Take care of Mainers first
The voters of Maine have chosen the candidate they feel was the most qualified to be our leader. I hope Gov. Janet Mills chooses to lead us down the proper path. While listening to her wish list, I heard her say she wanted our state to become more welcoming to immigrants. I feel this would be a fatal mistake, financially and morally. Maine is already a welfare state and we can barely support our own. To bring in illegal immigrants, most of whom would immediately go on welfare and be supported by the taxpayers of this state. Even though they are here illegally, we would have to pay for them, too.
Mills should please think with her mind, not her heart. We can feel bad for the immigrants, but they have chosen on their own to seek shelter in our country at our expense. To expect those who elected Mills to support non-citizens is totally wrong. We need to see that our governor is looking out for the welfare and well being of the citizens of this great state.
Timothy Smyth
Millinocket
JUUL ad problematic
We question the judgement of the BDN for accepting and publishing full-page advertisements for the JUUL Corporation. The company promotes the sale of highly addictive nicotine products, which increases the likelihood of teen vaping and inevitable dependence on nicotine. JUUL recently announced a $12.5 billion investment from Altria, the maker of Marlboro cigarettes.
Substance abuse by adolescents is a problem that affects brain and development maturation as well as overall functioning. Advertisement of such products legitimizes their use.
Reesa M. Greenberg
James L. McDonald
Bangor
Bravo to Bangor Symphony
I feel I must add to Judy Harrison’s Jan. 30 review of the BSO concert last Sunday. I thought the performance of the Dvorak Serenade was outstanding. It’s difficult to have 35-plus musicians play as one instrument, but that certainly was accomplished last Sunday. The cohesiveness of the string orchestra was wonderful with perfect phrasing and nuance that presented this piece of music at its best. This can be attributed not only to the wonderful leadership of Lucas Richman but also to a dedicated group of talented musicians who know how to listen to each other.
Bravo to the BSO string section and to Maestro Richman. It was a pleasure to be in the audience.
Susan Gerhardt
Hampden
Move concerts to Waterville
Perhaps with the right incentives, Waterville could entice Waterfront Concerts to move down there. It seems like a natural fit. Then Bangor could take down that offensive fence and restore the view of our beautiful riverfront park to the citizens of and visitors to “River City!”
Michael P. Gleason
Bangor
No Election Day holiday
Make Election Day a holiday to increase voter turnout? We have more than enough holidays. How about we move Election Day from the first Tuesday in November to April 16? That should be sufficient incentive.
Walter Simmons
Lincolnville
Border security needed
Paula Sutton’s ad in the BDN was troubling indeed. That her parents could not be secure on their ranch in southern Texas, even though they posted their property in Spanish and English, and that they had to deal with trespassers who damaged and stole their property is a very sad failure on the part of the federal government. And since this happened many years ago, it has only gotten worse, much worse.
To proclaim, as a Democratic leader in Congress has, that a border wall is ” immoral” is to imply that ownership of property is in itself “immoral” and that the government has no duty to protect citizens from vandals, thieves or even invasion. Never mind the U.S. Constitution and that citizens must pay taxes for law enforcement.
Encouraging criminal activities in order to build a political base of supporters is past disgusting.
I hope all Maine citizens will someday recognize that the national Democrats will do anything to win power, including the destruction of our precious freedom.
Jack Wibby
Gray