Our newly elected president is on a massive ego trip. He needs to be smarter, richer and more powerful than anyone else. He wants to rule the world. The will of the people has disappeared, and President Trump’s ego has come front and center; it is so big our elected officials are cowering in the […]
Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Victoria Cohen: Musk’s plan to gut education department hurts Maine’s kids
Elon Musk’s plan to gut the U.S. Department of Education has far-reaching ramifications for public schools in Maine. Our schools receive funding for reading and math specialists who work with students who need extra support. If that funding is cut, so is that help for those students. Our schools receive funding for meals for students. […]
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Cal Thomas: Trump and Musk are spring cleaning the government
“Who voted for Musk?” is the cry by some Democrats who are resisting his and Trump’s effort to downsize government, something Trump promised to do during his campaign. Does any politician want to say the government is too small, costs too little and that we need more regulations?
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Kirk Read: ‘We should all be horrified and active in disputing this regime’
I recently read Austin Bay’s opinion piece on President Trump’s plan for Palestine (“New Gaza as condos, not shell holes,” Feb. 7), at first with anger that he would write so satirically about an enduring and painful struggle, and then with horror when I realized he was seriously endorsing the plan. To collude with a […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Bob Healy: ‘I am really frightened by what is happening to my country’
I am really frightened by what is happening to my country. There has been for some time a lot of talk of how Democrats and liberals “hate America.” But as I see unelected rich boys and their thugs disrupting our institutions while disregarding the law, I wonder who is it that hates America? Bob Healy, […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
John Neal: Maine schools need to improve arts education
I found ironic the juxtaposition of the Feb. 9 article about Edward Little’s outstanding arts educator Matthew Peinado, and that about parental and fan violence at local school sporting events. Since the 1980s, when “No Child Left Behind” began mandating standardized testing in math, science and language arts, schools have been reducing and eliminating arts […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Froma Harrop: Three ways for Democrats to respond
Democrats, don’t get waylaid by the right-wing loons, flapping their beaks and laughing maniacally. You do have new faces with smart politics, and several are young besides. Hand over the reins.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Anne Williams: Trump is ignoring ordinary Americans
In his 2024 campaign Donald Trump promised to reduce grocery prices and make the economy work better for American workers. Unfortunately, in his first three weeks his actions have been undermining these goals. He is threatening 25% tariffs against our longtime friends, Canada and Mexico. American importers will pay tariffs initially. Then they will pass […]