A common perception among many Americans is that substance abuse is a chief cause of people losing their housing and living on the streets. But research debunks this myth. Findings from the recent California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness encompassing more than 3,200 adults — the largest and most representative sample of homeless individuals […]
Op-Eds
Opinion columns from the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Too much misinformation? The issue is demand, not supply
A potentially gullible person is already flooded with more lies in a single day than he can possibly evaluate.
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Broadband funding brings lifeline to Mainers most in need
A landmark law establishes a new paradigm for bringing broadband service to life: public-private partnerships between service providers and federal, state and local governments.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Look no further than Long Island for a case for public power
Tangible improvements show a correlation between an improved ability to invest and reliability of service.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Public higher education enhances our communities in more ways than one
The success of public colleges and universities relies on public trust. We must not let that trust wane, says USM’s president.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: The US government once burned books it didn’t like
This year is on pace to set the record for the highest number of attempted book bans since the American Library Association began compiling data on library censorship more than 20 years ago. Last year, there were demands to censor more than 2,500 library books. In several states, legislatures have enacted censorship into law. In […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Douglas Rooks: The dire consequences of hero worship in politics
Donald Trump has been indicted in four different jurisdictions on a whopping total of 91 felony charges. The only president, present or former, to have faced any such charges, he’s nonetheless tightened his grip on the Republican Party. Meanwhile, Joe Biden, who defeated Trump in 2020 by seven million popular votes and 306-232 in electoral […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: One-size-fits-all approach to PFAS impractical for Maine businesses
Responsible management calls for an amendment to the current ban that moves toward common-sense prioritization that evaluates the risk associated with each use.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Commentary: Courting workers in Michigan, Biden and Trump are waging two separate wars
The recent visit to Michigan by President Joe Biden, in a show of support to striking laborers, was more than a photo op. Donald Trump held a rally in Michigan just a few days later. The two are fighting over the same voters. But they’re engaged in two different wars. Biden, now the first sitting […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Scholars Strategy Network: How to prevent school shootings in Maine
Fall is upon us, and so is another season of school shootings. Since Aug. 1, we have already seen 122 school incidents that involved guns, resulting in eight fatalities and 12 non-fatal injuries. While many may be shocked and horrified, these numbers are not surprising to those of us counting. In 2021 and 2022, we […]