Donald Trump’s presidency has raised anew the question: How much does the character of the president matter? Trump has frequently been castigated for narcissism, vindictiveness, lying, sexual improprieties, and crudeness. In a July 2017 Gallup Poll, 65 percent of respondents cited Trump’s character and personality as an explanation for why they disapproved of him; only […]

Editor, On Thursday Feb. 15, 2018, the Biddeford Municipal Airport Commission voted unanimously to start eminent domain procedures against homeowner(s) refusing to sign the easements to allow the airport to remove any and all trees to bring the entire aircraft approach zone at that end to FAA standards.  This is another example of the FAA […]

Editor, Have we had enough yet? So far in 2018 America is averaging two school shootings per week. A pace that will out-distance any previous year and mark 2018 the deadliest year for school shootings. For adults no longer in school, being in the workforce is also dangerous. Workplace shooting death statistics continue to rise (OSHA data – […]

Most of the assets of the man reputed to be the wealthiest American president were in real estate, like those of one of his successors. Unlike that successor, he was moderate in speech and open to all views before deciding. He set a model for his country. On Monday, we celebrate George Washington’s official birthday. […]

Advocates claim that by raising the minimum wage, hard-working Mainers working in these positions will be better off, as they will make more money per hour.  But the minimum wage isn’t designed to be a “living wage.” It’s intended to be training wage that some employers use to bring unskilled workers — often teenagers or […]

Have you ever wondered why respected scientists of both major political parties see climate change so differently, one party viewing the future with great fear and trepidation the other calmly viewing it as normal and natural?  The one claiming their position to be “established science,” the other “we have seen this before.”  One, we have […]

As Maine awaits approval of new requirements for many of its Medicaid recipients to work or volunteer in order to receive benefits, we must ensure the program is as meaningful as possible for those impacted. Simply put, we need to do it right! The Pine Tree State needs substantive programming around its 80-hour per month […]

The romance doesn’t drain out of a relationship overnight. It’s a slow trickle over time. Counselors will tell you that the leaks in a marriage or love relationship are a hazard of daily life. Careers, children, bills and a variety of daily responsibilities add to the problem, one drip at a time. With Valentine’s Day […]

This month marks a golden anniversary for American wages, but don’t expect celebration around the nation. On the contrary. In February 1968, the federal minimum wage increased from $1.40 to $1.60 an hour, giving minimum wage workers what would turn out to be the highest level of purchasing power they would enjoy for the next […]