The damage that irresponsible all-terrain vehicle riders do to private property is so bad that landowners are limiting and closing access to their land.This is a big concern to Mainers.An estimated 94 percent of Maine’s land is held in private hands by landowners who graciously permit public access. Most people who recreate on these lands […]

I didn’t pay close enough attention to the details of generalship in the Kosovo campaign to have a fully informed view of Gen. Wesley Clark. But based on his performance the other day on “Meet the Press,” I hope he runs for president.Why?If you’re a Democrat these days, you mostly cringe or close your eyes […]

The problems of maintaining a small but effective law enforcement agency aren’t unique to Oxford County towns. But they’re the ones talking about it.Bethel, Dixfield and Mexico acknowledge two distinct law enforcement problems: Their police costs are escalating and their ability to retain police officers is declining.They’re talking about letting the sheriff’s department take over […]

Last Nov. 14, I went to Washington for a meeting of the National Security Education Board as one of 11 directors. The board administers the National Security Education Program.Most of the other directors represent government defense and intelligence agencies and the Department of State. But there are also professors and administrators from colleges and universities, […]

I don’t care much about affirmative action.About its goals of overcoming racial exclusion and fostering diversity, yes. But I have no major emotional investment in this particular means toward those particular ends.So when some people began touting another way of achieving those objectives, I listened with interest. Their argument goes that we can boost minority […]

If ever there was a “time for war ” (Ecclesiastes 3:8), surely this is it. If the United Nations is to be taken seriously, the time is now for it to act. If the United Nations – founded on the dubious premise that flawed humanity can be perfected by flawed human beings – remains a […]

Maine children should enjoy their summers, but passing a law to keep them out of school until after Labor Day is a bad idea.Rep. Bernard McGowan, who likes to hire high school students to work in his restaurants and convenience stores, has proposed such a law that he says would keep Maine’s workforce at work […]

So, have you got your duct tape yet? What about your plastic sheets?As you’re surely aware, no less an authority than the federal government recommended this week that we keep both on hand as protection against a bioterror attack. We are told we should be prepared to tape off windows and vents to keep out […]

“The impact of unfunded or underfunded state and federal mandates on local property taxpayers is huge.”That’s an understatement, to be sure.Last month, the Maine Municipal Association asked its member towns to get specific about their frustrations concerning mandates, write them down and forward them to the association.MMA has compiled some of those responses and is […]