Promoting pot growing goes too far
I can’t say I’m surprised, but I am very disappointed that the BDN would devote an article to cultivating pot. Yes, it’s “legal” by Maine standards. So are many things that don’t need to be overtly supported in the press.
The BDN had the opportunity to support legalization, but to offer information on cultivating? It’s going too far particularly when the BDN to my knowledge never has given this level of section coverage to growing food crops. Yet, the BDN has commented on food insecurity. Think about it.
Craig Poulin
Palermo
Don’t give to panhandlers
Have you ever gone to a nice beach and seen the signs that warn visitors “Don’t feed the gulls”? I’m sure the average person knows why you would not want to do that but in case you don’t, here it is: Gulls are lazy and if they can find a source of food that is available with little trouble, they will remember it in their pea-size brains and will go back to that same area every day. They will be watching and waiting to take that handout right from your fingers. They can be a real irritant.
Well that’s how I feel about the increasing population of “sharpies,” as someone once said, referring to the people at every major intersection begging for money. The latest twist is the signs that read, “I won’t lie, I need beer.” Are you kidding me?
So why are there more of them? Well, that’s because the “pickings” are pretty good and the word is out — Bangor is fertile ground. People who give them money are not helping them.
Recently a female “sharpie” caught my eye and started walking toward me. She started crying saying she had not eaten since yesterday. I saw her later laughing with one of her “sharpie” friends. It was a great performance.
Want them to go somewhere else? I do. I have never given them a dime and never will. Do your part and help get rid of the gulls.
David Winslow
Brewer
Protect clean air standards
We were recently warned that our air is unhealthy to breathe because of high pollution levels. This pollution can cause respiratory problems, more asthma attacks and even premature death, and it comes from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas for electricity and transportation. Global warming makes it worse.
While we have the solutions to switch to clean renewable energy sources, I’m concerned that the progress we’ve made in cleaning America’s air is going to take a turn for the worse. Recently President Donald Trump released his first proposed budget to Congress, which is dirty and dangerous and fails to protect our health and our planet and has proposed rolling back pollution standards for cars and power plants. The House of Representatives also passed the “Smoggy Skies Act” — HR 806 — which would delay life-saving clean air standards.
I want to thank Reps. Bruce Poliquin and Chellie Pingree for voting to protect our health and opposing this wrong-headed bill.
Now it’s time for our senators, Susan Collins and Angus King, to stand up for our health and reject these dangerous proposals.
Julia Gesensway
Campaign organizer
Environment Maine
Portland
Defend our democracy
We urgently need a public answer from Rep. Bruce Poliquin and from Sen. Susan Collins: What will they do if and when Donald Trump finds someone to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller?
Answers like “I don’t deal in hypotheticals” are unacceptable dodges. Will they defend our democracy, or won’t they?
Dennis Chinoy
Bangor