Outraged Over Brunswick Bullying

After reading this front page story, I was much more than “saddened” by it as was the Brunswick School Department and School Board as reported by Brunswick School Department Superintendent Paul Perzanoski. I was outraged to realize that this young boy had been not just bullied but tortured both mentally and physically over an extended period of time with no one at our Brunswick Junior High School to believe him and try to put an end to it. Apparently the names of his four assailants were known at the school but no disciplinary action nor charges of any kind were ever brought against them. (I wonder how they feel about it now.)

Near the conclusion of this article is the following paragraph: “The school department has been adamant that no wrongdoing occurred and that school officials acted properly.” We, the reading public, can draw our own conclusions.

Carol S. Schneidewind,

Brunswick

Must Be a Better Way than the Surtax

Last November, a referendum was passed in Maine that places a 3 percent surcharge on personal incomes over $200,000. I understand that most Mainers thought they were doing the right thing for our state by funding education, but I don’t think they were aware of the devastating impact the additional 3 percent tax could have our future. The reality is that this surcharge would put Maine into our nation’s highest tax rate at this income bracket.

I am a Realtor in the greater Bath/Brunswick are and it concerns me that people may choose not to move to Maine and that this surcharge will make Maine less competitive. I’ve been hearing that investors and entrepreneurs are going out of state to avoid the tax, and I believe that both of these will adversely impact our economy as a whole. It’s also likely that new investors and entrepreneurs won’t come to Maine at all when they see how high the tax rate is.

Further taxing small business owners isn’t likely to fix problems, driving high income earners out of the state definitely won’t either, and both will only create new one problems.

The Legislature must find an alternative source for funding education. I and many others want to see this surcharge repealed. There are additional sources of revenue coming into our state with Amazon and AirBnB now charging Maine sales tax for example, and with further investigation, I think there has to be a better way.

Patti Lawton,

Richmond

Smoke and Mirrors

President Trump and his staff have just concluded one of the most memorable first 100 days in office. A hundred days that are so full of Smoke and Mirrors that Trump’s inner circle are as confused as most of us are. Everything they present is full of bravado and hype, and totally lacking in substance. The latest presentation of his Tax Reform is a good example. No specifics, just bold statements of this and that. “‘It has less detail than the plan released by the Trump campaign,” said Scott Greenberg, an analyst at the Center for Federal Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation. One thing did seem obvious; the “plan” would significantly aid the wealthiest.

To placate the 45 million poor who live below the poverty classification, his sketchy plan would not tax anyone making less than $25,000 per year. Wow! The current poverty classification for a household of four as listed by the Federal Government is $24,257. If the plan was able to really able to benefit the poor then it would be a good policy. However, many of the poverty areas are in the cities where the cost of living is higher.

President Trump has not demonstrated an understanding of how a democratic government develops effective policy. He and his staff ’s presentations are similar to a magician creating an illusion. The public reacts and sees what they want to see. No substance, only Smoke and Mirrors with the constant refrain, “It will be Great.”

Christine Wolfe,

Freeport