Here’s the thing: in this country, people have the right to free speech, but not to falsely cry “fire” in a crowded theater; the right to buy and sell, but not drugs which harm others; to practice religion, but not if it calls for human sacrifice; and the right to run a bar or restaurant, […]

Former President Harry Truman made it clear.  A sign on his desk said “The buck stops here.”  If something went wrong in Truman’s administration, he took responsibility. Today we have “I take no responsibility”  — the mantra of President Trump when there are failures on his watch. No responsibility in January for not heeding his […]

I am grateful that Gov. Janet Mills is placing public health first in her handling of this pandemic. Damage to our economy, though terrible, can be recovered in time. The people who die from COVID-19 are gone forever. We will never know exactly which Mainers would have died had the governor acted differently, but when […]

Clean energy only matters when it’s connected directly to big bucks and I am tired of seeing Central Maine Power ads everywhere I look. What do Dr. Han Neu, Dr. Brad Hager, and Dr. David Schindler all have in common? They all have extensively and scientifically studied Hydro Quebec dams and conclude that the energy […]

I think the time has come to let everyone have a say in the matter of protecting Mainers from the dangers of the COVID-19. Response to measures to control the pandemic have degraded to an “us against them” battle. Do we keep gathering places such as restaurants and bars open and the money flowing? Or […]

Staying healthy at home sounds nice — unless you live with an abuser. With schools closed, many children are not being educated. How many people are afraid to go to the doctor’s office? How many people with minor ailments are being denied treatments that would prevent a major health crisis? How many Maine residents can […]

I write in response to the comments Lewiston Mayor Mark Cayer made in a Sun Journal story, “Lewiston hopes for tax windfall from hydropower project” (April 30). The citizens of Lewiston deserve better answers from their mayor. As a 12-year past member of the Lewiston Finance Committee, I offer clarification and suggestions. While Lewiston could […]

I got up this morning (May 1) and, while reading the Sun Journal letters to the editor, I came across a letter asking people not to call Gov. Janet Mills a dictator — which is exactly what she is trying to be. Anyone with a head on their shoulders and looking at the facts would […]

I write in support of Gov. Janet Mills and Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control. I just want to thank them for all the work they have done to keep Mainers informed about the coronavirus. Our lives have changed a lot, but if we do as they ask the future […]

Whatever happened to the “land of the free and the home of the brave”? Whatever happened to the concepts that we have the individual freedom to live our lives and the individual responsibility to keep ourselves safe? Whatever happened to the Bill of Rights under which we have the freedom to practice our religion and […]