Action needed on climate change
The impacts of climate change are making news almost daily. Rising seas, wildfires, loss of lives and homes, spread of disease, more severe storms, unpredictable weather patterns, drought around the world the list goes on and the effects are worsening. The United Nations Conference of the Parties 24 talks are happening right now in Poland without genuine participation from the U.S.
Yet, there is good news amid all this doom and gloom. News to demonstrate to the world how America is great and capable of leading on climate change. On Nov. 27 a bipartisan bill ( HR 7173) sponsored by four Democrats and three Republicans was introduced in the House of Representatives placing a tax on carbon with all the proceeds returned to individuals on an equal monthly basis.
Members from the House from both parties are coming together to introduce a policy to combat climate change despite the denial in the White House. This is democracy — Republicans and Democrats working together to solve the greatest problem the world faces today and left unchecked will have irreversible changes for future generations.
Be a part of the solution! Call our members of Congress and tell them you support this bill and want them to sign on. For more information go to Energy and Innovation Carbon Dividend Act.org.
Lyndy Rohman
Bangor
Alcohol more deadly than opioids
What the Maine Legislature and government have done with the opioid and benzodiazepine laws is unconscionable. I hear horror stories from friends all over the country of enduring harsh surgeries, many of them orthopedic, and yet not only are they not given painkillers when they go home, they are not given them even in the hospital. Many people need these drugs to maintain the best quality of life they can.
I studied the numbers, and I found that annually in the U.S. there are far more alcohol-related deaths than there are opioid-related deaths, and alcohol is as addictive as if not more so than opioids.
For every bad story you hear about opioids, there are many, many more that are good and helpful. If the logic of the statistics I cited is to be followed, then why are the Legislature and governor not passing laws to strictly control alcohol? Oh yes, I forgot: When have politicians ever been accused of being logical or even reflective?
Brian Striar
Bangor
Sexual assault double talk
During the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, Sen. Susan Collins somehow managed both to find Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony about sexual assault believable but also mistaken. It’s a good example of the double-talk faced by victims of sexual assault.
Collins’ support for the judge was cleverly parsed, bolstered with a long list of Kavanaugh’s decisions. As if achieving public prominence eliminates any hard questions about private behavior.
The women who vocally opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination didn’t have the luxury of well-researched clever consideration, or deferring to reputation.
With the addition of Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, the right of Maine women to obtain legal abortions is at risk.
Collins chose to ignore that.
Robb Cook
Lubec