Regarding the homeless encampments, is there a summary of the many connected issues involved in trying to address these issues? For example: • How many people, in the given population, are addicted to drugs? Which drugs? • How many have a type of mental illness, and what manner of illness? What treatments are even potentially […]

Focusing on mental health and yellow flag laws is too limited a solution for gun violence. Guns are a problem because they are tools whose designed purpose is to kill. What we should have are procedures for how guns are obtained. Except, the Second Amendment greatly complicates regulating guns. The Founding Fathers put guns in […]

I believe that the Maine police officers who worked through the mass murder in Lewiston didn’t demand to be on the governor’s new commission to examine what happened in that tragedy because they’re likely to be witnesses. Legislators now want a seat at the table, but they’ll be political, and politics has no place in […]

At his inauguration, Donald Trump swore to uphold our Constitution and lead our nation. Instead, he served his own misguided ego. Jan. 6, 2021, was the ultimate statement of his ongoing disregard for the truth, common decency and our history. Do his devotees think he really cares about them – POWs who were losers in […]

Jim Fossel’s Nov. 19 column (“Brace yourself for a dreary presidential election”) discussed what he sees as Donald Trump’s main shortcoming as a candidate. Is it that he orchestrated an insurrection in 2020? That he has descended into fascist language, including calling opponents “vermin”? That he’s charged with 91 criminal indictments, including theft of classified […]

Instead of developing America’s favorite assault rifle, Dick Dyke could have brought art into the world.

I am a Saco resident and currently attend Harvard University, studying government and economics. I am also the policy director at Maine Youth Action, a nonprofit that aims to empower youth activists to be involved in state politics. I am writing both as a climate activist and a concerned student, soon entering the workforce, to […]

I agree with letter writer Jay Gruber (“Failure of ballot Question 8 shames Maine,” Nov. 19) that Question 8, which lost by 7%, should have passed. But I don’t think a majority of Maine voters oppose having people under guardianship vote. Question 8 reads: “Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to remove a […]

Home starts at the hearth – and the city of Portland won’t stop violently destroying the only hearth some have. It is burrowing season, and getting colder. My cat is bonelessly draped in my lap, eyes closed in contentment, and feeling completely safe. I will never stop fighting for the chance for everyone to feel […]