If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 15 years of living and voting in Maine, it’s that Mainers do not like to be put in a box. We are an independent-minded folk, and for a plurality of Maine voters, that independent streak extends to our politics. As a community organizer, I have spoken with […]

My wife and I recently traveled to the South, primarily to visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, located in Montgomery, Alabama. Opened in April 2018 and built by the Equal Justice Initiative under the leadership of Bryan Stevenson, this stunning and sobering memorial is the first in the nation to acknowledge the over […]

Here are my thoughts regarding the proposed creation of a consumer-owned utility (“Commentary: A consumer-owned utility could invest in Maine’s economy,” June 6): One would think that Maine would be striving to attract private investment, not kicking it out. Contrarily, if socialization is the goal, why stop at utilities? Why not nationalize banks and other […]

Yes! Staff Writer Scott Thistle’s recent story (“New law to make Maine first state with paid sick time that covers more than getting sick,” May 28) was welcome news to read. The new law, requiring businesses with 10 or more employees to give their staff as much as 40 hours of paid time yearly for […]

Finally, a common-sense argument on the abortion issue. All hail Kathleen Parker for her June 11 column, “We should be talking about ways to end abortion.” As a male, I’m not sure I have a dog in the abortion fight. As a taxpayer, however, I am not fond of my tax dollars going to pay […]

Bill Nemitz wrote an important column in the June 9 Maine Sunday Telegram: “Local business washes away a big-box store nightmare” (Page C1). Through Nemitz’s telling the fine story of Mark and Matt Rouillard and Central Furniture and Appliance Inc., I am reminded of another store that provides customer service like we so need these […]

It struck me that in Jim Fossel’s column about Maine conservatives and gun control legislation (June 2), he seemed to think that they should not compromise with the governor on any legislation unless they get some political advantage. I didn’t see any mention of ways to prevent people from being shot. It seems the important […]

I am appalled at all the money the Maine Turnpike Authority is spending on the open road tolling project at Exit 44 in Scarborough. This is a totally unnecessary project. Even during the construction, with only one E-ZPass lane open, there were no serious backups at the toll plaza. Clearly, the turnpike authority has too […]