Letters

Published
April 24, 2017

Letter to the editor: Organic lawn care isn’t always free of pesticides

I’m writing in response to Avery Yale Kamila’s April 6 letter on organic lawn care. As a green industry professional, I work hard to educate people and practice the safe use of pesticides – organic and non-organic products – to manage pests, including invasive weeds and insects, and protect the health of our residents, visitors […]
Published
April 24, 2017

Letter to the editor: Expanded health care would serve a greater good

I was only 34 years old when a brain tumor was discovered. After I had surgery to remove it, doctors told me that I need to have a MRI every six months to monitor my health and to make sure the tumor doesn’t grow back. I have health insurance through my work, but I can’t […]
Published
April 24, 2017

Letter to the editor: Leftist fanaticism scarier than White House’s actions

The growing fanaticism of the leftist crowds frightens me more than President Trump does! Ron Warner Bangor
Published
April 24, 2017

Letter to the editor: Minimum wage doesn’t work for all

At the beginning of this year, the state minimum wage was raised to $9 per hour. This was a very positive move for many, but there is a repercussion that unfairly affects experienced workers. My son has been a front-end worker at Shaw’s Millcreek in South Portland since 2004. Before the new minimum wage of […]
Published
April 23, 2017

Letter to the editor: Defense budget needs audit before Congress passes it

Our members of Congress will be debating and voting on the federal budget in a few short weeks. The administration is proposing a huge addition to the defense budget, along with significant cuts to environmental, health and social programs in the 2018 spending plan. The Defense Department supplemental request is for $30 billion. Various estimates […]

Published
April 23, 2017

Letter to the editor: Assisted dying not the same as death with dignity

Legislating killing is a serious issue. The state, as deemed sacred, holds the sole right to enact that taboo. I am the first to recommend decreasing the power of the state but this is not the arena to do it. The slippery slope did not occur in Oregon, but could occur if our economy worsens. […]
Published
April 23, 2017

Letter to the editor: Give star college athletes classes they can really use

Regarding Michelle Singletary’s April 2 column about the financial troubles of some pro athletes: Wouldn’t it be more prudent if some of the universities that are bringing in these top athletes for a one-and- done year offered them courses on the basics of how to handle money, rather than registering them for classes that are […]
Published
April 23, 2017

Letter to the editor: No one leaving Maine just to avoid 3% tax surcharge

In his March 29 letter to the editor (“It’s time to tackle problem of sustainable taxation,” Page A8), Tony Payne states that there are 11,000 “family businesses – employers who rely on their annual income to invest back into their businesses, hire new people, make charitable contributions and save for (a) rainy day.” Perhaps there […]
Published
April 23, 2017

Letter to the editor: Rural mail call a risky proposition

It has come to mind that the RFD-numbered outlying areas like Falmouth, Cumberland and Windham have become suburbia with all the “sprawl” these days; it’s even true for routes 26 and 100. Nevertheless, half the residents of Falmouth, Blackstrap Road and Falmouth Road have their mailboxes across the road from their homes! Maine is an […]
Published
April 22, 2017

Letter to the editor: Physician-assisted suicide raises troubling issues

I have no doubt that proponents of physician-assisted suicide are well-meaning, but they are tragically misguided. To touch upon just three of the many problems with physician-assisted suicide: According to psychiatric experts, the vast majority of people requesting suicide are suffering from treatable depression and no longer want to kill themselves once their underlying depression […]