Almost 25 years ago I stood in front of my colleagues at the National Education Association Representative Assembly to fund efforts to repeal two unfair Social Security provisions — the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, called the Social Security Offset. Over 10,000 NEA members from all 50 states voted to support this initiative, […]

The Gilded Age was time and climate remarkably similar to today, in which “robber barons,” the giants of industry, hoarded the wealth of this nation and exploited working people for greater profit while the people’s standard of living declined. People suffering from the effects of depression, inflation, poverty, hunger and homelessness were ignored. Do people […]

Imagine Central Maine Medical Center is bombed while you’re working your shift. The hospital director is hit by shrapnel, but he vows to continue caring for patients. He’s one of the only doctors left, because most of them were arrested last month by an occupation army. Imagine the generators have been hit, you are working […]

I am writing to express my utter dismay that our Lewiston city leaders think a statue of Muhammad Ali being placed so close to Main Street is a good idea. That the city will glorify a Vietnam conflict “conscientious objector” with a statue placement about 100 yards from Veterans Memorial Park is disrespectful to the […]

I am a registered nurse. U.S. Sen. Susan Collins knows how essentially important competent organizational leadership is, because she has experience as a former Maine commissioner overseeing the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. This department oversees licensing for professions like physicians, nurses and others. Sen. Collins must reject the nomination of Robert Kennedy Jr. […]

What a contrast: President Carter vs. President Trump. An honest man vs. a dishonest one. A selfless person vs. a selfish one. A man who spent his life helping others vs. one who spent his life taking advantage of others. A humble man vs. a braggart. A kind man vs. a cruel and boorish one. […]

I am very concerned about some of Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees. They are dangerous, breathtakingly unqualified, and put loyalty to Trump over everything else, including the Constitution and the rule of law. In particular, Kade Patel could weaponize the Department of Justice to go after Trump’s perceived enemies, Tulsi Gabbard (Trump’s pick for director of […]

The Senate hearings have begun, and vaccine rates in America are falling significantly. Why are these facts co-joined? Because Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine denier and conspiracy theorist, has been nominated to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. While he has a few good ideas about nutrition and drug advertising, […]

So, Gov. Janet Mills has dusted off the playbook of former Gov. John Baldacci. Another Democrat governor can’t create a reasonable budget, and so pushes through an unreasonable one — heaped on the backs of smokers. No one can claim that using tobacco products is wise, but it is a legal product. A 50% increase […]

Yet again, a Democratic administration is ending with the economy doing well. Republican administrations haven’t done that in over 30 years. George H.W. Bush left a mess for Bill Clinton, George W. Bush left a mess for Barack Obama, and Donald Trump left a mess for Joe Biden. Each time, the Democratic president responded with […]