Energy prices have been quite stable over the last three winters. This is unusual. We can expect spikes in some heating fuel prices before too long, and one of the best ways to protect yourself from spikes in energy costs is to make your home more energy efficient.  The most effective way to make your […]

Abusive financial practices will only stop if consumers have an effective way to defend themselves. I say this as the CEO of a loan fund and of a 35-year-old credit union, which have a combined value of $2 billion. Credit unions pride themselves on treating their members fairly, which is why the vast majority of […]

The following conversation between two progressive, open-minded, welcoming Mainers never actually took place. But it could have. Ted: Ned! I love that new sign you just put on your lawn, the one that says, “No matter where you are from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor” in the middle. (Chuckling) Is it aimed at me and my […]

Editor, If you wonder what you personnaly can do about climate change, click on to Citizensclimatelobby.org. I joined and attended meetings at the Kennebunk chapter. We are a small group but the national membership has grown to over 80,000. We support sensible legislation whereby fossil fuel producers would pay a fee based on their resulting […]

Editor, Today, Maine is the worst state in the country for businesses. Statistics show Maine hospitals absorbed hospital care costs of $150 million between 2001 and 2011. In 2013, the LePage Adminstration paid the hospitals off of what was owed to them ($105 million). If Maine passes ballot question 2, it appears the hospitals are […]

The Maine Legislature was back at it last week. We adjourned in early August, but were called back for a special session on Oct. 23 that went late into the evening. Much of our time was spent debating the new recreational marijuana law. As you will recall, Maine voters approved recreational marijuana last November, but […]

One of my Facebook friends used the term “mainstream media” in a derogatory context recently and I just about flipped my freakin’ lid. Perhaps acting against my better judgement, I jumped into the fray, laying out a case for the importance of journalism in a missive so long it came with a complimentary Garfield bookmark. […]

Last week, an American political institution, aged 100, was placed on its deathbed. Its expected passing was mostly overlooked and unlamented. It was “filibuster,” the evil twin of the less well-known “cloture,” who survives. Cloture is a vote to end debate and allow a final vote on a bill in the U.S. Senate. It was […]