Sen. Susan Collins called the government shutdown “entirely unnecessary.” I agree. If Republicans hadn’t cut Americans’ health insurance subsidies and safety nets, Democrats wouldn’t have to keep rejecting the stopgap funding bill.  Even Sen. Collins voted against the so-called “big, beautiful bill” due, as she said, to “the harmful impact it will have on Medicaid, affecting […]

As a retired graphic artist, I’m at a loss to understand why you chose the image you used in the Our View editorial titled “Vote ‘No’ on Maine’s Question 1” (Sunday, Oct. 19). Sure, use a ballot entering a box, But why have the text of the editorial on that ballot be nearly illegible? Already […]

Matt Dunlap learned long ago, as a varsity athlete and a captain at Mount Desert Island High School, to be a team player. Years later, Matt remains a team player. Whether it’s defending fellow Democrats who come under attack or voting against Republican spending bills and tax breaks for millionaires, he can be relied upon to support […]

I’m grieved to hear that Congressman Jared Golden won’t be running for reelection. He has been a giant who fought the systemic ineptitude, corruption and outright dysfunction in Washington, D.C.  I’ll miss him. Congressman Golden couldn’t be bullied. He couldn’t be led by the nose. He couldn’t be pushed from behind. Having seen military service in […]

I recently traveled to Texas for business and the current political climate was the topic of many side conversations. After dinner one night, a colleague said, “You know, I try to remember that despite our differences, we’re all just people.” We had been treated graciously by everyone we encountered and we reciprocated in kind. I stated […]

In reading the column in today’s paper about how some Portland restaurants are moving away from the “cheffy” or foodie trends to a more nostalgic vibe (“New Portland restaurants are leaning into nostalgia,” Oct. 22), I’m hoping that this means the demise of the brioche bun. With the brioche bun being the usual bun used […]

Many today wonder whether America is headed toward autocracy. Will our democracy survive? Is it really a democracy at all in the first place? Yes, most of us can vote, but is that all it takes to be a free nation? Right now, according to the Federal Reserve, 10% of the people control 67% of […]