Roman Empire fell after neglecting its citizens

Letters to the Editor

Published
February 10, 2012

Roman Empire fell after neglecting its citizens

Lisa Savage’s Feb. 4 letter said, “The Roman Empire learned the hard way that circuses are not substitute for bread.” Indeed, the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, as Edward Gibbon extensively described, was due in large part to neglect of the masses of Roman citizens. Roger E. Condit Farmington
Published
February 9, 2012

Energy sources include hydropower, natural gas

I am the son, grandson, great-great-grandson and great-great-great-grandson of hydropower sawmill owners and operators. Although George Smith claims to be an advocate for renewable energy (column, Jan. 25), I believe his actions seem to indicate otherwise. I remember a picture in the newspaper that showed Smith and then-Gov. Angus King fishing in the Kennebec River […]
Published
February 9, 2012

Smoking in car with child is against the law

On Feb. 3, I contacted the Waterville Police Department to report a woman who was smoking in her car with a young child in the back seat. I approached her on my way to a store to tell her about the law and her violation. She said she did not care and would pay a […]
Published
February 9, 2012

Clarifying misconceptions in letter of response

Paul Dutram’s letter of Jan. 29 seems to take umbrage with me for my recent letter to the editor. He thinks that I have, “helped drive a final nail into the coffin of compassionate conservatism.” Me? I never lifted a hammer. I merely suggested that Mitt Romney, with his experience in salvaging poorly managed companies […]
Published
February 9, 2012

Attacks on McCormick, MSHA seem personal

Why have State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin and those he consults with ganged up on Dale McCormick, chairwoman of the Maine State Housing Authority? I have noticed the tone of righteous indignation that imbues statements about MSHA and about McCormick, herself a former state treasurer and elected state senator. McCormick’s professional record speaks for her personal […]

Published
February 9, 2012

Benefit supper, auction a great help to fire victims

I am writing to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to the members of the Farmington Grange, the Franklin County Farm Bureau, Giddy-Up & Go 4-H Club and all of the farmers and businesses who worked and/or donated items to make the Knowlton Corner Farm benefit supper and auction such a success. The positive response […]
Published
February 9, 2012

Johnson puts people, economy ahead of politics

Chris Johnson, the Democratic candidate for Tuesday’s special election in Senate District 20, has made his top campaign priority very clear. He is focused on people and problem solving. In Dana Dow’s speech to win the Republican nomination, he said one of his three goals was to get Gov. Paul LePage re-elected. We will not […]
Published
February 9, 2012

Johnson ‘an excellent choice’ for Senate

I urge voters in Lincoln County and towns of Washington and Waldoboro to elect Chris Johnson as their state senator in a special election on Tuesday. As a member of the RSU 12 School Board, Chris is an articulate voice of reason in the development of this district, and has been effective in helping create […]
Published
February 8, 2012

Proposed waste-to-diesel facility is wrong solution

Augusta and all of Maine need a long-term waste management plan, with the goal of eliminating waste generation. Many effective source reduction plans are being developed worldwide, such as Zerowaste New Zealand and the German Green Dot Program. The proposed waste-to-diesel facility proposed for Augusta does not address the goal of source reduction. It encourages […]
Published
February 8, 2012

Government should issue marriage licenses

Brian Souchet, Bob Emrich and Carroll Conley’s support of “traditional” marriage has flawed facts and assumptions. Souchet, of the Roman Catholic Diocese, said, “Marriage is an institution that cannot be arbitrarily redefined to accommodate adult desires for public affirmation or state-sponsored benefits.” He claimed a 2009 poll predicted the vote would be 53 percent in […]

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