National monument a gift for Maine
I have watched the North Woods national monument debate with interest and concern over the lack of long-term concern for the future. I grew up in Presque Isle, still own a home in northern Maine and spent 19 years studying the economic aspects of Maine’s natural resources at the University of Maine.
A study I conducted at UMaine examined the recreational fishing benefits of removing Edwards Dam in Augusta. We found that the typical angler could not see the benefits of dam removal; only a few forward-thinking individuals could see the benefits. Now many dams have been removed from Maine’s rivers to open waterways to ecosystem, recreation and other benefits.
Just like Maine’s use of rivers for dams for energy and other industrial purposes changed, the landscape of Maine’s timber industry is changing forever. The timber industry will not go away, but it will continue to evolve and be smaller. More importantly, ownership of the land is changing and private uses are likely to outweigh revenue from timber harvesting just as we have seen for agricultural lands and the working waterfront along Maine’s coast.
Actions to create opportunities take a visionary perspective and perseverance to withstand the many criticisms that accompany innovative vision. It is time to thank a benevolent landowner for offering an ecological and economic benefit to future generations. A North Woods national monument can be a signature resource that will bring jobs and income to northern Maine, help keep young families in the area and keep schools open.
Kevin Boyle
Greenville
Vote no on ranked-choice voting
Barbara Bixby was right in her June 15 Bangor Daily News letter to the editor; Maine should have an election system that is fair, equal and open to all. She, however, is uninformed about ranked-choice voting, but this is understandable because most supporters are basing their opinions on a slick sales pitch.
The groups promoting ranked-choice voting in other states have broken election laws on their brochures by not disclosing important information. Do voters know about the dark money that flows into fund their “grass-roots” campaign? Maine residents deserve to know the truth. Who is funding this effort?
Ranked-choice voting fails to meet basic democratic principles, and it has been repealed by many cities that once bought into this tainted product. Closest to us is Burlington, Vermont, which repealed ranked-choice voting after the second-place person won, even though he would have lost in a one-to-one match-up between all candidates. Vermont voters also were disappointed to discover that the “winner” did not receive a majority. More people voted against the winner than for the winner. Looking west, Pierce County, Washington, repealed ranked-choice voting after spending nearly $1.7 million to implement it.
No other U.S. city has adopted ranked-choice voting since Portland did in 2010 because they have seen the results and repeals from other cities. It has failed to live up to the many wondrous claims of its supporters. Let’s not move Maine backwards. Vote no in November to ranked-choice voting.
Rep. Stacey Guerin
Glenburn
Fund Alzheimer’s research
June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. Alzheimer’s disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., and nearly one-third of seniors who die each year has Alzheimer’s or another dementia. At this point in time, there is no cure or effective treatment, and it is the most costly medical condition in the United States.
I recently had the pleasure of meeting with Samantha Warren, the district director, at Rep. Bruce Poliquin’s office in Bangor to urge him to support the major increases in funding for Alzheimer’s research at the National Institutes of Health.
Maine has the oldest population in the country and one of the highest percentages of veterans in the country. Sen. Susan Collins recently described the future cost of care for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia as an “ oncoming tsunami” to Medicare and Veterans Affairs.
Alzheimer’s doesn’t just affect older adults as about 200,000 people under age 65 are living with early onset Alzheimer’s. Early detection and warning signs help to ensure treatment and improve quality of life for the victims and their families.
Hopefully, Maine’s congressional delegation can work together and lead the nation in a positive example of bipartisanship against Alzheimer’s and dementia. I strongly urge readers to help raise Alzheimer’s awareness by contacting Maine’s representatives and senators and asking them to support Alzheimer’s funding.
Thomas J. Frisk Sr.
Bangor
Gun law doesn’t need change
In a June 2 letter, Tom Franklin states that gun shows in Maine became popular because not all states require background checks when buying a gun at a gun show. This is an untrue statement. Any gun sold at a gun show in Maine from a federally licensed dealer has to go through a federal background check. Any private sale between two Maine residents can be sold without a background check whether at a gun show, hunting camp or your living room. This is Maine state law.
This is not a “loophole” as Franklin claims but simply obeying Maine laws and rules. What Franklin is advocating is a change in Maine’s firearms laws that have worked well for years.
Merle Cousins
Southwest Harbor
Guns to fight tyranny
The Orlando shooter abused 49 people who stood no chance. The Founding Fathers of our country knew what tyranny was and how to prevent it. They didn’t include the Second Amendment so we could rid our yards of squirrels; they did it so we could we could defend ourselves and rid our government of rats if need be.
Our representatives should stand for the Constitution as it is, and America will thank them and be better for it. We are tired of our rights being eroded and our sovereignty legislated away to the United Nations. Please stand up for your country.
Michael Callahan
Lincolnville