Kathryn Skelton’s article June 15 comparing salaries of state employees and other workers had one big flaw. Salaries for non-state workers, she acknowledged, included the pay earned by “part-time clam diggers.”

I don’t know what part-time clam diggers make, but it cannot be much.

A better comparison would be between wages of workers with comparable education and professional experience. Does the employee have a college degree? A post-graduate degree? What about professional background?

On June 21, John Clement’s letter claimed negative ratings for Rep. Tom Allen and extremely high marks for Sen. Susan Collins.

I went to votesmart.org, which he recommended, and found this quote: “Project Vote Smart collects evaluations from special interest groups who provide them regardless of issue or bias.”

I think Clement conveniently chose specific interest groups to push a bias. Rep. Allen has some very high ratings by other groups. A lot depends on what direction voters would like to see the country go.

Of the eight years under President Bush, Republicans were in total control for six. In 2006, the Democrats won a majority of 51-49 in the Senate. Republicans have filibustered more than 60 times. It takes 60 votes to override a president’s veto.

If voters really want change, they need to vote for Democrats.

Nancy Willard, Woodstock