Early childhood education strengthens military
I read with great interest a Sept. 27 news release on the Bangor Daily News’ website by Educate Maine and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce on seven strategies to ensure Maine’s students graduate from high school ready for college and careers. These strategies, particularly investing in early childhood education, can also help ensure that young people in our state who wish to join the military are able to do so.
Too often, we are finding that high school graduates in Maine and around the country lack the skills necessary to serve in the military. In fact, the U.S. Department of Defense estimates that more than 70 percent of our young men and women are ineligible for military service, primarily because they are too poorly educated, too overweight, or have a record of crime or drug abuse.
Ensuring our young people’s preparedness for military service is key to maintaining our strength as a country. If our great nation is to keep the distinction of having the most powerful military in the world, we must graduate the most skilled and eligible youth from our schools.
Quality early education programs help teach our youngest children the critical social, emotional and cognitive skills they need to succeed throughout school and in their careers, including in the military for those who choose to serve.
Brig. Gen. Rob Carmichael
U.S. Army, retired
Bucksport
Dump Maine’s liberals
There can be no question that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence won the vice presidential debate on Tuesday. The Hillary Clinton campaign is devoid of constructive ideas to move the U.S. economy ahead. It is stuck in the failed social issues of the past that have failed and continue to be devoid of any realistic benefit to society.
The liberal Democratic Party has been reduced to a bunch of radical leftist liberals that can only push for class warfare to try and divide and conquer the voters. The vice presidential debate exemplifies the chicanery of the Clinton campaign and what they don’t offer the public.
I spent my career in Virginia. Tim Kaine was the worst governor during my 30 some years in Virginia. Had it not been for a Republican-led Legislature, Virginia would have slipped into a typical Democrat deficit poor state. No wonder Clinton chose him as a running mate. Yet another bad decision on her part.
We can thank Gov. Paul LePage for his leadership in righting Maine’s financial ship after years of horrible mismanagement of Maine’s finances by Democrats. It is high time to dump other Maine liberals that continue to harm our financial well-being, including Rep. Chellie Pingree. That is why I have Donald Trump on my bumper, and I will be voting for Republican Mark Holbrook.
Robert Holland
Rockland
Never Trump
OK, Donald Trump supporters, it’s time to rub the stardust from your eyes and do a reality check. Trump is not your knight in shining armor ready to ride in and “make America great again.” If you think for one minute that he cares about you or understands the middle class, think again. This is a man who, as far as I know, has never done volunteer work, has never held a public office, or has ever done anything that benefited anyone other than himself. He just doesn’t know how.
He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, pampered all his life and probably doesn’t know what a hard day’s work really means. He is uncomfortable with those who are not like him, and that’s most of us. We know all about his business “acumen” from his unscrupulous business practices to his bankruptcies and possible avoidance of federal income taxes for years.
Do you really think he should lead the greatest country in the world? We deserve someone who has the experience, knowledge and temperament for the most important job in this country. His resume falls far short and this clueless, classless charlatan is neither fit nor worthy to be the president. Never ever Trump.
Cindy Todd
Etna
Background checks clarification
In Falmouth Police Chief Ed Tolan’s Sept. 28 BDN OpEd, he wrote that 18 states have universal background checks. I would like to correct and clarify those numbers.
Eight states, plus the District of Columbia, universally prohibit any transfer of a firearm without a background check: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.
Two states universally prohibit any transfer of a handgun only without a background check: Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Four states require the buyer to pass a background check in order to obtain a permit required for buying a firearm: Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Four states require the buyer to pass a background check in order to obtain a permit required for buying a handgun only: Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska and North Carolina.
There is one flaw in this proposed law, and it is that mentally affected persons can fit into a loophole because many individuals in this category have not been entered into the database. Another is if a person that uses marijuana or other drugs has not been legally charged as being a user can lie on the form 4473 and not be detected unless they are arrested later.
Darrold Dorr
Franklin
Willey for Senate District 9
As a graduate of the political science program at the University of Maine in Orono, I was anxious to review Republican Larry Willey’s plan to restructure state government. I was amazed with the specific proposals and tens of millions of dollars in spending and tax cuts he outlined. It’s a shame that the Maine press has not reported on these proposals again this year instead of ballooning the election-year partisan bickering.
I especially like Willey’s idea of holding a government retreat to assist the governor and legislators in improving their dialogue and discourse when discussing legislation, and to avoid the partisan bickering that has been out of control and counterproductive. The retreat is a credible and proven technique to improve results even in the public sector.
The fact that he has agreed to run for the Maine Senate to represent those of us in District 9 — Bangor and Hermon — is greatly appreciated. If we really want change, we need to change who we send to Augusta. He has my vote.
Irv Marsters
Bangor