Letters
to the Editor
To
the Editor:
Would
you be upset to learn that the taxpayers of Maine
are funding a web site at the Legislature that is
being used by the Democrats for partisan politics?
Well, it is and so far written complaints to the Governor;
the Ethics Commission and the Maine Attorney Generals
offices have done nothing to correct it.
The Ethics Commission Exec. Director has forwarded
the complaint on to the Legislative Council as he
did not feel this partisan use broke Maine laws. This
Maine legislative web site
http://www.maine.gov/legis/housedems/news/MERI%20Distortion%202004-01-23.htm
is being used by the House Majority Leader, John Richardson
to denigrate the Maine Economic Research Institutes
MERI ratings of legislators. See http://www.me-ri.org/.
This nonpartisan business group rates the legislators
on how they vote for or against Maine business. As
it turns out, even though the MERI group is mostly
democrats, the ratings show that generally the Democratic
legislators vote against business, while the Republicans
vote pro business. Apparently Mr. Richardson could
not stand the heat so he is attempting to get even
using a web site that you and I pay for. Every Maine
taxpayer should be angry about this flagrant use of
their money for partisan politics. Taxpayers, if you
aren't angry and making waves in Augusta about this
you deserve to be taxed into the poor house.
George A. Fogg,
North Yarmouth
To
the Editor:
To
all registered Republicans in the Town of Gray. I
hope that you will participate in our local Caucus
this Sunday February 22nd at Stimson Hall from 1:00
to 3:00. I remember reading an editorial that stated
that political parties follow "marching orders".
If that is the case, you can help write the orders.
Please come and be apart of our efforts. It can be
as much as taking the time to discuss issues with
our representatives. You can help by being an Election
Clerk,or be part of our local leadership. We need
3 people to let our voice be heard at the County Committee.
Gray needs 14 delegates and 14 alternates for the
State Convention. There is plenty of work and we are
here to represent you. Please plan to attend and let
your voice be heard. While only registered Republicans
can vote at the Caucus, everyone is invited to attend.
Thank
you for your support,
Bill Getz
Gray Republican Committee
To
the Editor:
Dump Stickers.
I think that the Council and the Manager are taking
the wrong approach to controlling access to the Transfer
Station.
Fifteen or so years ago, Dump Stickers were issued
free by Town Office, with vehicle registration. Eventually,
former Town Manager Paul Bird got the idea of converting
stickers to a source of "income" for the
Town by selling them. That was, in effect, an additional
tax on taxpayers who were already supporting the dump
with their property tax payments. My reaction was
that I stopped donating returnables to the Town at
the dump, amounting to a net loss of income of $25
or $30 per year.
I think that the Councilors and Manager are blinded
by the desire for income. The $5 fees bring in a miniscule
amount in comparison to the total budget of the Town
and also a miniscule amount in comparison to the total
cost of operating the Transfer Station. I suspect
that a large part of the cost is in dealing with the
general trash that goes down the hopper. That cost
will increase if people are not as careful about sorting
materials for recycling.
I may go to the Transfer Station with any one of three
different vehicles; I do not appreciate the idea that
I would have to buy a sticker for each vehicle. If
this current sticker scheme is enforced so that I
am coerced into buying one or more stickers at $5
apiece, I will respond by simply being much less assiduous
in sorting my trash.
I will argue that a better approach is free stickers
for all vehicles coupled with an energetic appeal
for people to actively recycle. That may very well
be the cheaper solution.
David
W. Knudsen,
Gray
