Egomaniacal leadership

Did I hear the newscaster correctly? Gov. Paul LePage announced that he is considering running for the U.S. Senate. He is basing his decision on his belief that he has outperformed Sen. Angus King as governor and would outperform him as senator. I would love to see his evidence. I don’t agree and will share a short list of my concerns with our governor and his qualifications.

LePage continuously attacks, belittles, threatens and misleads all levels of citizens throughout Maine. He has yet to provide the state with any positive results that have been acknowledged by any independent source. He proudly displays an uncouth and abrasive manner.

He is the perfect model of the playground bully. He demonstrates a lack of self-control. He is prone to emotional outburst.

I’ve expounded enough on LePage’s character. My real concern for Maine and the nation is, how long do we allow the egomaniacs to gain leadership positions in our state and country?

I think I’ll turn on the History Channel, watch the old newsreels of Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler, and try to convince myself that it could never happen again.

Terry McCannell

Pittsfield

Celebrate public transit

Last November, I rode the Community Connector and walked, exclusively. I continue to do this at least two to three days a week. It is a great way to be part of the community and support public transit.

On Earth Day, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pickering Square in Bangor, people will have an opportunity to celebrate the Connector, learn from the Bus Ambassadors how to use the bus system regularly, and participate in lots of family-friendly activities.

Friends of the bus system, including Community Partnerships for Protecting Children, Transportation for All and Dignity for All, have been working hard to make sure that we have an opportunity to see how important it is for all of us to improve and expand this vital service. Lend your support and join the fun.

Suzanne Kelly

Bangor

A good deal for Maine

The Maine Council of Churches extends its thanks to the state senators and representatives who voted last week to accept federal health care funds and improve access to health coverage in Maine. Our nine member denominations, representing 600 local congregations across the state, applaud efforts to care for vulnerable and low-income people, and to expand access to cancer screenings, addiction treatment and rural health services.

Maine is the only state in New England that has not accepted these federal health care dollars, and neighboring states that have accepted them have seen a positive impact on their local economy, a decrease in drug-related crime and cost savings in their state budgets. Accepting these funds and expanding access to health care is a good deal for Maine, and more importantly, for Mainers in need.

Rev. Jane Field

Executive director

Maine Council of Churches

Portland

Social work protection

The 127th Maine Legislature considered many social service proposals. One of those bills was about protecting the safety of Maine social workers.

This bill, LD 1499, is especially important for Maine social workers and their families, as aspects of this bill will be aimed at protecting the privacy of these individuals and their families from potentially dangerous situations. As a graduate social work student at the University of Maine and a social work advocate, it is important to me that readers understand the parameters of this bill proposal.

Currently, all home addresses of licensed social workers in Maine are published on the government’s website for the public to view. This bill will ensure that these home addresses are removed from and are no longer published to a public forum.

Social workers have challenging jobs, and sometimes those job roles include being involved in dangerous situations. LD 1499, which will become law after lawmakers overrode a veto from Gov. Paul LePage, will ensure that Maine social workers have their home and families protected from any potential dangerous situations involving disgruntled clients. These are the important reasons why I and many other graduate students at the UMaine School of Social Work support LD 1499.

Meisha B. Nickerson

Old Town

Capitalism’s housecleaning

What Kathleen Parker missed in her April 13 column is that Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple. Pretty radical. Like Jesus consorting with lepers and others expelled from decent society.

Bernie Sanders proposes throwing the greed bags out of the Temple of Capitalism. Housecleaning the lying, cheating and stealing that led to the recent recession, and to the Great Depression endured by those before us. Sanders and the pope are on the same page.

The pope condemns “rampant individualism,” not individualism itself as Parker wrongly implies. It’s the “rampant” that is condemned by both the pope and Sanders. The Temple of Capitalism needs a housecleaning now to toss out the rampant excesses of corporate money managers run amok. Curbing greed for the common good is not radical. It is simply just.

Anita Siegenthaler

Port Clyde

Chamberlain’s role

Most Mainers know something about Joshua Chamberlain, who served as colonel of the 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War and then went on to become governor and then president of Bowdoin College. But did you know he was born and raised right here in Brewer?

Brewer state Rep. Archie Verow sponsored a measure to call attention to Chamberlain’s role in our state and local history by naming the I-95 northbound rest area and visitor center in Hampden for him. It’s a way to share our area’s heritage with visitors and to direct travelers to local landmarks like Chamberlain Freedom Park in Brewer, which includes a historically significant Underground Railroad site.

Brewer Historical Society is pleased to join Verow for a dedication ceremony at the visitor center at 1 p.m. Friday, April 29. Join us to learn more about our history and the work we are doing to preserve and share it.

David Hanna

Brewer Historical Society

Brewer