Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category:
Jim Bergin, co-coordinator of Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition (M-PAC) said today that advocates are deeply concerned about the severity of sending someone to prison for up to forty years (a Class A crime) if convicted of asking a peer to join a “criminal street gang.” Despite volumes of research data showing that “enhanced sentencing”; upgrading classifications for crimes; adding new crimes; and mandatory sentencing for judges does nothing to deter the rate of crime……….
This is an absolute must-see film regarding the extraction of natural gas in North America and, increasingly, in the Northeast region of the US. It is especially urgent for all of us to see this while the natural gas rhetoric is heating up in our own state.
Over the past few months I have written a political column for the Valley Voice covering a wide range of issues with our state government from civics education to fiscal responsibility. Hopefully, I have helped to spur discussions around the dinner table about the potential solutions to the problems facing the economic and political future of this state.
As we approach the new legislative session, I would be remiss not to reflect on the previous session as a benchmark to look forward. When the legislature and the Governor are more concerned about placing an ‘open for business’ sign out by the highway and making whoopie pies the state treat, clearly there is a major disconnect with the interests of the people on Main Street.
On Thursday, December 1, 2011, another Maine community passed a zoning ordinance to regulate wind energy development. Frankfort-a town near Belfast on the Penobscot River -has enacted an ordinance in response to a proposal by a would-be wind developer from New Hampshire. The company wants to build a grid-scale wind turbine facility atop Mount Waldo.
Any issue, not just casinos, should be up to the residents. I, a resident of Saco, should have no say in what other communities choose to do or do not do. On the flip side, if Saco was in a debate over allowing a casino to come in, I wouldn’t want any person outside of Saco residents making the decision at the ballot box.Here’s hoping that local issues are decided by local people and the state referendum can be saved for items that have far reaching affects on all Mainers.
Wahooooooo! Hip hip hip hooray! We did it! Ahem, excuse me. Today is a really good day.Thanks to you – and your hard work – same day voter registration remains law in Maine. This has been quite a journey – and you’ve been with us for it all. The story of this journey started during the legislative session – when the Maine Women’s Lobby, along with many coalition partners, worked to defeat the bill to repeal our 38-year-old same-day voter law.
This all culminates on Tuesday November 8th. That is the day where your voice can truly be heard. You have the power to influence the decisions that govern our lives. This column isn’t meant to tell you how to vote, but instead is meant as a way to stimulate a part of your brain many probably haven’t used since the last election cycle. You don’t have to march in the streets or run for office to get a message out there; you can check a box on a piece of paper or electronic machine.
Governor Paul LePage praised U.S. Senator Susan Collins today for working to ensure passage of a fix that would allow the heaviest trucks to travel on federal interstates in Maine instead of forcing them off the highway and onto Maine’s secondary roads and through our downtowns.
Maine residents may register to vote anytime, including the day of the election. You must be 18 years of age and a resident of the City of Gardiner. Proof of residency and proof of identity is required, such as a driver’s license indicating a physical street address in Gardiner (not a post office box or mailing address).We have four voting disctricts, however, all voting is held at one consolidated voting place. Gardiner Area Boy’s & Girls Club on Pray Street
At this point, some of you have probably at least heard of the protests going on in New York on Wall Street and subsequent copycats across the country including here in Maine.I say ‘heard’ because not all of the media outlets are giving too much credence or coverage to these grassroots movements. If Tea Party protests get exclusives and media access then so should others as well, especially those that are amassing thousands of people across the country.
President O’bama has been pressing nearly everyday for a back to work program for the countless thousands of unemployed or underemployed Americans. Fact is that the nation is broke, the people are broke and if we were to look at the country in purely economic terms, we are bankrupt. If the country was a business, it would qualify for the same insolvency protections afforded businesses in the same boat. “Balance the budget”, is the cry from many in Washington. People, we ain’t ever going to balance a multi-trillion dollar budget deficit so clearly a better approach is to put people back to work so that they can keep their homes, provide educational opportunities for their children, and protect individual financial stability for this generation and those to follow.
Maine Vocals Venue Site 20th Annual HARVEST FEST October 6-7-8-9 75 Carson Hill Road, HARMONY Maine 04942 http://mainevocals.net/ 207 696 4444 4 Days of LIVE MUSIC with 30+ Bands on [...]
This past week a ban went into place making it against the law to text while driving. A $100 fine is attached as a penalty for the offense if caught.The key concept is ‘if caught’. Tell that to the dead truck driver in North Berwick who, accordingly to police reports, became distracted with a cell phone and crashed into an Amtrak Train. Tell that to the thousands or more teenagers that either die or get severely injured from car accidents directly related to getting distracted at the wheel.
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