When will the GOP take responsibility?
To the editor:
I’m tired of seeing Republicans blame Democrats for the current economic situation. A recent column by Rep. Tyler Clark, R-Easton, entitled “Legislator criticizes tax relief legislation he supported,” which was published in this newspaper on July 11, blames Democrats for Maine’s lagging economy.
Since Republicans took charge in Augusta two years ago, Maine has lost 1,300 jobs and our economy has shrunk. While other states around the country and in New England are seeing their economies grow, Maine was among only a handful of states where the economy lagged, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Republicans like to say that Democrats have been in complete control in Maine for 40 years. But that’s just not true. In the last 40 years, we’ve had 12 years of independent governors, one Republican governor (not including Governor Paul LePage), Republicans controlled the state Senate for more than a decade, and we’ve had a track record of bipartisan budget agreements with only a few exceptions. But why let the facts get in the way of a good story?
The Republicans must take responsibility for their harmful policies during the past two years and stop the blame game. The people of Maine want us to move forward not backwards. Rep. Clark and his party will have to explain why they failed to create jobs, why more families are struggling to make ends meet, and why the cost of health care just keeps going up.
Rep. Clark was right about one thing – I do support tax relief. I simply want it to go to middle class families who need it most. Millionaires should be giving to charity not getting it.
Rep. John Martin
Eagle Lake
A despicable thing to say
To the editor:
I was prompted to write this letter to the editor after, once again, seeing Maine education being blasted by Gov. LePage. As a retired educator, I agree that there is improvement needed in our system.
What upsets me is how LePage never touts any of the successes or good points in our education system. Saying that “Maine students are looked down upon when they go to other states for school or work” and “I don’t care where you go in this country, if you come from Maine you’re looked down upon” is absolutely not true and a despicable thing for our governor to say.
I am sure that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins does not feel looked down upon when she visits other states. Nor do three young men that I can cite who were students in my class. One has become an accomplished artist, selling paintings in New York City and abroad. Another has recently bought and renovated two local grocery stores that are doing extremely well. The last is a learned chef who studied and taught in Florence, Italy, wrote a fast-selling cookbook and has a weekly food spot on a local TV show. Looked down upon, I think not.
There is an old saying: “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Perhaps if Gov. LePage would serve up some of his ideas with a side of honey, he might get better cooperation and results.
Jackie Pribble
Wade
Nation in search of summer solace
To the editor:
To my astonished eyes, current Caribou cinema posters boldly proclaim and advertise our deeply honored, yet martyred 16th President as “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Killer” What hath God wrought? My imagination pictures hordes of overperspired late summer citizens flocking to air conditioned cubical comfort to watch “Honest” Abe hacking and thwacking his way through national subversives of the supernatural kind.
Is this comedy or tragedy? To marginalize dear Lincoln, whose aversion to needless bloodshed uplifted him beyond the complex horrors of administrating our national existence through four years of Civil War, seems disturbing and distorting at the same time. In spite of recent events in Colorado, the likelihood that conspicuous commercial consumption of carnage will bear profitable fruit for the industrial cinematic complex, compels me to sound the alarm.
I suppose our national heroes stand exposed for caricature and public targeting and teasing. One need only experience the treatment accorded national leadership and celebrityhood from the clever minds of “Saturday Night Live” staffers since 1975. And I roundly admit that I’ve roared and guffawed at the funniest offerings. And yet … a savage filmcraft caricature of Lincoln troubles me. I am aware that Lincoln did receive in his own day merciless caricature from the national and international press. His immense height and ungainly stature as well as his oversized facial features remained favorite subjects from the pens of both hostile friends and well intentioned enemies alike.
But the climate of 2012 demands, I believe, a very different popular message, one which could place Abraham Lincoln into a new context altogether. May we not embrace Lincoln today as a role model for our reconnection to the Universe — a stage for new flights into Freedom? May we see Lincoln as a bearer of the three great gifts of our astronomical heritage? First, a renewed sense of awe in contemplating the height, depth, and breadth of our great celestial spaces. Second, as a champion of national unity, could not Lincoln connect with our hearts and minds to apply a needed balm or unity to scratch and soothe the cosmic itch for meaning and purpose. Thirdly, could not Lincoln’s place in the context of our American Experience help us to recognize the beauty of the Universe, a realm beyond price, where both spiritual and scientific Truth goes marching on?
These are my thoughts and suggestions to a State and nation in search of summer solace.
Larry Berz
Caribou
Appreciates first responders
To the editor:
When a normal day of work starts, not many people are expecting the unexpected. When I started my usual business day in my small beauty shop in Madawaska Lake, I was expecting a “normal” day with my great clientele. However, this particular day did not end how I had anticipated.
A longtime customer and good friend came for her usual appointment and suddenly fell ill. As she lay on the floor and I tried to remain calm, her husband said, “call 9-1-1.”
The 9-1-1 operator assured me that the Caribou Ambulance was on the way. I went outside to wait for their arrival and to my surprise and relief, Darren Woods and his son Dustin Woods of the North Lakes Fire and Rescue First Response were pulling into my yard.
Only three minutes since the call was made, they arrived fully prepared, working quickly and calmly to assess the situation, take vitals and give oxygen. They immediately put me at ease as well as reassuring my client and her husband
I am so grateful that we have the North Lakes Fire and Rescue Department for those unexpected and not so “normal” days.
Barb Thibodeau
Lakeside Silver Scissors A show not to miss
To the editor:
Recently we attended the opening night of l’Acadie des terres et forêts en fête at the Parc provincial de la République in Saint-Jacques, New Brunswick. This year’s edition is the eleventh.
We’ve attended all of the annual productions; we have yet to be disappointed. The show dwells on the Acadian Odyssey, from the landing of Samuel de Champlain on St. Croix Island in 1604 to the idyllic years at Grand Pré, Nova Scotia to the Deportation in 1755 to the arrival of the first Acadians in the Madawaska Territory, which included extreme northern Maine, northwestern New Brunswick and eastern Quebec. This area is exactly the vast expanse of the 2014 Congrès Mondial Acadien, the first international celebration, appropriately referred to as l’Acadie des terres et forêts.
Although interpreting the tragic Acadian Diaspora, l’Acadie des terres et forêts is a musical comedy that features the singing talent of several young people from the area, such as Isabelle Pelletier of St-Jacques, the winner of the 2010 Northern Idol, an annual competition open to contestants from Maine and New Brunswick.
The brainchild of director Etienne Deschaines., l’Acadie des terres et forêts highlights many of the historical personages of the Madawaska Territory. This year Tante Blanehe, who single-handedly saved many people from the “misère noire” of 1797, is featured as well as American lumber baron John Baker, who left his name to Baker Brook and Lac Baker, and legendary businessman Maxime Albert, who moved from St-Hilaire to Frenchville.
We highly recommend this show.
Ross and Judy Paradis
Frenchville
Celebrating Medicare’s anniversary
To the Editor;
It is the anniversary of the institution of Medicare at the end of July. Before Medicare, many older Americans could not even think about retirement. At my age (I am presently 89 years old), I remember the struggles that my parents faced. They were both employed, but medical issues were always a concern. For some people we knew, the daily issues were often difficult, even devastating, and hampered their ability to save for their later years. Retirement for many of them became an impossible dream.
While I understand that the Affordable Care Act has been a source of some debate, what is clear is that the law improves Medicare. With more than 228,000 beneficiaries in Maine alone, this is great news. For one thing, the law adds several benefits such as yearly wellness exams and screenings for certain cancers and diabetes. Early detection is so important with serious health issues and this benefit can help many of us stay healthier longer. The Affordable Care Act also closes the Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage or “doughnut hole” so our out-of-pocket costs will go down significantly in the future.
With benefits such as these, the Affordable Care Act improves our health supports and programs. We will be better off because of it and as we mark the anniversary of Medicare on July 30th, I feel that this is indeed something to celebrate.
Jane Magnus, volunteer
AARP Outreach
Windham
