It began the way most miracles do: by accident or the hand of God, take your pick. It might have been the weather, at least partly. For December, the day had been almost balmy and warm. You know, sweaters instead of heavy coats. No mittens in sight. Then there were Christmas lights on the stores, […]
Journal Tribune Opinion
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The kid’s got Clause
I never imagined I’d be scouring the internet in search of a Santa Claus costume. Then again, I never imagined having a son. Well, I’ve got one now. A son, not a Santa costume. And he is singlehandedly, without a doubt, hands down, the cutest flippin’ baby who ever drew a breath, and if you […]
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Doctors should prescribe medication and treatment, not insurance companies
Health care decisions about medication should be made by doctors and their patients, not by insurance companies. Thousands of Mainers live with chronic conditions like diabetes, arthritis, Crohn’s disease or hypertension that require them to take daily medication. Many others use medication to help manage chronic pain or mental illness. For these folks, finding the […]
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Is there a solution to our immigration divide?
Few issues seem to polarize Americans as illegal immigration does. In the aftermath of the acquittal last week of Kate Steinle’s suspected killer, Jose Zarate, it seems the immigration debate that was a mainstay of the 2016 election cycle has become inflamed again in our public discourse. The current immigration issues facing our country are highly […]
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Trickle down tax plans only make the rich richer
Republicans in Washington are moving closer to final enactment of the only piece of significant legislation that they’ve been able to produce in President Trump’s first year in office. Their tax package has the potential to be the single most damaging thing Congress has done since the early 1980’s. They’ll call it a tax cut […]
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Government-private sector conflict grows
When you hear the term “net neutrality,” do your eyes glaze over? It may sound techie, but it is about the major issue of the day: the roles of government and private enterprise. The Internet was a creation of the U.S. Defense Department, allowing almost instant communication between computers. It was soon made available for […]
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Here’s to coffee
“Ahhh! Coffee!” said our resident cowboy, Steve, raising his cup at the philosophy counter. “Let’s raise our cups to whichever Brazilian came up with this stuff.” Very slowly, Herb Collins stood with his cup of coffee there in the midst of culture and education at the Mule Barn truck stop. “Actually, Steve,” Herb said, in […]
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A haven in the opioid crisis
Our nation is experiencing an opioid crisis. Currently more than 2.5 million Americans are addicted to either opioid pain relievers or heroin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, opioid-related deaths have more than quadrupled since 1999. All drug overdose deaths, many caused by opioids, increased by 17 percent from 2015 to 2016 […]
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Beyond winning and losing in tax reform debate
When listening to the radio or television news in another room, sometimes it takes a minute to know whether the topic is politics or sports. You may hear phrases like: Who will win the debate? What will be the victory margin? Whose pocketbook is a winner? It’s clear whose wallets are helped by the tax […]
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Senate Tax Bill very troubling for Mainers
Editor, On behalf of 230,000 AARP members in the state of Maine, I am writing with great concern regarding the latest version of the Senate Tax Bill. Congressional leaders are trying to rush this bill into law and there are several aspects of the bill which would have dire consequences for millions of Americans including […]