While it cheers me guiltily to hear and read the right’s talking heads whine about the election, I’m one of those “old white guys” Rush Limbaugh says aren’t being heard.

OK, so maybe I also read, question, doubt and reassess my own “truths,” but I’m still old and white.

I do not think the election ratified the policies of President Obama’s first term. Rather, I think, it denounced the practice of mindless opposition exhibited by the Republicans.

They seem to have failed to recognize that “Reagonomics” has not worked and that the adherents of Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman have stopped their analysis of experience 30 years ago.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a supporter of Republican values — the values of President Eisenhower, Thomas Dewey and George Romney.

Those men realized that we needed to protect those among us who were wounded, wounded by whatever experience, but should not coddle to them.

They believed that marginal tax rates on income above some modest level — back then, about $250,000 — should be as much as 91 percent and that those rates wouldn’t harm job growth or entrepreneurship.

I truly hope that the “oppositionists” will begin to question the basis of Rand’s political beliefs; learn that, in spite of President Reagan’s many transgressions, he raised taxes; Rand was essentially an adherent of selfishness; Friedman’s economic theory proved disastrous everywhere it was attempted; and that the world recession is happening because folks copied us.

Greed is not good — it’s selfish.

Free enterprise only allows the greedy to impoverish the workers. But people with vision can still prosper without harming their employees.

It happened here for about 30 years. From 1950 to 1980, while things weren’t perfect, most were able to earn a decent living.

Let’s get back there.

John Wood

Hollis

Roberts’ ‘Boon Island’ revived interest in story

I’m excited to read there’s another book coming out on Boon Island (“Author Q & A: Deathly tale,” Nov. 18).

However, I was surprised that neither Bob Keyes nor the writers of this new book mentioned the great native Maine author Kenneth Roberts, who wrote the historical novel “Boon Island” in 1956. Certainly, his book alone was the tale told that rekindled this forgotten story in the minds of Mainers.

I would highly recommend this book and others Roberts wrote, such as “Lydia Bailey,” “Captain Caution,” “Arundel,” “Rabble in Arms” or “Northwest Passage” to anyone who has a passion for books about history, hard times and human perseverance. Matter of fact, I’m surprised they’re not required reading in Maine schools.

Dick Cough

Bar Harbor

Campaign finance spending needs cost-benefit analysis

In regard to our current campaign financing situation: It seems ironic that so many wealthy people are willing to spend huge amounts of money in an effort to avoid giving the government one penny more.

Eleanor E. Eide

Edgecomb

Paper erred by not covering warming activist’s lecture

We were astonished that the Portland Press Herald did not report on Bill McKibben’s talk on Nov. 13. It was a sellout event at the State Theatre.

McKibben, a scholar in residence at Middlebury College, is the head of the organization 350.org. He strongly recommends the divestment by colleges of companies that extract and sell fossil fuels as a way to bring about change.

McKibben described the urgent need to decrease the CO2 levels in the United States. High CO2 levels have been linked to severe droughts in the Midwest, increased large Western forest fires and markedly heavier rainstorms and flooding in the Midwest and the East.

There have been more severe and frequent tornadoes and hurricanes; a destructive rise in ocean temperature, and high acidity killing coral reefs and fish.

These changes are caused by the dramatic and rapid rise in the CO2 levels caused by the increasing use of coal and oil.

There is an urgent need to decrease the CO2 levels, and we, and the rest of the world, must develop and support solar, wind, hydropower and hydrothermal systems of electric power production before it is too late.

Janet Ordway

Old Orchard Beach

Reed was good role model for aspiring public servant

I would like to say a few words in honor and in memory of the late Gov. John H. Reed.

I first met Mr. Reed when he was a state senator and I was a member of the Maine House of Representatives. The year was 1957, and the 98th Legislature was in session. At that time I was young, eager and realized that I had a lot to learn.

Often, after a day’s work at the State House, John Reed could be seen entering the Augusta House Hotel with an armful of work-related material to be studied in preparation for the next day. He took his job seriously. I was impressed with his conduct and general manner.

In a compilation of biographic data, the Kennebec Journal refers to him as a community-minded man who was active in local affairs. Out of Aroostook County came a great public servant.

John Reed will always hold a distinguished place in the annals of government service.

Russell H. Day

Shapleigh

Questions linger after attack on U.S. Consulate in Libya

A few questions.

1) In America, Sept. 11 is a day of solemn remembrance. In many countries in the Mideast, it is a day of celebration. Given this, would it be expecting too much of the Obama administration to beef up security around the embassies in that part of the world?

2) After four Americans were murdered on Sept. 11 by Islamic terrorists in Libya, would it be asking too much of the Obama administration either to order the American flag lowered to half-staff around the world to honor them or, failing that, to declare a period of mourning in their honor?

3) Would it have been asking too much of the president to postpone a fundraiser to Las Vegas the day after the murders?

The answer to the first three — yes.

4) Finally — is it asking too much of the mainstream media that they finally fulfill their responsibility to the American people (that’s us) by getting to the bottom of the good old question: What did the president and his administration know about the attacks, and when did they know it?

That question has yet to be answered, but, judging from their — your — performance over the last few years, I must admit I’m afraid of the answer.

Terence McManus

New Sharon

Rove, et al., lack credibility, should have no media forum

Now that the election is over (at least for two years), when will the media learn to ignore the likes of Karl Rove, Donald Trump, Sarah Palin, et al — loudmouths with very little to say of substance?

They continue to discredit themselves and, more importantly, the organizations that offer them speaking platforms.

Rove has the dubious distinction of spending between $90 million and $160 million of other people’s money on Mitt Romney alone. That investment did not pay off.  

By the way, shouldn’t Rove be in jail for outing a CIA operative?

Steven Freedman

Cape Elizabeth