“Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts.” This bit of wisdom has been attributed to Daniel Moynihan, a college professor turned U.S. senator. But it may now be all wrong. Defending statements made by President-elect Trump, a campaign loyalist said the American people “understood that sometimes […]

It’s way too easy to spend money nowadays. At no point during the year is that more obvious than now, in December, when most of our disposable income is being sucked into that big black vortex known as “holiday shopping.” Ugh. Even uttering the phrase makes my wallet hurt. Credit and debit cards made this […]

Ronald Reagan won a convincing popular and electoral victory in 1980. Campaigning for income tax cuts, smaller government, and a resolute stand against communism, Reagan earned a mandate to carry out his conservative vision. Part of his victory was owed to millions of culturally conservative, blue collar, non-college educated voters in places like Ohio, Pennsylvania, […]

The greatest contribution that the Founders made to the well-being of America was the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It is appropriate that we talk about this document in a week when the Constitution is lauded. How is it that this document has endured with only a few amendments? The first 10 are usually viewed as […]

The Knights of Columbus of Biddeford, Saco, Lyman and Old Orchard Beach would like to extend warm wishes and a big thank you to the community and parishioners of Good Shepherd Parish for their support of our 18th annual Free Thanksgiving Dinner held at Most Holy Trinity Hall in Saco.  The outpouring of volunteers to […]

It’s painfully clear the already lengthy list of things I don’t understand is growing at an exponential rate. Advertising, it seems, is the latest subject about which I have been grievously misinformed. I always thought the job of marketers was convincing consumers to buy whatever they were selling by making their products appear intriguing, indispensable, […]

Back in March, Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court Leigh Saufley took York County legislators, including myself, on a tour of the Capitol Judicial Center in Augusta. It is a remarkable four-story facility, which combines criminal, family and business courts in one safe, welcoming and efficient location. The goal of that visit was […]

Abolish the Elecotoral College? It’s under attack, mainly because Hillary Clinton won the popular vote nationally but, thanks to the electoral vote, lost to President-elect Donald Trump. To many people, it seems unfair to deny the popular will. This is the fifth presidential election out of 58 in which more people voted for the loser […]

One of the most famous opening lines in literature comes from Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina: “All happy families are like one another; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Great literature causes us to think and ponder; it directs us to the significant questions of life. As such, it might have multiple meanings at […]

There’s an ornament I always place at the top of the tree. It’s a thin, faux-gold depiction of a boy about 6 years of age; he’s wearing those full-body pajamas with foot pads so thick they could deflect point-blank rock salt fired from a sawed-off shotgun. He’s holding a wrapped present in one hand and […]