Think about it
The Supreme Court’s health care law ruling and Gov. LePage’s latest remarks have once again gotten many of us thinking about the new law. The law was passed exclusively by Democrats to solve two problems: health care that strains the ability of many to pay and lack of insurance coverage for many. The Democrats believed that this law would provide solutions.
It is a big gamble. First, to hold down expenses, enough people must buy insurance. It is unclear whether the penalty — $695 or 2.5 percent of income, whichever is greater — is enough to accomplish that. Second, it is conceivable that the expenses involved in implementing the law — e.g., insurance exchanges, Medicaid expansion and insurance subsidies — could make it unsustainable, particularly in light of our approximately $15.7 trillion debt.
Other questions yet to be answered are: will the increased regulation cause fewer people to remain or become doctors and will the reduction in Medicare reimbursements erode the quality of care? This is an awfully big law to have been enacted by one party. But the Democrats, apparently, were very sure of themselves.
You could argue that we Republicans could have done more from 2003 to 2006, controlling Congress and the White House as we did. That would be fair. But the Democrats pretty much shut the Republicans out in 2009-2010 when the law was being put together and passed.
I hope Republicans again control Washington in 2013 and that the health care law is repealed. Then Republicans need to act decisively to implement reforms that can create meaningful change without so much downside risk.
Robert Porteous
Freeport
Kudos to BDN
I want you to know that the Bangor Daily News is an awesome paper to be able to read online. I don’t know how you do it, but you’re up-to-date on news. I mean, you get it right on within minutes of happening. You’ve got to give it to you and your staff. A big “Ra ra!” You are so ahead of the Kennebec Journal; I have no idea why they can’t keep up or maybe they don’t care. Maybe it is the lack of staff to cover the area, or their papers are printed in Portland and no one updates all stories. Obviously they are behind.
Also the layout of your paper is great. I like the ability to go back and find past articles that you want to re-read. You have to hand it to you. I also read Lincoln County News, as that is the county in which I live. My God you sometimes are ahead of them. I don’t know how you do it but keep up the good work.
So, congrats to the Bangor Daily News.
Shirley Buck
Jefferson
Save the bridge
When I saw Lionel Rosenblatt’s OpEd about the Waldo-Hancock Bridge in the July 10 paper, I was almost in tears. I thought I was the only one fighting to prevent the destruction of this fine old landmark.
For over a year I have been attempting to bring this to the attention of Maine people. I wrote to the governor, posted on Facebook, discussed on call-in show on WERU and finally began a petition to save this architectural and engineering treasure.
Please join me and Mr. Rosenblatt in any way you can to address this issue. This is my petition: http://signon.org/sign/save-the-old-waldo-hancock.fb6.
Janice E. Kelley
Belfast
Washington County poverty
According to a Bangor Daily News article dated February 8, 2012, a recent survey showed 30.9 percent of those under age 18 are living in Washington County households with incomes below the federal poverty level.
A recently released U.S. Census county poverty data shows that Washington County has the highest overall poverty rate in Maine at 19.4 percent.
What have you been doing about this Mr. Kevin Raye, president of the Maine Senate? Instead of trying to get into the U.S. House of Representatives, how about throwing all of your energy into making life in Washington County better for those residents. And maybe you should start to “cut the mustard” with those folks and make their life better.
Also, veterans out there, don’t forget what U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud has done for us.
Alton L. Gross
Bucksport
Maine suffers ridicule
I am tired of defending the state that I grew up in for the reckless comments of Gov. Paul LePage. The “Gestapo” comment over the weekend is the latest in a series of unfortunate events that has caused Maine to suffer ridicule across the nation.
I learned at a young age that Maine is a place where people work hard, treat each other with respect and approach problems together as reasonable people. That lifestyle has gifted me with educational and career success. Many of my friends and colleagues now hold leadership positions at their respective companies, firms and organizations.
Unfortunately, I have all-to-regular conversations with them about the latest ridiculous comment of Gov. LePage, not about the beautiful place that I proudly call home.
The state that I know is filled with hardworking, reasonable people, and is becoming the butt of a national joke. Some would defend Gov. LePage’s comments as fair or armless political hyperbole and others as a refreshing change of pace from the sterile world of “political correctness.” Remember, though, that these days the leaders of tomorrow rarely see headlines about Maine in the national media that don’t include the latest rant of the governor. When these young professionals are thinking about whether to invest millions of dollars and create dozens of high-skill jobs in Greater Boston or 100 miles up the road in Portland, I’d prefer that they weren’t laughing at Gov. LePage on the way to the boardroom.
Josiah Curtis
Boston
Robert Porteous – On 11/6/2102, we either save the nation or drive the liberal stake through America’s heart. We cannot survive 4 more years of Obama in the White House and the Dems in control of the Senate.
Just like you said the sky would fall when DADT was repealed? It’s pretty funny how none of your hyperbolic predictions ever come true.
Oh, how short-term your memory is. We did not survive 8 years of Republican rule. We were in ruin at the end of that. It landed us right where we find ourselves today.
Yep. Because Bush signed everything that landed on his desk, and allowed the Democratically controlled House and Senate get away with murder during his last two years in office. Oh, and Obama was part of that session, and voted for every spending bill that hit the floor.
My memory is as sharp as they come. And I see both sides, unlike so many that comment on here.
More lies from you. Your memory might be sharp, but you lack the capability to be honest.
Bush’s vetos in his last two years:
U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007.
S. 5, Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007.
H.R. 976, Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007
H.R. 1495, Water Resources Development Act of 2007.
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008.
H.R. 3963, Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007
H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
H.R. 2082, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
H.R. 2419, 2007 U.S. Farm Bill
H.R. 6124, 2007 U.S. Farm Bill,
H.R. 6331, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act.
Sounds like you’re the one refusing to accept responsibility and blame. Along with refusing to be honest, of course.
Oh, it couldn’t be because those spending bills were good for the country? Republicans and Democrats working together? Imagine. I believe I have heard President Obama say send me a bill. I wish the good old days when both houses worked together on a compromise measure were back. Think we will ever see that again?
When it becomes a law that elected representatives are not allowed to sign pledges to non-elected people, such as Grover Norquist, that locks them into a position. When we elect people to Congress and the Senate that are not beholden to anyone but the people they represent. When these elected representatives stop representing the big money interests who seem to have the vast majority of them under written or tacit contracts.
Not likely. Not when “compromise” means doing everything Obama’s way.
Oh please. The whole thing was a compromise. Obama did not get half of what he wanted, but I think he understands he is President of a country with diverse opinions about what their country should be doing. I think he understands he needs to address all interests. That is why many of us think ACA did not go far enough to reform the health care industry. But I am willing to concede that it is a start.
And that is why the Democrats have to stand strong together.
Josiah, while the liberally controlled Maine newspapers constantly ridicule LePage, we Mainers couldn’t be happier with Governor LePage’s performance. The IRS will indeed become more and more like the Gestapo and everybody knows that. LePage told the TRUTH and you liberals can’t stand it, especially when it is an attack on the IRS. Go LePage!!
The IRS has the power to put you in jail, take all of your assets, and completely ruin your life, and they don’t even have to prove your guilt. That sounds like Gestapo to me.
Is this a new power granted to them by Obama? Your drinking to much tea. I can’t wait until Obama gets re-elected just to listen to all you teabaggers whine. Pay your taxes and you have nothing to worry about.
Nope. The IRS has had that power for decades. We need to pass the Fair Tax and get rid of the IRS altogether.
And that’s Tea Party.
By the way, I pay taxes every year, and I vote in every election, so I have the right to my opinion, thank you very much.
Glad to see you’re on another comment thread fulfilling your daily mission of spreading misinformation. Don’t you have another made up 99.9% statistic to share with us?
What really needs to be done is to have fair wages so more people would be paying income taxes. If you set a fixed rate on income taxes for everyone,regardless of their income level, your only going to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. The OWS people were exactly right . When millions of Americans lose good paying manufacturing jobs and those jobs get replaced with low wage jobs and no benefits you see the middle class disappearing. This is all driven by corporate greed not because of unions. To many times you see companies that are making record profits lock out their workers and try to force them back for lower wages and benefits. That’s Greed. Thank you for paying your taxes and helping to support our country,maybe you could write to Exxon and GE and get them to pay some too.
Business does not exist to create jobs. Business exists to return a profit to those that invested in the enterprise. Job creation is a by-product of that investment. If there are no profits there are no jobs. You want a successful business in order to do that and taxes are part of the equation. All other things being equal, higher taxes mean reduced profit which means fewer jobs.
Cheese, if no one has money to buy your product, you get no profit.
Never the less, business does not exist without capital. Jobs do not exist without profit. Taxes are not collected without profits to tax. Its really very simple.
We’ve already seen this meme to be false. Taxes are lower than they’ve been in decades and they’ve been low for nearly a decade. You concede in your very first sentence — it’s not about jobs, it’s about turning a profit. Lower taxes simply means more to keep as profits. You only hire if there is a demand or need for it — without a healthy working and middle class to buy your goods/services, there is no demand and no need for you to hire more workers.
Taxes as a percentage of GDP are at its lowest point in decades. 14.5% if my memory serves. If growth were to continue as the Obama economic team projects tax revenue should increase above 18% (the historical norm) by 2016 without any additional sources of revenue. The secret to taxes is fairly simple. If people make more they pay more. They make less they pay less. So Income as a percentage of GDP have declined over the last decade as a result of the recession. To say that it wrapped up in tax rates or some other narrative is patently false. People are unemployed they can’t pay taxes on something they have not earned.
Anyway, Regardless of taxes my statement holds true.
“Business does not exist without capital. Jobs do not exist without
profit. Taxes are not collected without profits to tax. Its really very
simple. ”
LOL @ your very roundabout way of agreeing with me.
I agree that businesses don’t exist to create jobs and thats exactly why we don’t want a businessman like Romney or anyone else running the country. Businesses also can’t exist without a demand for their products. No demand No profit. Businesses that can’t exist without workers to make their product should treat their workers fairly and then they in turn can spend their wages on products being made by all kinds of businesses and a combination of the taxes being paid by all parties will support our country’s infrastructure. I don’t believe companies like Exxon,who make about $5 million an hour, are going to stop drilling for oil if they don’t recieve taxpayer subsidies or their taxes increase 3 -4%. Taxes also create thousands of good paying government jobs too. I know you probably don’t like the sound of “Government Jobs” but someone has to do it. Small businesses do need tax breaks to survive and Obama has offered up plenty of them but your Republican pals keep filibustering them.
How could I argue with that?
as long as you don’t break the law EJ they can do nothing to you. Michaela’s right pay your taxes, and you don’t have to worry.
Actually, there are quite a few that have been penalized, jailed, and harassed by the IRS over the past few decades.
Law abiding tax payers? Please list them.
He’s making things up, as usual.
Google “accused by the IRS” and have fun reading all about it.
Your complaints obviously originate in hatred because they certainly don’t originate in reality. There is nothing new about punishments for tax evasion in this country. That isn’t something that has suddenly appeared because of Obama.
Read, wolfie, and quit putting words in my comments that simply aren’t there.
You compared the IRS to the gestapo with the most ridiculous and pathetic reasoning. I did read your sad and hateful comment. There is nothing new about punishment for tax evaders. That has always been the case.
EJ, put your tea cup down.
EJ, if you break the law you can, upon being charged and convicted be punished by imprisonment. It’s not hard to stay out of jail. You actually have to do something to get yourself behind bars in this country.
Now if you want parinoia, I feel that if Governor LePage were given total power, he would create a special police force that would have people arrested and taken to concentration camps much like the Gestapo and SS ran.
Are you saying that the IRS has never wrongfully charged or convicted anyone? And are you saying there are no innocent people in jail?
That has nothing to do with anything. That’s irrelevant to the point of what Obama did with healthcare. It’s irrelevant to the point that the IRS is comparable to the gestapo. The gestapo was purposeful and collected millions of people. The IRS only “collects” people in the most extreme cases of tax evasion. Why don’t you cite some examples of them wrongfully accusing people of tax evasion? Let’s see it. Back your wild fringe theory up.
The IRS has no authority to charge anyone with a crime. That has to be done by a grand jury, and only after the U.S. Attorney’s Office presents evidence to the grand jury. And only a jury (or a judge, if the defendant waives a jury trial) can find you guilty.
Stop spreading grossly misleading and often inaccurate information.
Actually there is a federal Tax Court for these things.
I have nightmares of him as conductor on the Dusseldorf to Dachau express.
Sure. If you cheat. Most people who cheat and get caught have their life ruined. I for one have not had IRS knocking on my door. In fact when I make a mistake on my returns they send me a check saying I overpaid due to this or that. The first year of ‘it pays to work’ neither my son or I knew about it. We both got checks. The laws are written by Congress. The IRS is just following orders. Seems you best be talking with your representatives in Congress. All this flap about the IRS is ridiculous.
But just as often you can make a mistake going the other way because of some new rule or code your accountant may not be aware of. It happens all the time. Depending on the severity the IRS may not be all that forgiving.
The United States income tax is “voluntary.” It is the only way congress could get it passed in the late 1800’s. With a good lawyer taxes need not be paid. Neither Exxon Mobil, nor General Electric paid taxes for the year 2010.
My understanding is that the reason GE paid no taxes was because of losses they incurred that offset profits. And I see nothing that says anything about voluntary: In 1862 in order to support the Civil War effort, Congress enacted the nation’s first income tax law. It was a forerunner of our modern income
tax in that it was based on the principles of graduated, or progressive, taxation and of withholding income at the source. And: In 1913, the 16th Amendment to the Constitution made the income tax a permanent fixture in the U.S. tax system. The amendment gave Congress legal authority to tax income and resulted in a revenue law that taxed incomes of both individuals and corporations.
GE paid zero taxes based on tax overpayments in previous years and energy credits provided under the Obama stimulus package. Even though the green energy jobs were created in China. Payback for supporting Obama economic program. Welcome to real world 101.
btw your view of tax history is correct.
Pssssst, Obama got Republicans on board by setting aside much of the stimulus money for tax credits :S
There were no Republican Congressional votes for the Stimulus package.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29obama.html
There were only 3 Republican votes in favor … one Arlen Specter was soon to be a Democrat and Susan Collins & Olympia Snowe. No other Republicans voted for the stimulus package.
So were there Republican votes or weren’t there? I got you! :)
More Democrats voted against it than Republicans for it.
As for Snowe, after this vote she never met with Obama again. 2.5 years. Double cross.
LOL. You’ll find anything to argue about. You’re not even contesting anything I said! Too funny.
And all this suddenly changed (or is going to change)? Looks more like political grandstanding and a cover for inaction.
That’s odd, I could have sworn that the Constitution requires due process and a court to find you guilty before you can be imprisoned…
Your tin foil hat is showing. Do you actually believe that blather?
Please tell me when the I.R.S. lost the right to seize property without going to court?
Must be hard sleeping at night knowing the black helicopters might come for you at anytime.
Drama queen commentary.
sigh
LePage is the best governor in my 53 years of living in Maine. Liberals are hurt by the fact that he consistently tells the truth, but many of us Mainers are thinking that it’s about time we had a true, no-nonsense leader.
What has he actually done that has impressed you? I applaud his pro-active work on domestic abuse. But that is all I see he has been pro-active about. The rest has just been hurting the people he is supposed to help.
A lot of us, of all political stripes (including apolitical) are offended by LePage’s outbursts, his half- or non-truths, and his lack of meaningful leadership.
If you are offended by ANYTHING a politician says or does you haven’t
been paying attention ….and…. you are pretty thin-skinned.
Baldacci said that “those who choose to live in rural areas must pay for that choice.”
Our Governor Angus King never stepped foot in Washington County (while he was governor)
John McKernan sent his son out-of State to attend school.
Politicians suGk. Get used to it.
Hopefully, we will find one to replace your hero.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/15/1109702/-The-Big-Lie-the-Gestapo-and-the-Governor-of-Maine
If Maine had a more democratic electoral system which used instant runoff voting, we would not be having this conversation because we would NEVER had elected the buffoon in the first place.
The Democratic Party had control of the state government for over 3 decades, so any complaint about how the electoral system is set up currently has to do with their maladministration. The Democrats had themselves to blame and no others.
You know the Democrats never accept the blame for anything. But, they are the first to take credit for the good things that happen, especially when they had nothing to do with them.
Do you accept blame? Like earlier when you made up statistics to try and prove your point?
I prefaced my statement by “I’ll bet…99.9%” I didn’t quote any statistics.
So you admit you made it up. “I’ll bet…” facts aren’t facts.
McKernan and King were Dems?
Democrats -lite
Oh, you mean DINOS; Democratics In Name Only.
So that makes them … Republicans.
Now I get it, thanks.
agreed!
Who Mainers? Not this we.
Do not speak for me, as a Mainer I am not happy with someone such as our Governor. This individual needs to engage his brain before he engages his mouth, I am assuming he does have a brain. Why would you agree that the IRS is going to act like the Gestapo, you do know they took prisoners killed people with no trial among other unbelievable atrocities, I am beginning to wonder if you might have the same problem as our governor, engaging your post before thinking. Now if I am wrong about the IRS and they have killed people or committed atrocities please let me know and give me your sources to prove that.
I somehow doubt I’ll hear any such sources. Try to think a little before posting.
Speak for yourself (and a 38% plurality). Wait, even some of those who voted for the Governor are bailing out.
You do not speak for this Mainer. I think he’s the worst thing to ever happen to the state. Your just repeating more right wing scare tactics. ACA was a right wing idea after all!!
Not this Maine native.
You speak for yourself and no other person.
Exactly which “we Mainers” do you refer to? Certainly not this Mainer, and not many other Mainers that I know. I happen to be a Mainer that disapproves of him yet I don’t pretend that I speak for anyone other than myself. Please stop pretending that you speak for me … or any other Mainer for that matter.
Sir, Le Page speaks. The newspapers report what he says. They are not responsible for what he says.
What a ridiculous analogy to align the IRS with the horrors of Nazi Gestapo. The Gestapo brutalized and tortured people. The most the IRS can do is audit your return. Mistakes can corrected and payments arranged. If you cheat, you go to court and argue your case. It seems hardly likely in the USA that a poor person would be jailed for their inability to buy insurance.
The Gestapo had no court. They arrested anyone they pleased, and brutally tortured men and women without mercy. Dachau, one of Goering’s many horrible creations still stands as a reminder of the Gestapo. Belsen was torched by flamethrower. The others were similarly destroyed.
We still have courts and laws to protect us. In countries occupied by Nazis, there were no courts. You were arrested, tortured, and either shot or hanged, depending upon the whim of the local Gestapo chief.
We may refer to it lightly as the Infernal Revenue Service. But it is in no way comparable to what Le Page called it.
-o-o-o-
Robert Porteous: the reason that only Dems supported Obama care was, of course, the indifference of virtually all Republican members of Congress for the plight of some thirty million Americans who cannot afford any health insurance. As was painfully obvious, Reps.–inc. Senators Collins and Snowe–want(ed) Pres. Obama to be defeated for re-election and, as with other issues, have tried to block him at every turn. I guess that for you, as other diehard Republicans, the billions spent by your saintly Pres. George W. Bush on tax cuts for the richest Americans and for foreign wars doesn’t much matter. It’s all Obama’s fault. I suspect that Obama will win re-election easily.
You should read this:
http://finance.townhall.com/columnists/michaeltanner/2012/03/24/obamacare_two_years_later/page/full/
It exposes the real truth behind Obamacare.
You should find credible sources to read.
Like moveon.org?
An actual credible news organization. All you ever cite for sources are fringe-right garbage opinion pieces. That’s not fact. That’s not the truth. All it does it stir you up and make you hate liberals and blame them for everything. It’s sad.
Progressives are to blame for everything.
And i do not hate them. I pity them for their ignorance.
“A credible NEWS organization? Please, I’m interested. Which one is that?
Ah, the Cato Institute….. Koch founded and funded institution. Sure we are going to get a unbiased opinion out of there. More Libertarian than Republican but very government hands-off positions. But government has a role. One of which is the general welfare of the people. There is no free market industry that cares a whit about the general welfare of the people. I want my government looking into and yes interfering when necessary to protect me from those who would put me and mine at risk.
If you want your government “looking into and yes interfering when necessary”, then you must love Obama and the Dems. They are the epitome of Big Brother. And they’ve got contracts with GE, Google, and several other companies doing their dirty work.
That GE thing. Way before Obama. And, if there is dirty work then that should be exposed. But checking up on people who are avoiding the responsibility that comes with citizenship, then you betcha.
What Constitutionally mandated responsibility is that?
Are you asking a question about what our founders wrote or one that includes the various amendments that have been attached to that?
Other than serving in the military when called, and paying taxes, I don’t see any constitutional mandated responsibility from citizens. Our founding documents were all about Government’s responsibility to people. not vice-versa.
And I absolutely agree with you. It is about our governments’ responsibility to the people
There is NOTHING but the defense of our nation, and the Interstate commerce clause. Our predecessors were big fans of people helping themselves WITHOUT government interference.
The largest problem this country faces is that the world has far too many people.
I said nothing about a constitutionally mandated responsibility. I said avoiding the responsibility that comes with citizenship.
Is the insurance industry (that the Obama plan mandates we pay tribute) one of those “…free market industry that cares (not) a whit about the general welfare of the people?
You are so naive that the “government” cares about you?
No, not naive at all. I have been helped countless times by my governments, local, state and federal. Early in my life I worked in the federal government. I cared about what I was doing. My father and sister spent their whole careers in public service and did much good work. Some of which protected our borders with better trained agents and turned one of our military branches in the direction of sustainable purchasing policies (there is still a long way to go there, but her efforts made a difference because she cared). Your cynicism is unwarranted. Of course there are difficult people who make it unpleasant to deal with government at times. They exist in the private sector also. But my experience has been more positive than negative with those who staff our public services.
Robert Porteous–Nixon was the last president of either party that truly took an interest in a viable healthcare option for America. It was, of course, a universal single payer plan–Medicare for all. Everything else is just quibbling over how much money we want the insurance companies to extract from a system to which they contribute nothing.
Um, I do believe that President Clinton made an attempt at universal health coverage that the Insurance industry spent over 350 million defeating.
I stand corrected. Thanks.
And the Republicans did a fine job of digging the grave site and burying it.
Some people are just to sensitive….I mean come on…Gestapo, whoops I said it…LOL
You are right, the libs idea of politically correct is they will call you every name in book. If a conservative calls someone a name or uses a harmless comparison like “Gestapo,” it causes another liberal hand-wringing meltdown.
Says the party who screeches about a “war on Christmas” because someone said “happy holidays” to you. Pure hypocrisy.
You hit the nail on the head with that one. The libs have a blatant double standard that is proven daily in these comment threads.
Double standard? Is that like how you demand to see Obama’s birth certificate and college transcripts, yet you don’t care that Romney has only shown 1 year’s worth of tax returns?
Don’t knock Romney. He is THE ONLY THING Obama has going in his favor. The economy keeps tanking, the job numbers don’t budge, His mandate has been ruled a tax, making it the largest single tax increase in the Nation’s history. If there was a better candidate than Romney out there, I might put down my keyboard long enough to vote.
Bush-Clinton-Bush-Obama. How many self-serving bums in a row can this Nation stand?
I try very hard not to name-call. But I do make some graphic comparisons. And, so finding fault with LePage may be a bit disingenuous, but then I am not the spokesperson for the state.
Democrats shut Republicans down? That’s a huge lie. The healthcare debate went on and on and the Democrats were begging for Republican support. There is so much Republican-originated trash in that bill as evidence of that! Come on. Don’t make up your own facts to suit your needs — that’s wrong.
That is absolute crap. No Republican voted for the bill. In many of the negotiations Republicans were not even invited to the table as the Dems decided in caucus what to do then came to committees merely for the final vote with limited or no debate.
The only so-called “Republican-originated trash” was included in order to find enough conservative Democrats to vote it through. No Republicans voted for this bill and to say otherwise is inaccurate.
LOL, yeah, say I said a lie and then accuse me of lying, good one, Cheesecake. I didn’t say Republicans voted for it. I said Republican support was actively sought after, but they didn’t engage in the debate in good faith. They didn’t want Obama to be able to have his name on something that was good for the country as their number one stated priority wasn’t the economy, jobs or healthcare, but to deny the President a second term. They offered nothing constructive, just screeching about death panels and whatever else. That’s what’s absolute crap.
I did not accuse you of anything, except inacurracies.
Show me a transcript of a full hearing where Republican proposals were put forth by a Republican Congressperson discussed and voted on. You can’t.
Tell me how can it be considered “good faith” when decsisions are made in Democratic Party caucus without Republican input, brought to the floor and voted on with limited discussion?
The Democrats were looking for a single Republican vote to be used for show. But that ended when Obama double-crossed Republican leaders at the “summit” that was no more than a photo op.
More Democrats voted against the healthcare bill than Republicans voted for it. In fact Obama double-crossed his own party members to secure their votes and they were then defeated by Republicans in 2010.
That was my point. They didn’t come to the table in good faith, all they did was screech about death panels. Democrats were begging for some input so they could have a bipartisan bill, but the lockstep Republicans refused as it was their goal to deny Obama policy “wins.” You can keep peppering in all those talking points about who voted for what, but it speaks nothing to the reality of the situation. Republicans didn’t want Obama to be successful, period. The same thing would have happened regardless of what Obama was pushing.
That is right, whatever the President and the Democrats proposed , they were against. That was their policy, vote no. And by the way there were many, many Republican proposals and amendments that were passed and that are in the ACA. Even when they they get what they want, they vote no.
I must give you credit for responding to the cynical and hypocritical
posters, as you do.
Voting or not voting for something is the reality. Everything else is your supposition. If the Democrats truly wanted the help they did not need. They need to pass by vote Republican amendments.
It’s a superficial analysis of what happened. You want to maintain that this and that happened, well then by your rubric, it’s supposition as well. I’m not supposing anything when I point out that Republican politicians admitted what their number one goal was and how it had nothing to do with policy or helping the country.
I see, so the truth of events doesn’t matter. The reality is no votes by Republicans. The truth is Democrats voted against it. The truth is no Republican amendments were added to the healthcare bill. None.
Your whole statement boils down to they didn’t like Obama . If that is the case doesn’t that make Obama a weak leader?
The letter is about Democrats “shutting down” Republicans. That’s irrelevant to who voted for what. Healthcare reform is full of Republican ideas and proposals. You can’t get around that. Had this been a purely Democratic “shoved down our throats” “socialist” bill, it would have been single payer. If you want to pretend that Obamacare isn’t nearly identical to Romneycare and the proposals made by Republicans in the 90s, then fine. That’s not reality though.
Sorry. They are not Republican ideas if they aren’t proposed for inclusion by Republicans.
You can’t say well this part is Republican if the law was completely written by Democrats. That is just silly.
Sorry, they are Republican ideas.
So you are really saying they could have been Republican ideas if they would have just voted for them. So even though the Republicans didn’t support them they are Republican ideas anyway. LOL
That is twisted logic.
I said nothing like that, but kudos to you for your wild imagination. Republicans dreamt up the individual mandate in the 1990s. Romney designed the first insurance “marketplace.” Etc.
I don’t think it matters whether in this instance it got the Republicans’ stamp of approval or not. It doesn’t become a brand new idea simply because it’s coming out of someone else’s mouth. Otherwise, I could suddenly take credit for the theory of relativity if I wanted to. That’s the twisted logic.
But not according to Congressional record.
And according to you there is now no such thing as intellectual property.
Not in the Congressional Record.
Obamacare is based on Romneycare, on republican proposals that have been around for the last 40 years. For you to claim these are not republican ideas because the current crop of republicans didn’t propose them specifically in this legislation is (vainly) trying to make a distinction without a difference. Now you are being ridiculous arguing with that sort of logic. What you are really doing is echoing the illogic and dishonesty of the current crop of republicans in Congress.
The publicly stated agenda for republicans in Congress is to cause this administration to fail. The disgusting thing about it is that they, and you apparently, don’t care that in doing so they are helping drag the economy down leaving millions of unemployed out of luck, without jobs, and without the safety net benefits that the republicans keep voting against. Disgusting, no other word for it.
Cheesecake wants to argue that since Republicans didn’t put it on the table, it’s not their idea. That logic allows me to take claim for the theory of relativity and the KFC secret recipe! Too bad I don’t get the royalties :'(
It doesn’t matter. The discussion was that Republicans added to the bill. That is untrue.
Yes, and it was our dear Senator Snowe who got everything that she wanted from the Democrats and the administration, who dragged out the health care hearings and then , as planned she voted against the bill. I listened to every minute of the health care deliberations and there is no question that she was stringing them along and was never going to vote in favor. She is the reason there is no public option in the ACA. She was never going to go against her party, or the insurance industry. It was a complete sham.
The hearing you mentioned was a sham. Decisions were made by the Democratic caucus before the hearing. The Democratic proposals that were voted for in full committee were the sham.
Your perception of reality seems to be a sham.
At least Cheese has a perception of reality.
What reality is that? The one where you yourself feel free to spread blatantly false misinformation and feel no guilty about doing so? I don’t want to be in that reality.
I believe that happened because there was no ‘working together’ towards the end of the development of the reform package. Certain segments dug in their heels and said no way is that going to happen. So they were not seen as interested in reform. Why invite anyone to the table after they say they will not work collaboratively on a solution? Obstructionism as become a way of life in Congress…. on both sides. It does not serve America well.
Robert Porteous, the Republicans in Congresss have their sole focus of making President Obama a one termer. If they had or have any idea how to solve the nations health care problems they must be keeping them under lock and key. They have demonstrated their ability to see anything the President says or does in exact opposits. He says black, they say white.
I would love to see at some time before I die when opposing parties can put forth ideas that the public can study for themselves. Thus far I have been dissapointed.
I am sorry Robert but your letter is just more hyperbole from Republicans who think no Democrat has a workable idea. None of your questions can be answered, but projections are slightly tilted in the opposite direction. IF allowed to do what it is designed to do costs will come down, quality of care will not be sacrificed (what ethical doctor would put up with that?), and the deficit will be reduced. This is just more beating fists on chest and making threatening noise to induce fear. You know the typical alpha-male thing. Get over it. Let it go. You are correct about one thing. Republicans have done nothing to address the problems except beat Clinton’s plan into the grave and then eight years of near nothing developed. Even now there is no Republican Plan that has been presented to the American people. Sorry I cannot see letting a party that has no ideas have control of anything.
I am beginning to think that the ideological purity that the GOP has cultivated is reaching dangerous levels in the country and to some degree in Maine. It has hindered people’s ability to think critically about these issues as they run wild with speculation, innuendo, hyperbole, and too many times, just plain lies. Even relatively intelligent folks have fallen prey to the allure of group think, a herd mentality, ideological purity that rivals earlier episodes of the mind set.
Interesting. Would you say something about what you mean by ideological purity. Thank you.
To a large measure the GOP walks in lockstep on a number of important issues. If they don’t they get labeled RHINO’s or worse. Norquist’s tax pledge is a good example. It is a matter of ideology to oppose taxes, at least publicly, because everyone knows, and I do mean everyone, there has to be revenue coming into the govt.
Belief in the neo-liberal economic policies of freeing up capital flows, commonly known as the Washington Consensus, responsible for globalization (and the off-shoring of jobs and the devastating decline in US manufacturing) might fall under this ideological banner as well. It is not so clear on this because a lot of dems buy into the idea that globalization has been a good thing. The reality is, of course, it has made some people obscenely rich while impoverishing hundreds of millions more, destroying cultures and traditional ways of life that have been sustainable for hundreds if not thousands of years. To speak against the ideology that free capital and investment are ALWAYS beneficial, when demonstrated to not be so, is to run one into the danger of being called a socialist, a marxist, a communist, a “liberal.” There is a purity about this belief.
I have wondered if it was simply an organizational thing. Conservatives are pretty organized. Look at all the right wing PAC’s and SuperPAC’s, the predominance of right wing talk shows, the representation of the right wing in major media. Stray too far from the message and you are out. Grandstand in support of the message, whatever it is: tax pledge, anti-Obama, anti-Obamacare, against sound economic policy like preventing the auto industry to fail which would have killed hundreds of thousands more jobs from all the small businesses that support the industry that would have gone down… support the message and you’ll be a hero. Walking in lockstep is the key. Don’t think critically about the issues… Do what the party leadership says, without question. That’s my take on the gop’s ideological purity.
Thank you, and I would agree. But it does seem like Democrats are doing a lot of lock-step decision making also. How would you distinguish the two?
By the results of a policy, or at least the intent of the policy. I support a single payer healthcare system, and was disappointed with the ACA legislation, and with the debate that excluded single payer. That said, I support the ACA in so far as the attacks by the republicans have been so ludicrous, most of them anyway, and the ACA is at least a step in the right direction. I suppose… but as far as lockstep decision making is concerned, it was necessary to prevent what happened to Dodd/Frank from happening to the ACA… it being watered down even more than it was to begin with with the Democrats. Conservative democrats hold a lot of power right now, but even so it was necessary to present a unified front to get such a big piece of legislation passed.
The republicans seem unified around obstruction and demonstrably bad policy, such as the Ryan Budget. People from all quarters condemn this budget, even the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and a bunch of very pissed off nuns. At least the dems make a move toward what is right, healthcare reform, financial reform in the wake of the on-going disaster.
Shirley Buck, Alton Gross, Josiah Curtis: good letters.
Robert Porteous: the ACS is very similar to RomneyCare, including the necessary purchases. It is also very successful. Do you still feel the need to condemn the ACA? Think about it, don’t parrot.
Robert Porteous–The CBO has estimated the ACA would decrease the deficit by $210 billion over ten years and if the ACA is repealed it will increase the deficit by $210 so the total change will be $420 billion more deficit not counting the additional loss of lives and sickness cost to states and hospitals covering the uninsured. I think a better choice is if the Republicans have things that should be changed in the ACA then Obama has stated lets hear it and discuss it, he is not opposed to making changes. So far I have hear nothing from the R’s as to what they would replace the ACA with, my guess is nothing, back we go to business as usual with the insurance companies as the R’s seem to be owned by insurance companies with a few D’s thrown in for good measure.
Unless my memory has failed me, when Clinton wanted to address health care reform wasn’t it the republicans that wanted a provision that would require everyone to buy insurance? The same provision that they now say is unconstitutional?
Yes, it was their idea.
At the State level. Not nationally. Big difference.
Why?
Nixon, Lincoln Chaffee, the Heritage Foundation, and Mitt Romney, all Republican and all proposed an individual mandate of some sort…
The decision to throw temper tantrums befitting the most ornery of two year olds is ENTIRELY political… it has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with policy…
The modern GOP has driven its bus off a cliff into a sea of lunacy, disinformation, fantasy…
Mr. Porteous – great letter. Repeal Obamacare and a huge burden will be lifted from the US economy.
Ms. Buck – the BDN does a pretty good job but its editors are obvious hard leftists. It needs to balance its editorial viewpoint before it can be considered a “great” newspaper.
Mr. Gross – Senate President Raye is a job creator who led the move to reduce taxes, ease onerous regualtions and streamline government. There is not much more you can ask of anyone to improve Washington County’s economy.
Mr. Duncan – pretty silly letter. Rep. Herbig has had to endure a great deal of embarrassment and harrassment in this matter. It is unfortunate you found you could not be empathetic.
Mr. Curtis – yes, our governor has a big mouth and a big ego, yet I would choose him anyday over the polished Baldacci or King. He is getting long overdue results and cleaning up the messes left by previous administrations, all the while surrounded by liberals and their pack-wolf media.
Looks like the return of a certain Rabid Rightist who said he wasn’t going to comment anymore. I’d welcome you back if I meant it but I don’t.
O yeah, back on point. Although well written, I categorically don’t agree with all of your points. Too bad we don’t have a “dislike” button for comments.
Alton,
Blaming the poverty rate on Mr. Raye is like blaming global warming on Bugs Bunny. 30 plus years of government give-away programs has created a dependent population of folks all over the state and the country. Being independent is not in some folks vocabulary. The government has injected a sit-at-home attitude in many residents and as far as I can see, there is no cure on the horizon. I happen to know Mr. Raye personally and I would call him a friend any day.
Q. What’s up Doc?
A. Earth’s tempetatures.
NONE of the 288 poorest counties in the United States are in the North East. That is None, Zero, Nada.
When will the poverty-stricken Washington County myth die.
In the paper edition this morning is a story on page B-6 entitled: “Missing teen, Lewiston man she was with, taken into custody.” The comments on this story were closed by 8AM, although there was no violation of B.D.N. policy regarding posts in the 6 allowed comments.
In this story the 15-year-old victim was identified by name. My question is; Has the B.D.N. changed their policy of not naming victims of sex crimes? Or does this policy not apply when the victim is underage?
Sid Duncan
Just like Rocket Man, your letter has been sent to outer space
The tale of a torrid love affair was too much for ACDH to face
Ramona called and demanded the piece be pulled for lack of grace.
I’m just glad I copied it and saved it for his next race.
Dear Mr. Curtis, when a man has nothing of value to say, everyone suffers when he constantly belittles Mainers and others.
Le Page is a Tea Party creation. He slipped in whilst the Republicans, Democrats and Independents slept.
Unfortunately, the days and wisdom of Sen. George Mitchell who was the backbone of the historic Irish peace accord, are sadly missed. As are others from Maine, whom we could use today, like Sen. William Cohen, a republican, who voted to impeach Richard Nixon. He later became Secretary of Defense. Let’s not forget Sen. Margaret Chase Smith, another republican, who had the guts to tackle “Red Baiting” Sen. Joe McCarthy. Gov. John Reid, another republican who became the U.S. Ambassador to Ceylon – later Sri-Lanka.
For a state with less than 1.5 million inhabitants, Le Page’s daily vitriolic and bombast, is like weak tea. To him, we are all lethargic, obese, and poor. Others – thank God -see above and beyond this man’s obsessive anger. Millions the world over, love our state and its still untarnished beauty. Not a day transpires without Mainers displaying their creative and amazing talents, either in writing, on the stage, through art, and in film. We should drop names like the great, late John Ford of Portland, a world-renowned film director. Great artists, opera singers, movie producers. Writers, whose work has graced the shelves of homes and libraries for centuries. You could fill a book with the names and accomplishments of so many, born here, or those who have re-located here, to enjoy its beauty and relax in its unhurried way of life.
Not to be remiss, our crafts people, and the multi-talented boat builders of world class vessels, including an enviable record of constructing merchant and Naval shipping. Of course, our lobster fleets fish for the finest kind of lobsters. Other dig and fish for assorted sea food, loved world wide. Our harbors and beaches are alive with excited vacationers.
There is so much more to Maine that we enjoy each day, despite one man’s deplorable attacks on those few, who are currently attempting to find work, or, suffer from sicknesses, or, mind disabling illnesses.
What Maine has and what Mainers have accomplished and continue to produce each day, is beyond the grasp of this man. When you turn on your TV you might be watching a program directed and acted in by a Mainer. For a large rural state with a small population, the accomplishments of Mainers are legend.
Per the agent’s investigation you can be levied a penalty, seizure of property and ultimately time in jail, and some special agents of the IRS carry weapons, so if they carry them they are certainly authorized to use them I am sure it would be a rare occurence but they carry weapons for a reason. I guess it would depend on your definition of a crime, as the other poster said there is a Federal tax court.
There’s no H in RINO. And if you want to see lockstep in fine form, just look at those marching behind Obama, Reid and Pelosi.
And Bush never used his veto, right? Enough with your misinformation.
Hi Sid. Hope your enjoying your day.
http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2010/04/30/news/bangor/homeless-bangor-woman-found-dead/
Here’s some helpful tips for you from Defensive Driving.com on what to do if your brakes fail:
1. Shift into a lower gear.
If you are driving a car with manual transmission, downshift as quickly as you can without losing control of the car. Don’t shift into first or second gear too suddenly; wait until the car has slowed somewhat.
If you’re in a car with automatic transmission, shift down one gear at the time. The first of the low gears is usually labeled “1.”
2. Check to see how your brake pedal feels.
If your brake pedal feels loose, this could indicate a lack of brake pressure. Pump your brake rapidly to build up pressure (do this even if you do have ABS brakes.) Then, once you have built pressure, press down on the brake firmly.
If your brake pedal feels stiff, there could be a blockage. Use your foot to clear possible obstructions from under the brake pedal or have a passenger take a look.