A proposal approved by Maine Legislature’s Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee last week slightly shifts the tax burden from middle and lower income people to the wealthy. It proposes a wealth tax of 2% for individuals with incomes over $1 million and couples earning over $2 million. For example, an individual with a taxable income […]

This spring, there are a few things we can do to help the animals that are going to be on the move with warmer weather. Insects are hibernating under leaves and aren’t ready to come out until the nights are warmer. Wait to rake leaves and clean up the garden until the nighttime temperatures are […]

Maine’s domestic violence resource centers are no longer able to meet the demand for ourservices. At Through These Doors, Cumberland County’s only domestic violence resource center, we were forced to reduce staffing levels due to flat funding from the state of Maine and reduced federal funds. TTD employees provide advocacy through our 24-hour crisis helpline, emergency shelter, support groups, local courthouses and […]

“No taxation without representation” was one of the rallying cries of the American Revolution. It reflected a simple belief, if the government expected our money, our obedience and our trust, then it owes us accountability. Apparently, elected officials no longer agree. I have contacted my state representative seven separate times with a simple question. Seven […]

Max Cooper’s letter of March 3 (“Don’t allow Maine to be embarrassed by Platner”) expressed anxiety and embarrassment over Graham Platner’s “tattoo” and “posts.” I share in distaste for the Totenkopf, but the Reddit posts, authored anonymously over a period of years when Platner was far from politics, are some of the strongest evidence that […]

I grew up in a home where sex was not discussed. It goes without saying that birth control was off the table entirely. Thank goodness for Planned Parenthood. I knew about the clinic because they came to my school to answer questions. I had so many; about periods (menstruation), rubbers (condoms), the pill (birth control), […]

I have appreciated Susan Collins often. However, if she truly represents Maine voters, she’d only have to follow recent Maine referendum results, when — just last year — the broadly popular proposal to show an ID to vote got loaded up with far-right wish list items. It was defeated almost 2-1. Rather than supporting Trump’s […]

A huge thumbs down to the Maine Sunday Telegram for agreeing to publish cartoonist Brian Bassett’s “The Family Circus” on March 29.  In the cartoon, a little boy releases his balloon outside to send it to his granddad in heaven. The last frame of the cartoon shows that the balloon reached his granddad, who received it […]