Drugs and mental illness
Having worked as a substance abuse counselor, private investigator, juvenile probation officer and caseworker, and adjunct college professor (teaching psychology and human relations), I have encountered many youths and young adults dealing with medical, psychiatric, psychological and substance abuse problems. It is timely that the residents of Maine and Gov. Paul LePage realize that we have serious issues regarding mental health and substance abuse.
The disconcerting fact is now that a lot of these untreated individuals are walking around packing guns. Without proper treatment for these sub groups, the drug abuse and crime rates will increase and all will be at risk. In fact, Maine gun laws should probably be revisited. Mentally unstable people and guns are definitely not a good mix.
Laurie Churchill Coutts
Brewer
Learn about socialism
There has been a most welcome reintroduction of the word, and occasionally the concepts, of socialism into political discourse in recent months. At times, these efforts have come from unexpected sources, such as Gov. Paul LePage and Rep. Larry Lockman. Not since the halcyon days of Eugene V. Debs and Norman Thomas has there been such widespread, mainstream discussion.
Those who are curious about the principles, beliefs and policies of contemporary American socialists may visit the respective websites of the Socialist Party at SocialistPartyUSA.org and the Democratic Socialists of America at DSAUSA.org.
Bob Meggison
Belfast
Diapers into biogas
As a busy mom, with a toddler and a baby on the way, I’m always looking for ways to make my life easier. I separate my recycling, pay extra for trash bags and throw my food scraps in a special container. It’s not simple.
That’s why I was interested to learn of a new convenient recycling option for my friends in Bangor called Fiberight in which dirty diapers and trash could be recycled and turned into biogas. Busy moms in Bangor who care about the environment will appreciate the simplicity of the new recycling system that I wish was available in Portland.
Brooke Stearns
Portland
Compromise is confirming court nominee
In his Feb. 17 BDN column, Matthew Gagnon reached a new low when he uses a fictional TV show to suggest a solution the the U.S. Supreme Court nomination, coming up with the (sexist/ageist) idea of getting rid of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, while totally slandering Hillary Clinton, and pretending that his idea is “so brilliant that it will never happen.”
How about just following law and allowing the sitting president to appoint a new justice, as he is entitled to? Rather than “proving that compromise is still possible,” Gagnon’s solution would be farcical. Compromise would be confirming a well-qualified nominee regardless of their left or right leanings. That is how it is supposed to work.
Republicans could prove that compromise is still possible by doing it for a change. Gagnon seems to be so tuned in to his television and all the “brilliant” acting that he is out of touch with reality.
Gillyin Gatto
Machias
No to minimum wage hike
Back when oil prices were rising rapidly, all commodities went up in price accordingly. Higher production and greater transportation cost were the reason. I wasn’t happy but I could live with that.
Now oil prices are down, but other prices still are high and people want a raise in the minimum wage. People who refused higher education or dropped out of school, or got pregnant “by mistake” now want as much pay, if not more, for flipping hamburgers as the EMT who may save someone’s life from choking on that same hamburger.
All the while, because of a minimum wage increase, prices will go up. Time for a reset folks. I’m getting dizzy.
Joe Dionne
Abbot
America’s flawed foreign policy
Listening to the several presidential debates recently, I have growing concern about the rise of socialism in this country. We have the largest military force in the world, with bases, or at least military influence on every continent.
The reason we are given, is to “protect American interests.” The primary interests seems to be oil, but we don’t call it a “subsidy” to the oil companies.
The latest excuse for the drop in the stock market is the drop in oil prices. We did as we were told and conserved energy, but now our 401(k)s are sinking.
Since World War II, we have called it patriotism supporting the U.S. policies in the Middle East by overthrowing governments and putting boots on the ground since 1990. Look where that has gotten us. As told by presidential candidates, patriotism is spending billions of dollars in foreign countries, socialism is spending money on Americans.
Jim Flavin
New Sweden