What’s $5 a month to Bank of America? The money clearly meant more to the financial giant’s debit-card holders, because they fought harder for it.

While the inhabitants of Washington, D.C., sit in the worst political gridlock the nation has seen in a lifetime, amazing things are happening all around the country — without the blessing of those who get paid to do the public’s bidding.

Mired in accusations of sexual harassment, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain told reporters, “(D)on’t even bother me asking me all of these other questions that you all are curious about. Don’t even bother.”

Of all the sins of omission committed by Penn State University in its alleged mishandling of sexual assaults, perhaps the most unforgivable was the failure to find the young boy who was seen being victimized in 2002.

With another hotly contested election now behind us, it’s time to take a fresh look at the way campaigns are financed — and how the money that’s raised and spent affects the outcome, not to mention the tone, of a campaign.

Finally, it’s Election Day. You’ve seen the ads. You’ve read the news stories, the op-eds, the letters to the editor. Ready or not, it’s time to vote.

We remain skeptical about the “Occupy” wherever/whatever movement, here in Maine and around the country. What’s the point? What are these people trying to achieve? What’s the end game? Is there, in fact, a point? A goal? An end game?