Hypocrisy, according to the Oxford dictionary, is “the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform.” Ryan Smith is a new member of Auburn’s Planning Board. This is not only subtraction by addition, it is also hypocrisy at its worst. First, Smith’s appointment removed longtime member […]

Legislative Document No. 1788, An Act to Establish the Office of the Inspector General of Child Protection, creates that office to investigate cases of death, serious injury and abuse or neglect of children in state custody or receiving child welfare or juvenile justice services. I fully support the proposal to require an independent investigation into […]

I write in response to Elliott Epstein’s Jan. 14 column, “Israel has no choice but to fight this way.” This is well stated; a great explanation of where Israel is at. This area of the world has been at war since creation. Hamas pummeled Gaza with 3,000-plus rockets and other artillery, attacking and kidnapping civilians […]

A recent article highlighting the record-setting $100,000 raised by Rep. Laurel Libby described her as an “arch-conservative” in the Maine State House. I’d like to add a little kick to that endorsement. Laurel Libby is the real deal. She leads from the front. She’s working to conserve our rights as they exist under the Constitutions […]

Passage of L.D. 1578, “An Act to Adopt an Interstate Compact to Elect the President of the United States by National Popular Vote,” would make Maine a popular vote state. It is a horrible idea. If this bill is passed, then it is useless for anyone to vote in Maine. Our vote would never be heard. […]

The heat Secretary of State Shenna Bellows is taking for disqualifying Donald Trump from the ballot is unjustified. According to Maine law, Bellows is responsible for ascertaining whether candidates have the qualifications needed for their offices. Trump meets the constitutional requirements that presidents be at least 35 years old and native-born, but not the 14th […]

Let’s not be fooled by “Bidenomics.” Our politicians always come up with a plan to make things better in an election year. I expect cheaper gas prices and lower grocery prices. Now we have thousands of undocumented immigrants for whom we have to find some type of shelter. We’re even using airports and motels, to […]

Donald Trump’s evangelicals have taken Christ out of Christianity. You can’t worship Jesus and Trump at the same time. They’re opposites, like oil and water. Trump spreads hate, violence and fear; Jesus does not. One stands on truth, and one spreads lies to deceive his followers. One is a savior, and one a sadist encouraging […]

I recently read that members of our local legislative delegation, Rep. David Boyer and Rep John Andrews, voted against the nomination of General Diane Dunn to succeed General Douglas Farnham as the state adjutant general of the Maine National Guard. I worked for a number of years with then-Lt. Col. Dunn while she was in […]

I’m an international baccalaureate diploma candidate and senior at Gray-New Gloucester High School. I’ve been studying the economic effect of immigration in Maine for my IB extended essay, an independent research project. I interviewed members of the Maine government, educators, and nonprofit leaders to discover if the impact of immigrants on Maine’s economic well-being is […]