Yes to national monument
While hosting their regional hearings, Sen. Angus King and Rep. Bruce Poliquin said they wanted to make sure voices of the Katahdin region were heard regarding the lands designated for a North Woods national monument. Our voices are important because we live here.
With the exception of the time I attended and graduated from the University of Maine in Orono, I’ve lived in Millinocket. My father worked in management at Great Northern Paper for four decades. My husband, who is from Medway, and I chose to raise our family in the Katahdin region because it is home. All we ask is for the same opportunity for our children. The economic revitalization offered by a national monument designation is a step toward that hope and opportunity.
At King’s meeting with National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis in Orono, residents of the Katahdin region joined hundreds of Mainers to speak in favor of the designation of a national monument. Of the 1,300 or so in attendance, at least 1,150-1,200 were there in support. (Could someone please tell Gov. Paul LePage and Poliquin that only 200 people rode seven buses to Orono and of those 200 only 34 came from Portland. In fact, 38 came from the Katahdin region.)
Likewise, at Poliquin’s meeting in East Millinocket, Katahdin region residents overwhelmingly came out in support of the national monument designation. Only a dozen people spoke in opposition, and several didn’t live in this area.
We’ve raised our voices as requested. It is time for King and Poliquin to lead.
Shelley Farrington
Millinocket
Narcissism and Trump
Narcissus was a young man of Greek mythology who upon seeing his own reflection in a pool instantly fell in love with it and died, refusing to look at anything else. A narcissist basically is someone who is filled with self-importance and needs to be the center of attention.
This in itself is not something bad; we have all encountered people who think they are a “cut above” everyone else. Narcissists can drift into aggressive behaviors when they are challenged or when someone disagrees with them. Name calling, insults, being deceptive and refusing to admit when they are wrong are characteristics of the extreme narcissism. There is only one way to deal with an extreme narcissist, and that is to refuse to debate or interact with them. This is not cowardice but a refusal to allow the presence of ranting behavior.
Donald Trump has “trumpeted” himself throughout the primaries in self-importance, seemingly without regard for others. Just think of four years and the contentious issues that will be facing the person elected. This man cannot become president of the United States and set the tone for our country. I can perceive the U.S., the Bedford Falls of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” becoming a Pottersville under his influence.
You may disagree with me, but before you rule me out find out more about narcissism and see whether what I said adds up.
David B. Lockwood
Dover-Foxcroft
Egos and sinister agendas
As the Bard said in one of his more memorable exhortations: “[Lear, Lear, Lear] beat at this gate that lets thy fool folly in and thy dear judgement out.” It happened back then, and it has happened here in this land that we all love with the survival of two candidates for president who are ethically unfit to oversee the administration of the town dump.
But wait: Hope springs eternal, for the weight of their past sins, deceits and prevarications may so burden their consciences that they will be ethically reborn and America will survive the assault of their egos and sinister agendas. We better hope so.
Phil Tobin
Ellsworth
Bus system improvements
I want to thank the Bangor City Council and Transportation for All for building a cooperative relationship that has allowed for a vigorous startup to improving the Community Connector bus system. Kudos to both groups and to transit workers and community members for speaking out loudly about what a good public transportation system needs to include.
I know that expanding operating hours is crucial, especially for workers who desperately need to get to their jobs, but I also realize a solid infrastructure — e.g., enough operable buses and drivers, security and cleanliness at the depot and on the buses, better working space for staff — must be in place before a program of expanding hours will be successful.
It is clear that members of city council and staff are onboard with making it all happen. The 2016-2017 proposed city budget includes funds for the many underpinnings that need to be in place. The council is making an honest effort to move forward. I hope that the formation of a Citizen-Council Task Force agreed upon at the city council budget workshop June 1 will be up and running as soon as possible to keep this cooperative venture going and that the next step will be expanding bus hours.
Ted Rippy
Bangor
Voting system doesn’t need a fix
Did you know that if you collect enough signatures, you can get anything on a ballot to be voted on as a citizens initiative here in Maine — even if it may be unconstitutional?
That is what has happened with ranked-choice voting. If this measure passes, Maine would be the first state to dramatically change its voting process. The Maine Constitution states clearly that the candidate with the plurality of the votes is the winner.
The promoters of ranked-choice voting are being deceptive in trying to promote the change as a more democratic way of electing politicians. That is simply not the case. The way we vote now is simple and fair. You vote for the one person you want to represent you. The person who gets the most votes wins.
With ranked-choice voting, you rate your choices and, in essence, get more than one vote. The way the votes would be tabulated is confusing and complex, involving a series of reallocating votes and eliminating candidates who get the least votes. Ranked-choice voting also would require the ballots to be counted at a central location, which means that each town has to safely and securely transport the ballots to Augusta.
Do we want to fundamentally change the way we vote? To me the choice is clear. I plan to say no on ranked-choice voting this November.
Kerin Resch
Warren