I would like to call out what I believe is a common prejudice in people who believe themselves to be open-minded. That prejudice is against those who have succeeded financially. Discounting those who have worked hard and achieved, among many things, financial success is shooting ourselves in the foot. Specifically, I’m referring to people who […]

In the Feb. 17 AskME article, “How did Dirigo become the state’s motto?” (Page B1), the author claims that the word “Dirigo” is pronounced “DEER-i-go,” not “deer-EYE-go.” Says who? A 2,000-year-old linguist? We Mainers pronounce foreign words the way we want to: “Calais” is “Callus”; “Vienna” is “VYE-enna”; and “Woolwich” is, well, still under discussion. […]

I recently had the rare opportunity and honor to be Rep. Chellie Pingree’s guest for President Trump’s State of the Union address. As a person with disabilities with multiple pre-existing conditions, I listened closely from the gallery as he claimed to protect health care access and to “always protect your Medicare.” Both of these statements […]

Re: “Letter to the editor: Referendum can’t stop Hydro-Quebec line,” by Orlando Delogu (Feb. 17): The author is mistaken. The Maine Constitution, Article IV, Part 3, Section 18 says: “The electors (voters) may propose … any bill, resolve, or resolution … .” The referendum is a resolve to direct the Public Utilities Commission to lawfully […]

There is no question that vaccines save lives. There is no question that vaccines are safe, highly regulated and closely monitored when administered to patients. There is no question that vaccines are a significant advancement and the most life-saving innovation in modern medicine. There is no question in contagious public health emergencies, like the current […]

Re: “ICE immigration operations moving to Scarborough office” (Feb. 14): I am writing to strongly protest the arrival of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office planned to operate out of 40 Manson Libby Road in Scarborough. We do not need or want ICE in our town or, for that matter, anywhere in our country. ICE […]

We live in a civilized society. Paramount to our civilized society is the protection of individual freedoms and our right to self-determination (i.e., the ability to freely make choices about our own lives without government intrusion). But these rights are not unlimited. In a civilized society it is sometimes necessary to infringe upon an individual’s […]

I am writing today in response to a television ad for Sen. Susan Collins’ re-election campaign. The ad features a lovely, young blond-haired girl and her concerned mother as the girl is preparing for the administration of her insulin with a hypodermic needle. Both of the characters in the masterfully crafted ad then look to […]