Future’s so bright

For years environmentalists and cost-cutting conservatives have been on opposite sides. Now, with new inventions offering reduced operating costs, conservatives and liberals can ride together on the low-emission bandwagon.

During the last few years, we have witnessed great strides in energy efficient technology. CFLs (compact flourescent light bulbs) have an outrageous lifespan and cost significantly less because they use less electricity. Christmas revelers can now replace their incandescent Christmas tree bulbs with LEDs (light emitting diodes), which use up to 90 percent less wattage. Add energy-efficient vehicles like the Toyota Prius and the new crop of Energy Star household appliances and real progress is being made not only for the environment but also on our wallets.

While everyone wants a cleaner world, people can disagree about how to improve the environment. But every so often inventions come along to bring opposing sides together, and the new strides in lower emission products are one such unifying force. Except for the ultra-rich who don’t care how much they pay for electricity, most everyone cares about the bottom line on their Central Maine Power bill.

For years, liberals and conservatives have been fighting each other over important things such as clean water and air and the effect modern industry has on our natural resources. Now, thanks to industry’s inventive scientists, a brighter future is at hand where science, business, environmental advocacy and fiscal conservatism are coming together in remarkable harmony. With this new era of energy conservation available to both rich and poor (Who can’t afford a CFL bulb?), liberals can now enjoy the reduction of their carbon footprint while conservatives can enjoy spending less money.

In this Christmas season, is that not a form of Peace on Earth?

Tough enough

In Windham recently, the Town Council has grown more heated in its debates. The animosity has even earned one disagreement between councilors Bob Muir and Kaile Warren a slot on the Internet, via a YouTube video.

Having watched the Windham council for many years now, we’re not sure what the fuss is about. Unless councilors are getting personal – and we haven’t witnessed any attacks that weren’t based on the issues – everything should be open game.

Politics is not for the shy or timid. Leaders should care and get passionate about the issues, which was what Muir and Warren were battling over in their recent exchange concerning fiscal restraint. The Windham council is a forum for managing the town of Windham. It’s not a game show for politicians who want to see themselves on TV or who are campaigning for higher office. Windham leaders seem to be operating as they should, with fire in their souls, which sometimes can overflow in the excitement.

It’s admirable when councilors get a little rambunctious when fighting for their points of view. Using profanity, getting personal, making threats and using physical intimidation – none of which are occurring – are of course to be avoided for civility’s sake. But using logic and rhetoric to get a point across should be part of the lively discourse. Windham residents deserve nothing less.

-John Balentine, editor