If people need any more proof that that the GOP has become deranged under the stewardship of the Donald, look no further than putting RFK Jr., with his worm-eaten brain, in charge of health care, never mind Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in the Cabinet. Barry Goldwater is spinning counterclockwise in his grave. Chris Queally […]

Right before Thanksgiving, our refrigerator stopped working. It was making a strange moaning sound about every two minutes, but neither the freezer nor the main compartment was cold. A repair visit confirmed that the condenser needed to be replaced to the tune of $1,200 to $1,400. The refrigerator was just past the one-year warranty detailed […]

I was interested to read columnist Victoria Hugo-Vidal’s view of the recent murder of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson (Dec. 15). She does seem to be speaking for many people in the country who are fed up with insurance companies putting profit above health care. In my view, this angry energy is misdirected. Our health care […]

In his recent opinion piece (“You want climate action in Maine? Be my guest,” Nov. 29), Jacob Posik of the climate change-denying Maine Policy Institute (MPI) is, once again, speaking for the oil and gas industry and not for the people of Maine. His claims that Mainers don’t support cutting toxic carbon pollution shows he […]

I’ve long felt that universal public health care would help heal divisions in the U.S. by affirming a common commitment and destiny for all Americans. The murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, and the mass response to it, is the “negative” expression of this. We all know — that is, know together, as a public […]

Just a thought about drone sightings: Think twice! Although it may be disconcerting to see them at night, is it possible that these drones are mostly flying legally? That does not appear to be a question being considered in any of the news reports I have read to date. Edward Ezzard Topsham

With regard to the Dec. 15 political cartoon “Unelected Billionaire Broligarchy,” I have a comment and a request. Comment: I sincerely hope that those who voted for Trump are happy with all that will come next, starting Day 1, and with the “policies” that will be carried out by his appointments. Especially health care, education, […]

Shortage of teachers? Here is another reason there might be a shortage of teacher applicants: Have prospective applicants heard of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which prevents teachers from collecting all their Social Security earnings? Perhaps prospective applicants know that if they accept a teaching job and need to work part-time in the private sector, […]