GOP not dealing with issues that matter
Senate President Mike Thibodeau’s June 15 Bangor Daily News OpEd about why Republicans don’t face as tough odds in the upcoming election made me laugh. He said Republicans win “because they have a better understanding of issues that matter most to voters.”
Really?
If the Republican Party has a better understanding, why did it oppose the compromise worked out to increase solar energy in Maine? Why does it oppose a fair minimum wage? Why does it rail against ranked-choice voting? What about better health care for all Mainers?
Why does the party leader — our governor — continue to embarrass us with his bullying and name-calling? Is that his substitute for actual debate, discussion and compromise?
And as far as saying Republicans are the political underdog in this election year, give me a break. I think what Thibodeau really means is that Republicans are anxious because they know they have failed to govern effectively and are not dealing with “issues that matter most to voters.”
Andrew Stevenson
Belfast
Elections do matter
Gov. Paul LePage has said that the Natural Resources Council of Maine, with the collusion of southern Maine, is the biggest job killer in the state, and that local residents were in favor of rules that would have allowed open-pit mining. Not true. At public hearings in Augusta, dozens of people from Aroostook County testified for saving the environment and the sustainable jobs that depend on clean water from the proposed changes to the mining rules. Only two or three people from Aroostook County testified in favor of the changes to the state’s mining rules.
The governor also blamed the Maine Education Association, Maine Municipal Association and American Association of Retired Persons for his failures. We need public-service advocacy to counter big corporate interests with far greater lobbying resources, such as J.D. Irving.
He also frequently blamed local control and the Legislature for his failures. Thus virtually every Maine voter is targeted by his disrespect because we all vote for local officials, school boards and legislators.
LePage has used the town halls to campaign for a Legislature that will do his bidding.
“Elections matter,” he said a number of times.
Indeed, they do. Vote in November for legislators who will not deny threats to the environment and poorly regulated corporate development, respect local government and work cooperatively with major nonprofits advocating for all Mainers.
Alice Bolstridge
Presque Isle
Kudos for Waterfront Concerts
I am a Bangor native and very happy to see the positive direction Alex Gray has helped steer with Bangor’s Waterfront Concerts venue. I returned home as a veteran in 1967 and have grown with and experienced first-hand all of the music that he is bringing to Bangor. It would be really great to see and hear these legendary acts again.
My brother, Bobby, and I are in our 70s. It would be too difficult for us to attend. We were thinking how great it would be if Gray could arrange for these concerts to be live streamed into our homes via TV on a pay-per-view basis. Perhaps Bangor’s communication college could become involved to gain professional experience. They broadcast the Nite Show with Dan Cashman.
This wouldn’t ruin attendance but perhaps might be a source of revenue, more return for the buck, as the say. One of the local TV stations might be willing to help.
Regardless, keep up the great work. This old timer from Bangor gets what Gray is doing and appreciates it very much.
Johnny Friedman
Eddington
Fulford for state Senate
I recently attended our Northport annual meeting. This was truly a community event with earnest debate and strong majority support of most actions. Having been a longtime selectman in Liberty, I was reminded that local government brings people together to forge solutions based on local needs rather than outside dogma.
I was surprised by our moderator’s introduction of state Sen. Michael Thibodeau as someone compared to Gov. Paul LePage and Donald Trump. This was hardly welcoming, as these politicians often are referred to in the press as bullies who represent powerful interest groups.
What really disquieted the crowd was the senator’s offhand remark that if people had questions they should contact the “girls” at his office. A put-down like that, referring to grown women as girls, should not go unchallenged. Fairness and respect for women as equals need to be demonstrated by officials.
The one topic that could have benefitted from discussion led by the Senate president was the issue of Northport’s trash. But, this topic was unwisely ignored. Thibodeau has not been community-minded regarding energy and pollution issues in Waldo County, either; keep in mind his lack of leadership of Republicans to support LD 1649, the solar energy bill that would have created jobs.
I will vote for Jonathan Fulford for state Senate come November. He represents local needs first. He uses respectful language, which promotes fairness for all, and he supports environmentally responsible energy independence for Maine.
John Krueger
Northport
Guns not the problem
In response to Larry Dansinger’s June 16 BDN letter to the editor about America’s “love affair with guns,” Dansinger clearly hasn’t thought this issue through completely. Yes, an LGBT bar was targeted in the massacre in Orlando, Florida, but it was done by a terrorist. NRA members are not committing these crimes.
I’m tired of an organization such as the NRA always taking the blame. The NRA is nothing but a group of dues-paying Americans trying to protect their constitutional right that is always under attack.
It would be wonderful if the NRA wasn’t necessary, but as long as the left continues to blame the object and not the individual when a crime takes place, we the people will continue to fight to protect our rights. We shouldn’t have to, but we will. If people truly cared about the issue, they would educate themselves on why the founders put the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
Roger Willett
Winterport