In a recent op-ed on a likely U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Marvin Ott remarks that the origins of our war there go back to the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Actually, this date is a bit misleading. U.S. intervention in Afghanistan goes back a lot further, to the summer of 1979. In July of that …
Dear Editor: After multiple Trump statements indicating the coronavirus was going to be contained in the United States, with the number of cases “… going to be down close to zero,” he now appears to acknowledge that containment has failed, and that wide-scale testing and treatment are necessary. On March 6, he announced that “Anybody …
Dear Editor: The outbreaks of coronavirus in our country are laying bare the inequities and dangers inherent in our systems of health care and employment. At present more than 28 million Americans have no health insurance and tens of millions more are seriously underinsured. Likewise, more than 30 million workers in America have no paid …
What’s the lineup for Hancock County in the upcoming primaries? We had a large freshman class elected in the 2018 election. Reps. Dick Campbell (R-Orrington), Brian Hubbell (D-Bar Harbor) and Larry Lockman (R-Bradley) are termed out this year, but five other local legislators are freshmen and all five are seeking re-election. Three are Democrats, two …
By Hugh Curran When I was a youth in Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day was considered a Holy Day of Obligation in which religious services were held to commemorate him. St. Patrick’s “Confessions” told a story of being captured by pirates raiding Roman Britain and being sold into slavery, where he spent six years as a …
Everything looks better in sunshine — especially the government. Maine’s Freedom of Access Act, which became law in 1975, states that “public proceedings exist to aid in the conduct of the people’s business.” Each week the pages of The Ellsworth American are filled with stories that stem from public proceedings. This paper, and its reporters, …
Dear Editor: Perhaps the coronavirus pandemic will open people’s eyes to the unsanitary, pathogen-transferring practice of reusable grocery bags. A little thought to where these bags travel before returning to the grocery store should alarm anyone with an ounce of common sense. A study found 97 percent of people using these bags do not sanitize …
This is a scary time for many in our community. People are afraid. They are afraid of the coronavirus and what it could mean for their families, friends, colleagues and neighbors. They also are afraid of the collateral damage. Local schools have shut down, leaving parents who must work scrambling for childcare. Small local businesses, …
Dear Editor: Wednesday, March 11, 2020, is memorable for three reasons: (1) The World Health Organization proclaimed the coronavirus had become a pandemic and raised alarm over the level of inaction. (The United States still lacks testing capability.) (2) The U.S. stock market officially entered “bear market” territory — having lost 20 percent of its …
By Sen. Angus King Friends, the challenges created by the coronavirus epidemic are unlike anything that we’ve seen in the last 100 years. The situation is changing rapidly, but this much is clear: we all need to change our behaviors and adopt new approaches to protect ourselves and our loved ones. As I push for …
The size of Maine’s state government workforce has shrunk by nearly 1,000 positions, or 7 percent, over the last 10 years. Three primary factors have contributed to the contraction. First, the severity of the Great Recession of 2008-09 led to budget balancing measures that included position eliminations. Secondly, to enhance flexibility and improve response some …
Dear Editor: Sure, sure, all of the candidates say it: “I’ll support whoever the Democratic nominee is,” adding, “but I sure hope it’s me.” Look, it doesn’t matter if a former candidate supports the nominee. If the supporters of that candidate stay home on Election Day because they can’t bring themselves to vote for someone …
