Recent events make it clear that we have lost our way. Our societal values are proven less by what we say and more by how we allocate our money. “Fraud, waste and abuse” in career government pales in comparison to wasteful decision making by politicians, due to a lack of or dishonest public debate of […]

Three ideas to spark conversations at the moment. Gil FraserNew Gloucester

I’m writing in response to John Schaberg’s letter of Feb. 25 (“Dr. Oz may want to focus more on Medicare fraud”). While I certainly agree that fraud, in any situation, hurts all of us, I believe that often the institutional fraud in the Medicare system that Schaberg writes about is a symptom of a very […]

Of the unconstitutional, immoral, economic and social consequences of ICE’s invasion of our cities, one result is frequently not recognized: the training and arming of white nationalists and neo-Nazis in modern urban warfare. ICE’s recruitment drive used music and language aimed directly at extremist groups such as the Proud Boys, whose “Unite the Right” paraders […]

Legislation currently being considered in Augusta — LD 2196 — ignores the vital community role hospitals play and the specialized care that could be lost if passed. As a Maine pediatrician, I have witnessed the life-saving interventions provided in the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, in the emergency departments throughout Maine and in the […]

George Simonson’s March 8 letter involves a justified concern about potential abridgment of our constitutional rights. He urges that Maine pass a Universal Civil Rights Act (UCRA), similar to laws in Minnesota and Colorado. But the Minnesota and Colorado laws are anti-discrimination laws, and at least the Minnesota law was passed with bipartisan support many […]

The article “USPS expecting to run out of cash in a year without help from Congress” (March 6) described serious problems the postal service faces: imminent threat of cash running out and long-standing barriers to needed reforms.  The problems are national, but they are having real impacts on our service in southern Maine. During a […]

As the Trump administration embarked on a senseless, illegal and unpopular attack on the nation of Iran, this publication’s online comments section was temporarily down. I have read reports that the the U.S. public is opposed to these unprovoked attacks on Iran, four to one. Negotiations were ongoing and Iran was interested in a diplomatic […]