Trump is deplorable
I believe that for Donald Trump to ridicule Hillary Clinton for her pneumonia diagnosis is a deplorable act. I believe that any person who initiates this ridicule has committed a deplorable act. If we are inspired to join in the laughter, we have embraced that which is deplorable. At some point, I believe our actions must define us.
Pat Karpen
Caribou
Cain for Congress
I hope it’s now apparent that the voters of the 2nd Congressional District have chosen a candidate who doesn’t serve our interests: Bruce Poliquin.
Tax cuts for the wealthy, higher taxes for the middle class, vouchers for those on Medicare — these are the policies of House Speaker Paul Ryan and the “new” Republican Party. During the Eisenhower years, the top tax rate on the wealthiest Americans was 90 percent, yet fiscal prosperity reigned for all of us.
We need a representative in the House who knows us, not one who is on excellent terms with the 1 percent. Democrat Emily Cain will be a hard-working public servant in the old Maine tradition.
Forget about party affiliation and focus on who she is. Then ask how much of yourself you see in Poliquin. Vote for Cain. Vote for Maine.
Deb Fisher
Mount Desert
Poliquin fails on climate change
The acidity of the ocean has been increasing, and this poses a serious threat to Maine’s seafood industry. Shellfish, including lobsters, scallops and clams, are especially endangered. This threat is described in a January 2015 report from a bipartisan committee of the Legislature. Six goals were outlined for combating acidification of the ocean. One of the six is to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a fundamental cause of ocean acidification.
Unfortunately, Rep. Bruce Poliquin does not seem concerned about the increase in carbon dioxide, most of which comes from the burning of fossil fuels. Perhaps this is because much of his financial support comes from big business, including the fossil fuel industry. There are many common-sense actions that can and are being taken to reduce the use of fossil fuels, such as increasing energy use efficiency and using the sun, wind and biomass as energy sources. Many of these changes actually save money and benefit the Maine economy. But such actions are not in the interest of the fossil fuel industry.
In contrast to Poliquin, Emily Cain will support cost effective legislation to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which will help to ensure the long-term health of our seafood industries. Such legislation will also benefit all residents of Maine.
John Tjepkema
Orono
No on Question 3
Peter Sly of Brooklin writes in his Oct. 6 BDN OpEd that we need to pass Question 3 to protect ourselves against all those handguns lurking in our homes. He is a lawyer, too. And he has a tale to tell of his two aunts who committed suicide with handguns found in their homes.
The first was in 1949, and the gun an heirloom in the collection of her great grandfather, a Civil War captain. Somehow, I cannot see a woman in 1949 loading a percussion revolver with separate lead ball, powder and cap. But Sly tells us she shot herself. Then in 1969 another aunt shot herself with a gun from her husband’s collection.
Instead of passing Question 3, which I think is designed mainly to harass gun owners rather than protect anyone, why not work to prevent suicide itself? People who are troubled enough to end their lives need help, not some ridiculous gun control law. There will be guns enough around their homes with or without Question 3.
John Hubbard
Bangor
Minimum wage hike is fair
I’ve read the pros and cons of the minimum wage debate, and for me it comes down to two things: fairness and our future.
According to the report released last month by the Maine Community Foundation and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, we will need to attract thousands of folks to Maine to replace all those who’ll be retiring in the near future. Without that influx of people our economic future is bleak. We can’t attract and keep workers without a fair, competitive wage structure.
Question 4 on the November ballot proposes a reasonable, staged increase in wages until it reaches $12 an hour by 2020. Even this, slightly less than $25,000 a year, will hardly be enough to raise a family in Maine. The dire predictions offered by the opposition are based on little reliable evidence. More than 500 small businesses are supporting this ballot initiative.
Do we really want a Maine where parents have to work multiple jobs to barely survive and because of that can’t really plan for their future or spend quality time with their children?
The referendum will increase wages for more than 145,000 Mainers — about a quarter of our workforce. More than 52,000 children will benefit from a parent getting a raise, according to the Maine People’s Alliance.
This is our future. Let’s be fair. Pass this reasonable minimum wage increase.
Maryann Larson
Portland
Cleaner cars and trucks
In 2012, after much input and support from a broad range of stakeholders, including automakers, unions, national security groups, consumers and environmentalists, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration adopted a significant fuel efficiency program affecting cars and trucks for model years 2017-2025.
Fuel economy standards in place are reducing pollution and oil consumption while also spurring greater innovation in the auto sector. Car buyers are offered more vehicle choices than ever before and maintaining strong future standards will continue to create export opportunities for U.S. companies developing new advanced vehicle technologies.
As part of the initial rulemaking, the EPA and NHTSA agreed to revisit standards affecting vehicles for model years 2022-2025 to determine whether changes are necessary. Some opponents are calling for weakening of the rules, citing that consumers prefer to purchase less efficient vehicles like SUVs and light-duty trucks.
I drive a truck and likely always will. Just because I choose to buy a truck doesn’t mean greater fuel economy isn’t important to me. The EPA and NHTSA must maintain strong light-duty vehicle standards through 2025. Doing so will achieve the program’s goals and ensure that consumers, the economy, and the environment reap the benefits of cleaner and more efficient vehicles.
Joe Hayes
Farmingdale