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9/27/08
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15 comments
September 27 Letters to the Editor
Help homeowners firstTo solve the financial crisis, go to the root of it — the insecurity of homeowners’ mortgages. Secure their loans and the complex maze of financial instruments holding them will be secured. This can be done through a federal home mortgage insurance analogous to the depositor’s insurance that helped in the Great Depression. Congress could enact reasonable guidelines for how much each would be insured for and terms of payment, then it could be administered by local banks the country through whom the mortgages originate. The result would benefit homeowners who may otherwise lose homes and pay huge taxes to bail out large firms and stabilize the root cause of the crisis, inspire broad confidence and avoid throwing money at opaque accounting disasters. J. Gray Cox Bar Harbor • • • Fact masqueradeSetting aside the notion that Hayes Gahagan’s opinion piece “Reproduction and responsibility vital to U.S.” (BDN, Sept. 11) comes uncomfortably close to echoing Adolf Hitler’s fantasy of an Aryan nation, his article is so full of lapses of logic and unsupported statements masquerading as facts that it is a wonder it was published at all. Where, for example, can one find statistics confirming that “the Islamofascists are reproducing at alarming rates in the East”? I checked both the CIA Factbook and the United Nations Population Division but, not surprising, neither source breaks down the figures in terms of Islamofascists or other ideologies, and the population growth figures they do report for the Middle East are not alarmingly high. Gahagan makes clear his opposition to a nanny-government, yet he is quite willing to have the government legislate reproductive rights because “[e]ach and every individual life has value that is to be preserved, protected and defended.” But only, it seems, if it is an American life — not Middle Eastern or Islamic. We should celebrate Mr. Gahagan’s freedom to voice his opinion but we should not tolerate such thinly-veiled xenophobia in today’s society. Gordon Hamilton Orono • • • Earning trustI’m pretty certain that we’ve seen this movie before. You know, the one where the loveable scamp of a burglar arrives at the realization that the law is getting too close, the risks too great and it’s time to finally retire, but not before one last big score. The current administration — with a tip of the hat to the Congress — has managed to create an economic environment so bereft of regulation and oversight that the looting of the “people’s money” became all but inevitable, from surplus to deficit. It took some time, but most of us are finally getting wise to the scam. The lobbyists, corporate managers and corrupted politicians recognize that the field is about to change and it’s time to pick up their winnings and leave the table, but not before one last big score — the bailout. We’re told that this solution must be applied immediately; no time to consider the details — shades of the Patriot Act. Most “experts” and politicians seem to agree that our current situation is the result of too little regulation, but transparency and oversight seem to present stumbling blocks for success in this fix. Let’s simply give $700 billion (or one trillion plus?) to the administration to do with as they see fit. Haven’t they already earned our trust? Oh, and that single mom waitress we’ve been hearing so much of as late? Won’t she be relieved that the system that took her house, denied her healthcare, forced her to give up her car, necessitated that she worked two jobs and kept her kids in failing schools was saved? Michael Smith Trescott • • • Huber ‘dead wrong’With all due respect, Sherry Huber’s op-ed, “Obama’s vision, commitment right for Maine” (BDN, Sept. 13-14) is dead wrong. Her support for Barack Obama is misguided. First, it must be pointed out that Sherry Huber ran for governor as an independent in 1986, so why does she think she can fool anyone into believing she is a Republican? Second, her claim that John McCain would lead us down the wrong path is without merit and inaccurate. McCain is the candidate with a real record of reform and standing up to special interests — including oil companies. Obama’s record is thin at best — except for his support for tax increases on everything, including small businesses and families making as little as $42,000 a year. McCain has fought against and voted against tax breaks for oil companies. Obama supported those tax breaks. Voting records speak louder than words. Huber must not have done her homework. McCain is the man with a plan to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. He supports an all-of-the-above approach to digging our country out of this hole — including more drilling off-shore and building new nuclear power plants while investing in alternative energy and respecting the environment. Obama says no to drilling and no to nuclear energy. His answer is to put more air in our tires. These phony endorsements from phony Republicans are election season games. Especially when the endorsers don’t have their facts straight. Lisa Eldridge Brewer • • • On Palin: ‘Been there’Without casting an opinion as to how I personally stand on the question of Sarah Palin, I would, however, like to share what my oldest daughter said to me Sept. 8 in a phone conversation. My 30-year-old daughter lives in Baltimore. She became pregnant at 16 to a boy who was 17. My granddaughter was born while my daughter was still 16. That was 13 years ago. The marriage ended after four years, though my daughter and her ex-husband still remain good friends and are both actively engaged in raising my granddaughter. I asked my daughter: “So what do you think of Sarah Palin?” She said: “I think she is running away from her family responsibility. She has a 4-month old ‘Down’s baby,’ who needs the love and care of both parents, and she has a 17-year-old daughter who got ‘knocked up.’ I think instead of running for vice-president, her place, right now, is home with her family.” My daughter knows what it means to be a teen mom living in a family that was known by many due to my very public job position — and my husband’s — at that time. As I said, I am not expressing my opinion, only relating the opinion of a young woman who, as they say, “has been there, and done that.” Susan Yaruta-Young Blue Hill
Comments
Lisa Eldridge ~ you can keep saying it but it still doesn't make it so. Maybe you should get YOUR facts straight. EVERY source states Obama would only raise taxes on single's earning over $200,000 and couples earning over $250,000. Yes Susan Yaruta-Young of Blue Hill. I would like to add that in most states this young man that did the knocking would be charged with Statuatory Rape not treated like a future presidential cabinet member. I don't think that 18 into 17 is legal in most states. And Adelaide, you really believe that Obam-uh, being the most liberal member of the US Senate will actually cut taxes? Come down to the Bucksport area sometime...I've got a bridge I can sell you. Do you really not remember Slick Willie's promises to cut middle class taxes before he was elected? Do you really not remember what actually happened? When has a Democrat not embraced a tax increase, regardless of to whom it was applied?
I've got to check out this fantasy world you live in.
Susan,
Do you question Joe Biden's political career and decisions?
His wife was killed in a car accident in 1972 leaving him to care for his two injured sons. Biden considered resigning but was sworn into office by their bedsides.
So why was he more fit to stay in politics then Gov. Palin? Is iit because he is a man and her place is in the home?
Maybe it's just a case of conservative white women need not apply for the job... ckc1996, Do you think a conservative woman who finds it necessary to have a South African preacher drive the witchcraft out of her prior to being elected as Govonor of Alaska is someone you want mabey having to become President at a moments notice. Who also thinks becasue you can see Russian territory from her state she is a qualified foreign expert. Oh yea now that Uncle McCain has taken her on a field trip to the UN she is now completly qualified as an expert on foreign affairs. Can anyone help and please tell me what susan yarta's very public job was, or even that of her husband? It must have been a very important job because she was so darn clever at expressing her opinion without expressing her opinion. I am just wondering if she quit that job as her wise daughter is suggesting Palin should do. Or should we just ignore her opinion, because the left says Palins daughter means she isn't qualified for important jobs. Dear MikeBookout, you're not a Democrat by any chance, are you? Okay, Dirigodad, you just keep on believing in McCain's "truthiness." The Republicans will take care of you. Anna of Mount Desert Island- Do you own a wool sweater?? duckwas,
This is a quote from Susan Yaruta-Young:
"I am a 55 year old woman, mother, grandmother, professsional working in ministry with a liberal denomination and I back Obama all the way."
Source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/01/29/womens-group-slams-kennedy-for-betrayal/ To the contrary - I'm not looking for any political party to take care of me. I just want them to get government out of the way so that the American people can thrive.
Thanks for pointing that out, Anne. We have a huge fundamental difference in approach. Conservatives don't believe it's government's role to take care of anyone. We believe it is the government's role to protect us from those who would threaten harm to us (interestingly enough, you'll find that provision in the Constitution).
On the other hand, liberals consistently look for handouts - like little piggies flocking to the sow's teats. Government "getting out of the way" is why we are in this fiscal mess. Deregulation (supported by McCain) of financial institutions has put the savings of millions at risk. Time and time again, the greedy @*&#^!s that run banks have shown they can't be trusted. They need regulators looking over their shoulders. Wal Mart and other large corporations have shown they can't be trusted to treat their workers fairly. There will always be polluters trying to save a buck by dumping illegally. Without government watch dogs with BIG teeth, the robber barons will always rape and pillage the common man and/or try to gain an illegal advantage over an ethical competitor. Conservatism is an interesting theory, but human nature has thus far shown it to be unworkable. Well dirigodad, looks like government got out of the way so corporations could suck on the American people like little piggies. Suck, suck, suck, until we've all been been sucked dry. Good for us! Now our kids and grandkids have nothing to look forward to, and our parents have lost their retirement savings. (But they all deserve it, don't they?) Our government sure has been giving handouts to the wealthy and corporations through unfair tax breaks and rewarding outsourcing. Let's just keep suck-suck-suckin' away till it's all gone. We'll all be well protected when we're a third-world backwater, which is where these policies are taking us. Fact Check! With the exception of Clinton's ( Republican Lite) 2 terms, the government has been run by Republicans for the last 28 years.......... For a good portion of that time the Congress had a Republican majority as well. If you are better off now than you were in 1980 you can stop reading now. The bottom line is this. There has been a switch of economic models during that time, PBS did a very informative series about this called The Commanding Heights, back in 2000, 2001? We went from regulatory controls on Corporations to almost none. We have gone from strong unions to balance the employer and keep him/.her honest..to no control, where the employee gets the shaft. Corporations started ditching their pension plans. ( My Father in Law was a painter for Dupont Company......On his handsome pension he bought a condo on the inland waterway in Miami where he ended his days pleasantly! back in the 70's 80's ) Who can do that today? The Glass Steagall Act of 1933 was enacted, to create the FDIC ( Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation) which protected against speculation, IS protecting your bank accout up to $100,000. and regulated interest rates on savings accounts. THAT portion, interest rate on savings, was repealed in 1980, Prohibition against a bank holding company, owning other finance companies was repealed on Nov. 12 18999, by the Gramm, Leach Blily Act and yes Clinton signed it. 8 years later we have the financial meltdown mess, which WE THE TAXPAYERS are going to have to pay for! Gramm, that is Phil Gramm, once a Senator more recently a CEO at USB Bank, YES THAT Phil Gramm that just told us "the recession was all in our heads and we were a bunch of whiners!" THAT Phil Gramm will most likely be appointed the Secretary of the Treasury by John McCain, if he wins the WHite House, they are GREAT BUDDIES! This is YOUR DEMOCRACY.................it's time to stop shooting yourself in the foot, read up on some of this information (it's your responsibility, & duty as a citizen of a Democracy, ) You are now loosing it! It's not about liberals or conservatives or red & blue or Right WIng Left WIng. Thise are just seeds of disension sown by those who will benefit from it! Thats why I am voting for Obama. In order to get along in life he had to learn the skill of bringing both sides together. Unlike Bush or Mccain he didn't have illustrious family smoothing the path for him, he did it by his OWN BOOTSTRAPS. NO HE WILL NOT RAISE YOUR TAXES..........................unless you are fortunate enough to be making $250,000 a year or more. ANd if you are...........you SHOULD be paying the 33 % that we worker bees are paying, whil we get a little tax cut. A large part of the financial problem is that Corporations used to pay 33 % of the total annual tax in the USA...now they pay only 13%. That money needs to go back into the Treasury! Oh and Mccain wants to privatize the Social Security.................How much money are YOU giving to Mom & Dad to help them get though month to month? David889327 a Republican are we?? |
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