Bypass good for Caribou, not for PI
To the editor:
I ‘m sorry that Dana Hagerman feels that a “major complaint wasn’t lodged” over the building of the Caribou Connector (letters to the editor, Aug. 22). As one of the major public complainers, I can verify that many people did raise objections. I now must admit that I was wrong, and my objections were misguided. After seeing how the project was actually done, it’s clear to me that it will probably be a positive addition to the community. At worse, it will be a wash. The connector ties in well with existing infrastructure and has a minimal “footprint.” Sure, it was expensive. But there are many other far more wasteful ways that our government spends money. At least they actually built something this time.
At the risk of being wrong twice, I do believe that the Presque Isle bypass looks like a classic white elephant. It is much more massive than Caribou’s, and will have a far more devastating footprint. And it doesn’t use existing infrastructure wisely. If the entire project is built, it will cost four times what the Caribou connector did.
Jim Cyr
Caribou
The prime directive in Tampa
By Hon. Hayes Gahagan
Weather permitting, I’ll be in Tampa this week, serving as a Delegate to the Republican National Convention as part of the “10/10” compromise offered by the Republican National Committee. The 10/10 compromise is a consequence of RNC rules violations at the Maine State Convention earlier this year. The RNC compromise provides that 10 Ron Paul Delegates will be seated and 10 Mitt Romney Delegates will be seated in Tampa,
To send Delegates to the Republican National Convention, all Republican State Committees, including Maine, must follow RNC rules for the selection of National Delegates. RNC is both judge and jury regarding individual state compliance of RNC rules.
It is my understanding that the RNC 10/10 compromise for Maine has been approved by the national Ron Paul and Mitt Romney organizations and that Maine has now accepted the 10/10 compromise.
By agreeing to be seated as part of this compromise, I will be representing all Maine Republicans, both those with traditional conservative leanings as well as those with libertarian leanings.
Based on my understanding of the 10/10 compromise, I expect all Maine Republicans could agree it is better for Maine to be represented by the 10/10 Delegates to the Republican National Convention than not to be represented at all.
Republicans, Libertarians, many if not most Independents, and conservative-leaning Democrats will also agree that the survival of Our Republic will require all of our energy to reverse the bankrupting slide into a European brand of socialism by returning to the founding American principles of individual liberty and accountability incorporated in our U.S. Constitution and its corresponding free enterprise economic system.
Therefore, the “Prime Directive” of the Republican Party, beginning this week in Tampa, must be to unite and focus on the defeat in November of Barack Obama and those who share his collectivist ideology.
Hayes Gahagan of Castle Hill is a former State Senator from Aroostook County and currently serves as chairman of the Aroostook County Republican Committee.
Maynard would help grow the local economy
To the editor:
A few months ago, when I heard that Gail Maynard was going to run for a state representative in District 3 (from Woodland to Grand Isle), I sat back to think about how I wanted to support her. I knew her because of her family farm that raises organic beef. Our families knew each other and I would call us friends. But do I believe she has the wisdom and character to do the right thing for northern Maine? Yes, I truly believe Gail would support a vibrant local agriculture that can grow northern Maine’s economy and create new jobs.
I think this because she lives this. She knows what it is like to walk across a small piece of heaven and dream of the health-giving food it could produce. She knows what it is like to work full-time, to raise a family, and to develop a first class beef business with her husband. She has strong character and has lived a life of living her dreams.
I could paint my car with “Vote for Gail,” but instead I will tell you here that she would do a great job in Augusta for us.
John Chartier
Fort Fairfield
Hardworking advocates for working families
To the editor:
Over the past two years, the Legislature along with the Governor, have passed some much-needed reform. Independent contractors have been longing to have someone on their side in Augusta and now they have several advocates working hard to keep their best interests in mind. With the passage of bills that have reformed the definition of independent contracting, these businessmen and women now have a chance to make more money for their families.
Independent contractors represent every facet of business. They are your truck drivers, hairdressers and even your oil burner repair men. These entrepreneurs have been burdened with unfair definitions of their business status that has resulted in discriminatory taxation at both the state and federal levels.
Kudos to the government in Augusta for helping out Maine’s working families. With their leadership, we will ensure Maine is a great place to live and do business.
Cathy Bouchard-Martin
Caribou
Pet Rescue gets surgically cut
To the editor:
Our cats cannot afford to lose any of their precious friends and this is happening right now. The HHPR spay/neuter program is very dependent on the collection boxes that we have situated around the towns of Caribou, Presque Isle and Van Buren.
HHPR does a lot for the stray unsterilized cats in all these towns and we want to continue helping them. Recently a Canadian business bought out the Food Trend convenience stores in both Caribou and Presque Isle and the new owners decided they didn’t want to have our collection jars in their stores. People have contacted me asking why this happened. The people, our dear friends, chose to insert their change whenever they bought their cup of coffee, donut or a snack or lunch. We have lost the donation equivalent of two spays and one neuter per week. This was the biggest weekly donation we had.
How can we convince the new owners that this donation of change is a choice each individual person chooses when he makes a purchase. No one is begging. This was an individual choice of a lot of people doing a little bit each day to make something very good happen in their community. Why stop the good?
Please ask the convenience store you shop at to continue helping with the spay/neuter program of HHPR. The cats continue to need your support. Thanks so much for everything you have done through HHPR to help 820 animals since Jan. 1, 2009. It truly has been a team/community effort.
Norma Milton, president
HHPR of Caribou
