Direct democracy is a safety valve built into Maine’s political process, giving voters a chance to make laws when their elected officials won’t, or to strike down the really bad ideas that come out of Augusta.
Editorials
VIEW FROM ELSEWHERE: Canada ends combat role in Afghanistan
In the wake of the deaths of 157 brave Canadian soldiers and the wounding of hundreds more, the U.S. Army officially took over Canada’s battle space in Kandahar.
VIEW FROM ELSEWHERE: Pentagon should buy U.S.-made products
Millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs have been sent overseas by corporations eager to utilize low-paid foreign workers. To resist this betrayal, Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., helped form the bipartisan Buy American Caucus in Congress to require the federal government to purchase American-made products as much as possible.
VIEW FROM ELSEWHERE: U.S. space program must not end
In a few days, a sleek-winged ship will drop out of the sky after spending nearly two weeks in space. It will glide to a runway — most likely in Florida.
VIEW FROM ELSEWHERE: Joblessness, not deficit, is our national crisis
There’s no sugarcoating it: The recent employment report was a disaster, with just 18,000 net jobs created in June. And there’s no reason to think the coming months will be any better.
OUR OPINION: Obama, Congress need to stop political games
Tick, tick, tick. Is time running out, or is the Washington political establishment scamming us one more time?
VIEW FROM ELSEWHERE:Giving online pirates something to think about
After months of negotiations, movie studios, record labels and five top U.S. Internet service providers have come up with a framework for combating online piracy.
VIEW FROM ELSEWHERE: Humane conditions for layers
For years, the Humane Society of the United States and United Egg Producers have been adversaries over the treatment of the 280 million egg-laying hens in the United States.
OUR OPINION: What is summer for unless to get ready for winter?
Here we are, just at the halfway point between Memorial Day and Labor Day. That means that summer is just at its peak, with mostly sunny skies and mostly warm weather settling in as the default setting for the weather report.
OUR OPINION: Dealers can charge extra for larger lobsters
New laws in three states that slightly increase the legal size of lobsters there are creating a headache for some Maine dealers, but a little thought might help resolve the problem.