Tax cuts don’t create jobs

The correlation between lower taxes and increased job production is a myth perpetuated by the rich. When Republicans say they want to simplify the tax code, what they mean is they want their buddies to become richer — not us.

Jim Alciere





East Machias

Leave ranked-choice voting alone

Our state government was unusually riled up about a simple issue this past session: ranked-choice voting. Last November, the voters of Maine approved this system of electing politicians for our seats in the U.S. Senate and House, governor, and the Maine Senate and House. The law is set to go into effect starting with the June 2018 primary.

Ranked-choice voting is straightforward and voters gain from having more choice when they go to the polls — no more “lesser of two evils” votes.

The only people who could lose are politicians who have been playing by party rules (will they still be popular when more names appear on the ballot?). Some of those politicians are trying hard to take ranked-choice voting away from Mainers before we get to use it.

The consequence of undermining or undoing this citizen initiative is a lost faith in the political process. What is worse than voting for something, having it pass with a majority, and then having the people who are supposed to represent us take it away?

Fortunately, a recent vote to repeal ranked-choice voting (which passed in the Maine Senate) died in the House. But this issue will likely resurface in the next legislative session, or possibly in a special session. Please contact your representatives and ask them to respect the will of the voters and leave ranked-choice voting alone. Let’s give it a try in June 2018 and see if more choice really does equal more voice.

Nicole Grohoski

Ellsworth

The radical left

Bangor has done it again. First, they plan to build a multicultural center, and now they want to designate Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Columbus Day. Do the members of the city council all convene their meetings wearing tie-dyed shirts?

The arrogance and ignorance of judging a historic figure by applying standards developed 500 years later is beyond comprehension. It fits snugly with the hysteria abroad in our land of tearing down statues of historical figures. A holiday honoring American Indians would be completely fitting, but why displace Christopher Columbus, who lived 500 years ago.

I regard the Ku Klux Klan and all white-supremacist groups as reprehensible, and I detest them all. But I have as great a fear of the radical left who are against all traditional mores. Their resemblance to fascists is undeniable, with the so-called antifa’s face coverings, helmets and clubs. Their aim seems to be to squash free speech, crush opposing positions, and generally to control what we can say, think or speak.

Political left leaders seem dumbstruck, and they resemble what Joseph Stalin referred to as “useful idiots.” Racism is wrong. Hatred is wrong. Wrongheaded hysteria is equally as wrong.

William D. Duddy

Dedham

Supporting entrepreneurs

I would like to thank Corlyn Voorhees and BDN for trying to explain the importance of supporting entrepreneurship and the role the Bangor Angel Fund in the Bangor area and Maine. It is a complex subject and involves many individuals and organizations in order to be successful.

The Bangor Angel Fund would not have existed without the help of the varied members of the Biz Action Committee of the Bangor Regional Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of John Simpson. Once the concept was developed, implementation would not have been possible without the legal expertise of Jeff Spaulding of Eaton Peabody and the financial support of Bangor Savings Bank in our first fund, and both Bangor Savings Bank and First National Bank in the second fund. In addition, many individuals in the Bangor community were willing to invest in a concept that was often new and foreign to their business backgrounds.

I would also like to make a slight clarification on the seventh lesson, “It’s all a gamble,” in Voorhees Aug. 29 BDN article. Although each investment is clearly a gamble, a well-researched basket of companies should get above average returns for investors, according to the American Capital Association. Hopefully, we as investors and those in the region will see the benefits of supporting entrepreneurs.

Frederick Oldenburg

Bangor