Reject the TPP
The New Balance shoe company, with manufacturing facilities in Maine, should be lauded for breaking its silence over the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed trade deal between the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim nations. This marked a change in New Balance’s public stance, which had been to warn that eliminating tariffs under the trade deal could lead to job losses in U.S. factories.
But New Balance recently has held its tongue about the trade deal when the company was promised a Department of Defense contract for athletic shoes for military personnel. A spokesman for New Balance said that “ we swallowed the poison pill that is TPP so we could have a chance to bid on these contracts” and in exchange would “remain silent” on the trade deal. Now that the deal for New Balance may not materialize, the company is no longer being silent.
The “bitter pill” of TPP involves much more than trade. The trade deal has been described as a budding European Union in the Pacific that creates a self-governing and self-perpetuating commission with detrimental implications for American workers, immigration law and sovereignty. Hopefully, New Balance will stick with its latest position. Congress, for its part, should vote it down.
Burnell Bailey
South Berwick
Gun owners not to blame for violence
When the recent shooting in Orlando, Florida, hit the news, it was almost too predictable what the overwhelming responses from both sides of the political spectrum would sound like. “Gun control,” “tolerance,” “immigration,” “hate,” “fear” and a myriad of other terms began to multiply.
As a person who does not want to lose any of my rights, including religion and possession of firearms, I have only one line of questioning for our politicians. The alleged shooter was a Muslim, but the immediate shout was “don’t judge all Muslims by the actions of one.” I completely agree with that. We should judge each person on his or her own merits, not as belonging to a particular religion.
The politicians got that one right. But one has to realize that this is the exact same argument most of the liberal-leaning people use. In response to this shooting, liberal-leaning people have renewed calls for gun control. The shooter had a firearm, therefore firearms are bad. You do not judge all who are Muslim because the shooter was Muslim, likewise, you cannot judge all firearms owners by his or her actions.
The overwhelming majority of Muslims are wonderful people, as are the overwhelming majority of firearms owners. The only Muslim who should be responsible for the shooter’s actions is the shooter. Likewise, the only firearm owner who should be responsible for the shooter’s actions is the shooter.
Don’t penalize all Muslims or all firearms owners. Neither group deserves to pay for the crimes of some other person, even if they are a member of the group. Don’t touch my religion or my guns.
Robert Greenlaw
Greenbush
King silent on national monument
Kudos to Sen. Angus King for bringing National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis to Maine for a statewide discussion about the proposed North Woods national monument. The two men set a good tone for their meeting in May at the Collins Center for the Arts.
While he took a good step in creating the meeting and space to discuss the proposal, King has been silent since. This is surprising. We attended the meeting and saw for ourselves, as did King and Jarvis, the massive support on display that evening. I would guess more than 1,200 people stood up to cheer and applaud when Jarvis walked on stage, causing the few dozen opponents to disappear in a sea of T-shirts, stickers and positive enthusiasm.
Maine’s distinguished political legacy includes those who served at both local and national government levels — including Percival Baxter, Margaret Chase Smith, John Lund, Ed Muskie, Bill Cohen, George Mitchell and others.They were willing to take bold steps to bring about change that ultimately benefited both Maine and the nation.
King and other members of our congressional delegation should join the ranks of these esteemed leaders by publicly supporting a monument designation as a first step to a national park and national recreation area; the same path Acadia National Park took to become a reality. It’s the right thing to do for the environment, recreation and to bring new, sustainable economic growth to rural Maine.
Sam Horine
Skowhegan
Palliative care for cancer patients
As a young adult who was diagnosed with cancer at age 24, I’ve experienced firsthand how the mental, emotional and physical side-effects of cancer treatment can severely affect the quality of life. Suddenly my focus on personal goals, such as finishing college and starting a career, turned toward saving my life.
Often, the pain, nausea, shortness of breath and anxiety are not managed as well as they could or should be. That’s where palliative care comes in. I see the benefit of having a physician who specializes in the care and comfort of a patient while undergoing cancer treatment. It’s a growing field of specialized medical care that improves the quality of life for patients and their families by focusing on the symptoms of treatment for a serious disease. Because of the increasing demand, it has highlighted a serious shortage of specialized palliative care physicians within in our country. Elected officials have the power to improve the lives of cancer patients by supporting legislation to increase access to palliative care.
As a cancer survivor and volunteer for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, I am grateful for Sen. Susan Collins’ leadership in co-sponsoring the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act of 2016. With her contribution and efforts it gives cancer patients more hope and control over their care. By giving cancer patients a voice, it provides better relationships and coordination with their doctors and benefits overall care and treatment. Cancer is never an easy disease to have, but with the support of palliative care, problems and concerns are more easily faced, and the quality of life and hope increase.
Marianne Calcara Marshall
Machias