King should make national monument a reality
I want to thank Sen. Angus King for inviting National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis to the University of Maine last month to hear from Mainers about the proposed national monument. I am surprised, however, King has not come out publicly to echo the overwhelming support he and Jarvis witnessed at the meeting in Orono.
The tone of the meeting was set from the beginning, when approximately 1,200 supporters gave the senator and director a standing ovation as they walked onto the stage with only a smile — before either said a single word. It was an affirmation that we, the people of Maine, value the National Park System, conservation, sustainable economic development and the leaders who help us achieve and maintain those goals.
The centennial celebration of the National Park Service is underway, as is the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Acadia, originally created as a national monument. Acadia eventually became a national park and now brings hundreds of millions of dollars into Maine’s economy, ensuring jobs and the conservation of a magnificent piece of Maine’s unique beauty.
My hope is King will publicly express to President Barack Obama his and the majority of his constituents’ support for a national monument. King will continue to be the leader he is as he ensures another of Maine’s natural treasures, as unique as Acadia, is conserved. The Katahdin region and entire state need his leadership on this historic opportunity, then the economic benefits to this region can begin.
Judi Ekholm
Whitefield
What to expect from President Trump
If anyone wonders how Donald Trump would perform as president, he or she needs to look no further than how Paul LePage has performed as governor.
Lewis Sirois
Ellsworth
Stupak for Penobscot register of probate
At the June 14 state primary, Democrats have a choice in the Penobscot County register of probate race. I urge voters to support Renee Stupak. As the former register of probate for 35 years, I had the privilege to work with several dedicated employees. Stupak was one of them. She understands the needs of the office.
When I retired, Stupak took over my position. She is courteous, professional and a hard worker. Stupak has the sensitivity and knowledge to serve Penobscot County. She has earned the respect of the legal community and proven dedication to her job. She is compassionate, kind and takes her position seriously.
Please vote for Stupak on June 14.
Susan Almy
Charleston
Cianchette wrong about higher ed
Michael Cianchette’s June 4 BDN column touting the virtues of school choice by examining the apparent success of that model at the college level is based on a fundamentally flawed premise. The success of our higher education system is not “predicated on student choice,” as Cianchette writes, but instead on universities’ choice of the best and brightest. High school graduates do not choose where to attend college; they are chosen by the colleges to which they apply.
Public schools must enroll all students in their district because a free, appropriate education at public expense is the right of every K-12 student, but colleges may reject any student. Our universities choose fewer and fewer applicants, in order to maintain their vaunted world-class rankings, which depend on selectiveness. Academe has become a seller’s market because demand is high and supply is controlled.
This is not an example of free-market consumer choice but of a cartel system. If we want to improve K-12 schools, where teachers are required to ensure all students meet the standards to succeed and graduate, we should not look to the university system, where access is limited and success is measured by a select few meeting admission requirements, rather than by students’ improvement over time from that baseline.
Sara Taddeo
Waterville
King, Poliquin should endorse monument
As the owner of a small business in Island Falls in the heart of Maine’s North Woods, I want our congressional delegation to act yesterday to help bring the economic development potential of a national monument to the Katahdin region.
I have a very personal connection to some of the nationally important history connected to this land. I’m the fifth generation of my family to own and live in the Sewall House, including Bill Sewall, who was a guide, mentor and personal friend to our nation’s 26th president, Theodore Roosevelt.
Sen. Angus King held a meeting last month during which hundreds of people from around Maine told him they want a national monument, and National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis told him and all present how unique and important the land in question is. He’s right.
Rep. Bruce Poliquin, who has been going out of his way to act against an opportunity for economic development for northern Maine, just held a congressional field hearing opposing the national monument. But it backfired, allowing supporters to once again outnumber opponents 4-to-1.
King and Poliquin now have both experienced what polls, letters and petitions have been showing them. Hopefully, Poliquin will stop working against this much-needed opportunity for our communities. He and King should endorse the proposal and work with the president to get the ball rolling for our region as soon as possible. Roosevelt started this tradition right here.
Donna Sewall Davidge
Island Falls
No respect for Williams
Up until today, even as a lifelong conservative, I have admired and respected liberal Juan Williams, a Fox News political analyst. After his defense of the outright criminal activity of anti-Donald Trump demonstrators in San Jose, I now consider him not only a moron but an inciter of further violence as well.
Williams will never have my respect again. After the election, I hope he is one of those left-wing losers who are so dejected that they are on the first train, bus or plane out of the country that they did their best to destroy.
Robert E. Blanchard
South Portland
Election notice
The Bangor Daily News will stop accepting commentary related to the June 14 primary on June 10. Not all submissions can be published.