opinion Archives - The Portland Press Herald

Op-eds, Opinion

Commentary: Clinical trials are better at including women, but there’s a way to go

by Nicole Woitowich Chicago Tribune July 16, 2023July 15, 2023

Critical differences between men and women get flattened when data is grouped together. That’s just not good enough.

Op-eds, Opinion

Jim Fossel: Maine Republican leadership bungled budget negotiations

by Jim Fossel July 16, 2023July 15, 2023

Although party leaders say they oppose certain policies, they’re rarely willing to put up a real fight.

Op-eds, Opinion

Commentary: Harassing Good Samaritans is on brand for Republican Party

by Francis Wilkinson Bloomberg Opinion July 16, 2023July 15, 2023

Congressional Republicans have expanded their targets beyond migrants (and Democrats) to include the humanitarian groups that work along the border.

Maine Voices, Opinion

Maine Voices: Reinventing myself has been a lifelong pleasure

by Barbara Jenni Special to the Press Herald July 15, 2023July 16, 2023

At 94, I’ve tackled everything from fixing up jalopies to running an inn to raising a family and enjoyed myself in the kitchen and on the slopes.

Op-eds, Opinion

Commentary: Life after affirmative action demands supercharged focus on diversity

by Megh Bindra Special to the Press Herald July 15, 2023July 15, 2023

I’ve learned just as much from a diverse community of peers at Bowdoin College as I have in class. We shouldn’t be trying to ignore our differences. We should be celebrating them.

Op-eds, Opinion

Commentary: I worked with Leslie Van Houten when she was in prison. I’m glad she’s been paroled

by Angela Cardinale Los Angeles Times July 15, 2023July 14, 2023

She committed a horrific crime that I don’t excuse. But I believe that she can still do much good in the world.

Op-eds, Opinion

The humble Farmer: You can’t take it with you. Do you know where it’s going?

by Robert Skoglund July 15, 2023July 14, 2023

It’s not enough to promise your loved ones Grampy’s watch or the shore lot. Put it in writing and have someone witness it.

Times Record Opinion

Letters to the editor: Tackling gun violence; cluster munitions; preparing students for trades

July 14, 2023July 13, 2023

‘All-of-the-above’ approach would best counter gun violence Like many Mainers, I grew up learning to hunt and shoot and to handle guns responsibly. I took gun safety very seriously then and, given the long-standing rise in gun violence, I take it even more seriously today. When people talk of gun safety today, hunting, target shooting […]

Times Record Opinion

Elizabeth Bradley: Lessons from Gettysburg

by Elizabeth Bradley Guest column July 14, 2023July 13, 2023

Lessons from Gettysburg. With apologies to the history buffs out there, this is not what you think. I spent four days on that hallowed ground last week, attending a conference. It was a Braver Angels conference, and if you haven’t heard of that organization, they are a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to depolarizing the country. How […]

Times Record Opinion

Gordon L. Weil: Is liberal democracy in retreat?

by Gordon L. Weil Guest column July 14, 2023July 13, 2023

The world is taking a right turn. Even when parties clash on policy, their shared values can yield practical results through compromise. But now, conservatives increasingly reject compromise, jeopardizing shared values. Liberal democracy may be retreating. It emerged from the adoption of social welfare policies and the defeat of fascism by American and European democracies. […]