Cutting welfare is no longer an option, it’s a must

In a time when Maine has more people receiving state benefits or welfare or some other liberal social program than it has taxpayers, the Democrats and media scream at Gov. Paul LePage. News flash! We all have loved ones who need help and receive help but with a shortfall of more than $200 million in […]

MaineCare helps families who are the working poor

As a husband and father, I know how difficult it can be to make tough budget decisions, but Gov. Paul LePage’s proposals to cut MaineCare are the wrong way to go. My wife and I receive MaineCare in the parent category. Although, my employer offers health insurance, it would cost us more than $600 per […]

We need more thought, less immediacy in the world

This year, I’ve resolved to reconsider Facebook. Perhaps, like you, I jumped on this bandwagon to stay hip as I courageously approach senility. I reckoned a snappy Facebook page would keep me young — abreast of the action, tethered to movers and shakers. I steadfastly rebuke skin care products, Cialis and Flomax — opting to […]

Walk with Mother Teresa or walk with Stalin

I hope you had a Merry Christmas. There, I said it. Merry Christmas. The earth didn’t crack wide open, and the government didn’t persecute me. I highly doubt that any Muslims, Jews, Buddhists or animists took great offense. I could very well have said Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanzaa or happy Earth spirit day, and perhaps […]

Reports from Iraq region confusing, contradictory

How about a sympathy tax for extra welfare benefits?

Reisert could have helped, instead he fanned flames

I was very disappointed with Joe Reisert’s recent column about the Occupy movement. Reisert began by comparing the Occupiers to a child throwing a tantrum. This fallacy of argument is covered in high school English classes. Second, he extrapolates from the individual to the whole, a fallacy Reisert understands. For example, in our current economic […]

Give Kennebec Gas the OK only if service promised

Sidney recently had a special town meeting with Richard Silkman of Kennebec Gas Co. This company is in competition with other companies for the right to run a gas line through Sidney along Middle Road. We were told that only one company would be allowed to receive this right, so Sidney should be very careful […]

Making some cuts will make everyone’s costs rise

I agree wholeheartedly with the letter, “Medicare Savings Program needed by 72,000 in Maine” by Richard Farnsworth, chairman, AARP Maine Capitol City Task Force, on Dec. 23. One thing I think is missing, however, is that cutting the Maine Savings Program will not only affect the 72,000 who get assistance from it, but all Mainers […]

LePage can’t clean up mess left to him overnight

I understand why Gov. Paul LePage won’t talk to reporters or bother with the newspapers; all they do is bash him. Never have I seen them say anything good about him or what he is doing. Why don’t they just let him do his job and leave him alone; he knows what he’s doing. He […]