Editorials
Registry redo Friday, May 09, 2008 A veto from Gov. John Baldacci gives lawmakers time to more precisely remedy problems with the state's sex offender registry. Such fixes are needed to ensure that the registry passed constitutional challenges. |
King, Pens and Swords Thursday, May 08, 2008 Conservatives are jumping on author Stephen King for his remarks at a recent Library of Congress event, speaking to a group of high school students about the importance of reading. |
Long View on Gas Prices Thursday, May 08, 2008 Diesel fuel and heating oil have topped $4 a gallon, and gasoline is destined to soon break that price plateau. Those prices are double and triple what they were just a few years ago. |
Saying 'no' to junk mail Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Decades ago, a full mailbox meant you had a lot of friends and family who wanted to keep in touch. Today, it means your address is logged into the credit card industry's data base. |
Editorial: Sending Baghdad the bill Wednesday, May 07, 2008 Last summer, expectations were high that a change in strategy in Iraq was possible...Nearly a year later, there has been no change in the American mission. |
ClickBack with candidates Tuesday, May 06, 2008 This week, ClickBack asks readers to submit questions they would ask candidates in the 1st Congressional District primary races. Some questions will be sent to the candidates, and they will respond in the coming weeks. |
Bangor Home Companion Tuesday, May 06, 2008 It may have been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, the fictional hometown of "A Prairie Home Companion" host Garrison Keillor. But in Bangor, where Mr. Keillor broadcast his weekly radio show live from the auditorium Saturday night, it was anything but quiet. |
Bay State's buoyancy Monday, May 05, 2008 Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis ran for president in 1988 touting the "Massachusetts Miracle," the Bay State's booming, high-tech based economy that brought high-paying jobs and swelled state government tax coffers. |
Cleaning bill delayed Monday, May 05, 2008 As the Legislature’s recent budget balancing efforts show, any seemingly large pot of money in Augusta can easily be diverted to cover state expenses. |
Back to Wood Saturday, May 03, 2008 When humans first harnessed fire, it was wood that provided the fuel. Coal, oil and natural gas followed, but as fossil fuels become more scarce, returning to the renewable fuel that literally grows on trees is a natural progression, especially for Maine, the most forested state in the U.S. |
Prescription for Savings Saturday, May 03, 2008 A recent report found that health care spending in Maine is well above the national average with worse than average results. The report calls for an investigation of why the costs are high. What is needed even more is a commitment from lawmakers and regulators to do something with this information. |
Another World Friday, May 2, 2008 Although considered a city in Maine, in most other states Bangor would qualify as a small town. So the alleged killing of a homeless man at the hands of, according to police, another homeless man comes as a bit of a shock. |
Syria's Mystery Reactor Friday, May 2, 2008 Many questions remained after the Bush administration released what it called photographic evidence that North Korea had been helping Syria build a nuclear reactor. But one thing is clear: President Bush is staying the course with his effort to complete a nuclear agreement with North Korea |
Lobster vs. whales Thursday, May 1, 2008 Despite concerns from federal oversight agencies, the National Marine Fisheries Service has gone ahead with rules requiring changes in lobster gear to protect right whales. The aggressive timeline is premature because more research is needed to determine where the whales and lobster gear actually overlap. |
Editorial: Bypassing the County Thursday, May 1, 2008 Aroostook County’s economic needs are deep and long, and are largely tied to the geographic fact that its modest-sized service centers — Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou and Fort Kent — are separated from the rest of the state by vast unpopulated areas. |
Tribal Gamble Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Gov. John Baldacci's veto of Penobscot Nation plans to install slot machines on Indian Island has grabbed headlines. But tribal frustration with state officials goes way beyond gambling. |
Behind the Iraq News Wednesday, April 30, 2008 Back during the unpopular Vietnam war, the Pentagon ran 10-day junkets to the war zone to persuade news reporters as well as some public officials that the war was going well. |
Better Job Loss Benefits Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Despite talk of human rights, drug trafficking and tariffs, the political battle over the Colombia free trade pact is, in part, about taking care of those who are thought to lose their jobs because of increased foreign competition. |
Marooned Middle Class Monday, April 28, 2008 Some 80 percent of Americans define themselves as middle class. Though that self-assessment is most likely grossly inaccurate, it is telling. |
Trains Trending North Monday, April 28, 2008 The Legislature's passage of a bill to fund an expansion of rail service could hasten the return of trains as a viable freight and passenger transportation option in southern and coastal Maine. |
Doom, gloom and taxes Saturday, April 26, 2008 Does repeating something often enough make it true? That's what some business lobbyists and conservative activists seem to be trying with their repeated assertions about the state's bad business climate. |
Editorial: Development decisions Saturday, April 26, 2008 The Land Use Regulation Commission is, in effect, the planning board for about half the land in Maine. Although the raw numbers — 8,800 new units in 35 years — aren’t shocking, half the development in LURC jurisdiction has occurred in areas the commission doesn’t consider healthy. |
Chowder Crackers Alert Friday, April 25, 2008 Nabisco's Crown Pilot crackers seem to be in danger once more. Mainers who love to crush the oblong crackers into their chowder may have to rush to the defense again, as they did 11 years ago. |
Medicaid and Mirrors Friday, April 25, 2008 It has long been clear that the Bush administration didn't have logic on its side as it tried to limit states' flexibility in extending health insurance to moderate-income children. |
Unelected Economy Czars Thursday, April 24, 2008 Polls show the top issue among voters this election year is their fears about the fate of the economy. Voters can grill congressional candidates, but the fate of the economy may be most influenced by a body that does not answer to the American voter. |
Baghdad's Burden Thursday, April 24, 2008 Members of Congress and the Bush administration have long talked about the Iraqi government taking more responsibility for the security, economy and governing of their country. |
Law and odor Wednesday, April 23, 2008 The early weeks of spring arrive with their cherished events: Crocuses lift through the thawing earth on the sunny sides of buildings and the Bangor Daily News appeals to scofflaws of Bangor's pooper-scooper ordinance to make a clean break from their habit. |
Editorial: Close down Gitmo Wednesday, April 23, 2008 The prison at Guantanamo Bay has long been a national disgrace. The current mess over how to try suspected terrorists in improvised special courts highlights the need to shut down this facility. |
ClickBack on taxes, flags Tuesday, April 22, 2008 For most people, Patriot's Day was just another workday. Is the holiday commemorating the start of the Revolutionary War outdated? Only Maine and Massachusetts celebrate it and to a diminishing extent. Is it time to retire this holiday? |
Editorial: Don't waste Earth Day Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Requiring the recycling of computer and television monitors - and having manufacturers cover most of the cost - has diverted tons of lead from Maine landfills while saving residents money. |
Patriot's Day Monday, April 21, 2008 Listen, my children, and give a pause for the midnight ride of William Dawes. Paul Revere's fellow rider is largely unknown to most Americans. So how about three cheers for Mr. Dawes on this Patriot's Day. |
Editorial: Big box battles Monday, April 21, 2008 Until recently, new stores generated controversy only if they planned to sell pornography, assault weapons or cups of coffee that cost as much as a used car. |
Lapel pin politics Saturday, April 19, 2008 With Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama locked in a close race for the party's presidential nomination, the pair's last televised debate should have been a time to clarify the policy differences between the two candidates. |
Editorial: The 123rd Legislature Saturday, April 19, 2008 The Legislature made significant progress on a number of controversial issues — reducing government spending to balance the budget, school and jail consolidation and funding Dirigo Health, for example. |
Joan's Long Run Friday, April 18, 2008 Maine's own long-distance runner Joan Benoit Samuelson will be trying out once more for the Olympics on Sunday. She's not expecting to make the U.S. team again, as she told The New York Times: 'Oh, God, no. It's just me against me. I want to run 2:50 at age 50.' |
Civic League Strikes First Friday, April 18, 2008 The Christian Civic League of Maine has launched what amounts to a pre-emptive strike in the war it has declared over the relative rights of homosexuals in this state. |
God, Guns and Obama Thursday, April 17, 2008 After a long, arduous march on the campaign circuit, including visits to small cities such as Bangor, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama stopped in San Francisco earlier this month to raise more money. |
Plugging in The County Thursday, April 17, 2008 Building a high-capacity electricity line linking northern and central Maine would seem to be a win for both regions and the state as a whole. |
Raise a glass to Dirigo? Wednesday, April 16, 2008 In addition to extending health insurance to many of those unable to afford it, Dirigo Health aimed to find savings in the state's health care system and use those savings to pay for the program. |
Editorial: Raising Maine's wages Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Last week, the Legislature approved a 50-cent increase in the state minimum wage from $7 to $7.50. This is a positive step, but more needs to be done to boost Maine's incomes and, therefore, reduce its tax burden. |