Playing the blame game
Why is it that tragedy in our country always seems to be met with an opportunity to push politics, or blame someone for not doing enough to prevent it? Why do you think America doesn’t have enough testing kits to test everyone? Many will blame the president, of course. Many will blame the pharmaceutical companies. Some will blame the Republicans, some the Democrats. It’s always someone who, blames, blames, blames.
Well, I think I’ll jump on this wagon of blame and give my opinion on what I think is the problem.
It has gotten so bad in America that politicians don’t seem to care about us — they seem to care more about how much money they can line their pockets with. I believe it is greed that controls the hearts of most politicians, and that the good ones which are far and few between, are pushed aside by the more powerful ones.
We need term limits on all those that serve our country. So the bottom line, in my opinion, is that it is time for a change in America — and soon. There would be plenty of testing kits to check all Americans if only members of Congress would have done their jobs instead of trying to replace our president.
Whether politicians like the president or not, they should have been doing their jobs instead of wasting money on power, control and greed. Shame on all of them who did this. They have hurt the American people in so many ways. Praise to the few politicians who have tried their best. They are few and far between.
Eugene Allen
Holden
Save Bangor’s historic homes
March 3 was a beautiful warm day in Bangor. It was a day to rejoice in early spring weather and a day to vote. However, unbeknownst to many, on Parkview Avenue, something very sad was happening. A beautiful, untouched Victorian home was being demolished. Original hardwood floors, windows, trim, doors and a lifetime of memories were being loaded into a dumpster.
This home was owned by an elderly gentleman who grew up in Bangor. Although the house had been empty for 30 years, he paid the taxes and insurance and tended to the home as best he could. The foundation was quite compromised, but the house was straight and true. Many of us loved that home and hoped it would be rescued. But the owner got desperate when he received a letter from the city in early December essentially saying fix the foundation or your home will be demolished and you will be responsible for the costs.
From my understanding, based on speaking with the owner and seeing the listing, he listed the house with a realtor who sold it in less than a day for just over $9,000.
This is the second significant house in the tree street area that has been demolished in the last few months. The first one was a brick federal building on lower Essex Street. It was here for generations and then suddenly gone in a week. Why is Bangor letting these significant homes disappear? If you care, please consider joining a coalition of old home savers who are interested in saving Banger’s vulnerable homes.
Elizabeth Hatch
Bangor
A warning unheeded
I wrote a recent letter to my elected representatives. Well there it is, right in their congressional chambers. As I have been warning and trying to get politicians to listen, coronavirus could kill them if they did not act. That was two months ago, when all the fools could do was fight a stupid impeachment war.
They could have seen the future of this. They could have paid attention to what was going on in China. They could have taken decisive action to prevent this. But no, they were all deluded by politics. Now, they must pay the piper for their stupidity, and the American people must suffer for their corruption.
May God help us, because they cannot!
Lawrence Everett
South Paris
Concern about MaineCare and prescription drug costs
I’ve become aware of an issue that concerns me, as a Maine citizen, regarding MaineCare and prescription drug costs. A friend told me that he took his prescription, written by the doctor, to the pharmacy to be filled. He has MaineCare insurance that pays for the prescription with a $3 co-pay. Apparently the pharmacist shared that MaineCare only covers the brand name drug, not the generic prescribed by the doctor.
The brand name drug was $500 while the generic was $18. MaineCare apparently has a contract to pay for the more expensive brand name over the generic. If this is the case, it is completely opposite of how it should work. MaineCare should be negotiating to pay the lowest generic prices rather than premium brand name prices.
Maine taxpayers deserve better stewardship of MaineCare dollars for prescription drugs. Paying for the brand name rather than the generic drug is a waste of taxpayer dollars and should not be happening.
Brent Hawkes
Bangor