Reject the dehumanizing and mistreatment of immigrants

As a Jew who had family members killed in the Holocaust, I’m agnostic about what to call facilities in the United States holding asylum seekers. But there’s one thing about which I’m certain: It’s wrong to treat immigrants in a dehumanizing way. Yet recently, we’ve seen horrific conditions. Infants and children in our care are […]

The perilous pseudo powers of Susan Collins and Donald Trump

Elected officials hold power on behalf of the people. Exerted within the bounds of institutional checks and balances, this push and pull keeps government in check and protects rights. Yet recently Sen. Susan Collins devalued her impact and President Donald Trump inflated his prerogatives. Both portraits of power were false and harmful to basic precepts […]

Why Maine should have presidential primaries

As Maine legislators consider replacing caucuses with presidential primaries, we should remember what happened the last time caucuses were held. My own memories are vivid. When I arrived at Bangor High School for the 2016 Democratic caucuses, there were long lines and many people milling about. On the positive side, there was a sense of […]

Bruce Poliquin misunderstands why voters are angry

Bruce Poliquin lost his seat in Congress in November, but he hasn’t gone quiet. On Friday, the former congressman spoke to the annual meeting of the New England Political Science Association. With forks and plates clattering as conference-goers ate lunch, Poliquin gave a speech and took questions. After the luncheon, people were talking about the […]

How Barr’s Mueller memo sparks distrust

Decades after the Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the only person responsible for assassinating President John F. Kennedy, a majority of Americans rejected their finding, believing there was a conspiracy. Attorney General Bill Barr followed a path that’s likely to make responses to the Mueller report at least as distrusting. Why? No […]

Maine leads on voting access. We can do even better.

Maine has an opportunity to improve its voting laws, making this fundamental part of representative government even better. Many bills are before the Maine Legislature that would increase access to the ballot. Mainers already have one key element that helps people engage in the democratic process. When people move to or around Maine, they can […]