Editorials

Published
January 12, 2011

Our View: Don’t overreactto new fluoride studies

The debate over fluoridation of water got some new life last week when the federal government issued new guidelines for the use of fluoride in public water systems. Maine officials followed up a few days later with the announcement that the state would call for a reduction in the fluoride added to municipal water systems to prevent tooth decay. Fluoride has been controversial since its introduction into water systems in the 1940s. Generations of grass-roots activists have said it causes everything from cancer to communism.
Published
January 11, 2011

Our View: Critics too quickto find politics behind shooting

When faced with a crime as horrible as last weekend's mass killing in Arizona, it's human nature to look for a villain as big as the crime. Before accurate details emerged about the rampage, in which a clearly troubled young man opened fire on U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, gravely wounding her, killing six bystanders and injuring 13 others, attempts were being made to put this act into a bigger political context. Talk radio, the tea party and un-civil political discourse were batted around as contributing factors in the case even before the media on the scene could consistently report whether the shooter had acted with an accomplice or if Giffords was alive or dead.
Published
January 10, 2011

Another View: Immigration reform needed, but DREAM Act flawed, Collins says

The bill did not get the debate in the Senate it needed to fix the problems that it contained.
Published
January 10, 2011

Our View: Lawmakers don’t need panel to cut the budget

It's the Legislature's job, not some blue-ribbon commission's, to do the hard political work.
Published
January 9, 2011

Our View: Health care repeal vote is an empty gesture

Congress would do better to fix the law than to make futile attempts to get rid of it.

Published
January 9, 2011

Another View: Students are not ‘the experts’ when judging teacher quality

Students and their families like 'soft' graders and would reward that if given the chance.
Published
January 8, 2011

Our View: More teamwork needed to fight painkiller abuse

Maine's problem will need efforts to control drugs from both the supply and demand sides.
Published
January 8, 2011

Our View: Voters, not courts, best judge of political speech

A politician's libel suit asks government to evaluate the truth of campaign rhetoric.
Published
January 7, 2011

Our View: Portland man’s pardon a just ending for sad story

Touch Rin Svay deserved punishment for vehicular manslaughter, but not deportation.
Published
January 7, 2011

Renewed talk of ferrycomes with conditions

The lure of a ferry to Nova Scotia is clear: It turns a thousand-mile road trip into a half-day journey by water, saving time and money for commercial and tourist traffic. So, why has it been difficult to replace the ferry service from Portland to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, that over the past several decades has been provided by Prince of Fundy Cruises, Scotia Prince Cruises and finally by the high-speed catamaran operated by Bay Ferries Ltd.?