Rebutts two letters

To the editor:

I want to thank Messrs. Pauley and White for their letters to the editor regarding the campaign for House District #79 and for providing me this opportunity to set the record straight.

With regard to Mr. Pauley’s letter, I have been a wildlife advocate in Maine for more than 20 years. I am also a sportsman. During that time I have seen how broken and corrupt Maine’s system of fish and wildlife management is. The special interest group that he identified as targeting me for defeat is benefiting from this corruption. They have tried multiple times to take away all of our rights to petition the government for citizens referendums on fish and wildlife issues. I believe in government of, by, and for the people and I believe that we need to identify corruption in government and get rid of it. No wonder they want to keep me out of the legislature. The people of Maine deserve a government that represents all of us, not just the special interests.

Regarding wolves, I am an advocate for a healthy ecosystem. Wolves are native to Maine and are essential for a healthy, complete ecosystem. I have never advocated bringing wolves into Maine. Mr. Pauley’s comment that, “I suspect that if wolves wanted to be in Maine, they would be in Maine” is an interesting one. In fact, wolves are attempting to naturally return to Maine but are being killed in the process. Unfortunately, neither our state nor federal governments are giving these animals the legal protection they are entitled to. I encourage folks to go to www.mainewolfcoalition.org for factual information on the status of wolves in the northeast. Because of their close proximity to Maine and our abundance of natural prey (beaver, moose, deer) and habitat, wolves will recolonize Maine and it is up to us to be educated and informed about them. Because the state of Maine refuses to do so, it is up to us to educate ourselves.

With regard to Mr. White’s letter, it is true that I visited the property and I did respond to one question, “That is a no brainer.” Mr. White left out a few other aspects of my visit. When I arrived at the property as part of my door to door campaigning, a number of people were sitting around a campfire consuming alcohol. I was not “asked” to leave, I was ordered to “get off my property.” Of the many hundreds of homes I have visited during the campaign, this is the only one where I was told to leave and I promptly did so. During the five or ten minutes that I was there talking with folks, I was asked a number of questions by several different people regarding my stances on several issues including the North Woods National Monument. I truthfully answered all of their questions (some weren’t happy with my answers) and I stated that I support the National Monument and that it was a no-brainer. From an economic standpoint, the creation of the monument is a no-brainer. The 87,000 acre donation of public land has now been completed, the National Monument has been created, and the local economy is already benefiting from visitors.

Concerning his claim that I stated that I, “…drew a big salary and did nothing…” I worked for the people of Maine for nearly three decades, most of that time in the Department of Environmental Protection. As many people know, and as all DEP staff, past and present know, this governor ran for office on an anti-DEP, anti-environmental enforcement platform. My career happened to be working for the DEP in water enforcement. For the last 5-6 years with the DEP, I was given so little work that I had nothing to do some 90 percent of the time. I am not proud of this. I am disgusted that given the environmental problems and issues in our state, DEP staff are paid to sit in the office and do nothing because people in positions of power don’t want to rock the boat. This is a major reason why I am running for the legislature.

It is this kind of government waste and corruption that I intend to eliminate if I am elected. I would add that it is easy to throw stones and complain. It is not easy to put yourself out there, expose yourself to lies and half-truths, and actually work to make things better.

John M. Glowa, Sr.
South China

Christians need to get involved

To the editor:

In less than a month, American voters will go to the polls and select their choice of who will become the 45th President of the United States of America, the most powerful office in the world.
Our founders recognized early on that the perfect foundation for a good government could only come through the blessings of God.

But once again, it is quite obvious that we have allowed our Government, our Courts, our Churches and Ourselves to succumb to a cancerous deterioration of our Founding Christian principles.

We see it every day through the TV lens, the constant continual moral decay that will eventually bring us to a course that knows no redemption.

America, our complacency is destroying us. Why aren’t professing Christians speaking up?

Isn’t it time for the body of Christ to awaken from its apathy and act responsibly?

If we fail to express our opinions, others will be more than happy to make decisions for us.

Let us never forget that we are a government, “Of the People, by the People and for the People.”

It says in II Tim. 4:3: “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Less than 60 percent of eligible Christians actually vote or are even registered to vote.

Christians, We need to Get Involved!

Gene V. Graves
Rockport

Vote No on Question 3

To the editor:

As a former member of the NRA and owner of a pistol and rifle, and also passed a background check, the following dawned on me.

Question 3 needs to be defeated because, too late for me and others who passed the, but in my opinion this law is a government “stealth” way to keep records on all us law abiding citizens. Why? Just like in Nazi Germany in the 1930s, the regime feared a possible uprising. How to be ahead of this possibility? Have all citizens register their weapons. By the late ‘30s, with all gun owners registered, the Gestapo quickly confiscated all the registered guns, claiming “national security.” Sound familiar? Vote “No” on Question 3, and remain free.

Frank Slason
Somerville

A vote for Theriault

To the editor:

On September 8, Judd Thompson posted a letter to the editor which peaked my interest. He says he was dismayed (interesting comment) to learn that Tim Theriault had missed 18 percent of the roll call votes in the legislature. I made inquiries with friends in Augusta and they consider that a sterling record. He’s batting .820 and that is not bad in any league. Interesting as well, Mr. Thompson alludes to Roger Katz as “my senator!” Well, he is “our senator” and one of the most respected members of that body. I am also told that Tim Theriault is just as well respected in the House by members of both political persuasions. He also states that he will not vote for Mr. Theriault this time and I’ll wager that he didn’t vote for him last time. I will further wager that he didn’t vote for Roger Katz last time, and most likely will not vote for him this time. After all, they are Republicans and Mr. Thompson, like most voters, is entrenched in the nonsense of political partisanship.

I’ve known Tim Theriault for over 30 years and let’s look at his record of involvement here in the town of China. He served on the budget committee, has always been an active participant at town meetings, is a member of the Thurston Park Committee, has been involved with the China Fire Department for 28 years and is the current fire chief. Many of these missed roll calls were caused by having to respond to fire or emergency calls, and I’m sure we can all forgive him for that. He is a member of the China Four Seasons Club, coached little league, soccer, basketball, as well as involvement with the Boy Scouts. The question is, can Mr. Thompson or Mr. Glowa state the same?

Tim Theriault worked at the SAPPI mill for 31 years in maintenance. I designed many of the hydraulic systems in that plant and had years of experience knowing first hand of his value to that company. Mr. Theriault knows what it means for a company to have to make a profit in order to stay in business. Unlike the government, they can’t raise taxes or print more money to make payroll. I asked Dave Cotta what he thought of his first few months in office when he was our representative and his response was, “they think it’s their money!” So does Washington to the degree that a newborn child is burdened with a $60,000 debt before its first borning cry. Now that is really something to be “dismayed” about.

I do not mean to impugn Mr. Glowa’s beliefs in any way. I am sure he believes very strongly in his stance on certain issues and I respect him for that. It is also my privilege to take an opposite stance on some of those same issues. I spent time at the town office this week to ask about the Thompson and Glowa record of involvement in town affairs in either elective or appointive positions. None they could think of.

Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine considers him having the most adversarial position concerning sportsmen in the state of Maine. The executive director of SAM, Dave Trahan, wrote a scathing report concerning Mr. Glowa and it would be well worth your time to read that article. Mr. Trahan spent 12 years on the Fish and Wildlife Committee, and can attest to the extreme confrontational nature of Mr. Glowa. I have talked to three other members of that committee who agree with the confrontational assessment. The most damning is the statement that, (I quote), “he has made the destruction of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife a life mission. He has advocated and made it his life’s mission to restore wolves in Maine. I can think of no man in Maine potentially more destructive to wildlife management than John Glowa.”

Their words, not mine. The world is going to hell in a handbasket and we have to be concerned about wolves in Maine? I suspect that if wolves wanted to be in Maine, they would be in Maine. Does anybody remember the state attempting to introduce caribou into Maine? They put a seed herd in the Katahdin area, and those that survived the attempt were back in Canada within six months. Seems to me wildlife will be where they want to be.

Tim Theriault has served his town well in elective and service positions and deserves to be re-elected to the legislature.

Don Pauley
South China

Don’t have to live with progress

To the editor:

I am submitting this letter in response to Dale Worster’s September 22 letter to the editor in The Town Line.

Dale, having read your last two letters to the editor – Aug. 25 and Sept. 22 – I need to respond.

As a resident of China, third generation, I found some of your statements disturbing. Although your ideas for development here in China are quite noble, as described in your Sept. 22 letter, I don’t know what makes you think we actually need or want that kind of “progress” for China.

I will not speak for other residents but I am one who lives here for a quiet, low-key way of life along with the beauty of this lakeside community.

I do not need “new experiences” in the form of your visions. If I want or need new experiences I know what to do and where to go to get them.

I would much rather see: lowered taxes; improved fire department; lowered taxes; improved public safety; lowered taxes; a small health clinic. (I think of the empty old general store on Main St. [in China Village]); whatever the town’s restrictions are for the conversion of the old Grange hall on Main St. lifted (re: Susan White’s letter to the editor, dated Sept. 15); Did I say lowered taxes?

Yes, yes, I know all too well that the five million “Simoleans” and “cheddar,” that you so fondly refer to as TIF money, is marked only for business and recreational development.

By you making the comments you have such as:

“I’ve been doing my part for China when many aren’t” – my response is China has zero debt, residents pay a very high property tax to a community that offers very few services in return.  I think residents are very well doing their part.

“Some people may have to live with progress,”— my response, the last I knew there was a voting process that could very well prove you wrong on that.

Dale, it is no wonder, with comments such as these, that you “don’t always find it true when China calls itself the friendliest town in Maine, especially on the pages of The Town Line.”

Mary M. Allen
China

Don’t take the bait

To the editor:

An open letter to the 90-plus military generals who signed a letter of support for Donald Trump. All are retired as required by military law.

Most are my age or younger and shouldn’t have taken the bait when Trump said, “I will listen to my generals when president.”

Anyone recall the weapons of mass destruction? One general spoke against an Afghanistan invasion and ended up on involuntary retirement. The commander-in-chief makes the ultimate decision no matter if there is opposition from generals.

This is important and necessary, and my favorite general, Douglas MacArthur, learned the hard way who his boss was. Colin Powell, on the other hand, was dubbed by civilians.

Bottom line is that I’m a Trump supporter but talk is cheap and those 90 generals should have known better, or are they hungry for war?

Frank Slason
Somerville

China not destination place

To the editor:

This is in response to Dale Worster’s letter to the editor, “Ideas for Local Development.” It is very apparent to me that since you moved to our town you have not been happy. Since your arrival in town you have done nothing but try to change everything. You want to make our small, quiet town a “destination” place. The town of China should not be in the real estate business buying property to create retirement community centers with fancy stores, eateries and other attractions. With every new concept that you have suggested there will be increased resources needed by the town which will only increase our property taxes. You also state that “some people might just have to learn to live with progress.” You are dead wrong on that statement. We don’t have to learn to live with progress and we won’t. Have you forgotten that the citizens of the town overwhelmingly rejected the China Lake Park idea?

Laura Pierce
China

What is happening to our small town?

To the editor:

People come and people go all the time but for a lot of us who have been here our whole life – stay because we liked it here.

Those who come from away – well I would think before you buy something you must do a little research and must have liked what you saw or you would not have bought here, and done so in a different town that offered what you want this town to become.

Why do you want us to become a destination place with all these grand ideas?

I do not see why the town wants to be in the real estate business or the lending money business. I think buying land at the head of China Lake and filling it in is a huge mistake for the good of the lake, and all that is associated with the wetland area. I can see no need of fishing platforms or walkways. We have all fished on the bridge and had no need of a platform. We can walk along the side of the tar and respect that the roads are made for cars and not people, and step off the pavement while a car goes by. Can you, as a taxpaying property owner fill in your wetlands? I see buying more land by the town office is of no purpose. It all takes away tax dollars. We do not need to buy land and put in specialty shops and restaurants.

A Senior Center: I really doubt, if you took a poll of the seniors in the town of China, there would be very few who would go to a senior center on a regular basis.

Senior housing: Yes, I have felt for a long time that we needed a place for seniors who have been left alone or just are not able to keep their house anymore, but would like to stay in their hometown. My husband tried that with the grange hall in China Village, but ultimately the town shut that down.

So people, we all really need to take a good hard look at what we really want for our small town.

Do you want to become a destination town? I for one do not.

Susan White
China

Supports governor on drug issue

To the editor:

How much longer will the armchair critics dog the governor over “racism.” Criminal activity including illegal drugs most certainly has a disproportionate number of young black men involved. For someone who doubts this let him check prison populations nationwide or drive a taxi in Boston as I did for a number of years. The high crime rate there is in Roxbury. Most white drivers refuse to take fares there.

One night my cab broke down on Sinoma Street, a neighborhood in Roxbury known for drug activity. It was a black couple who picked me up to drive me to where I could get a cab out of there.

During the spring of the year, Gov. LePage gave a speech at Thomas College, in Waterville, which I attended. He spoke from knowledgeable sources of information. It was a well-organized speech. With a business education, he is well aware that funds for superficial drug treatment facilities and costs for law enforcement are limited. This reflects the increase in the drug epidemic and a decline in productivity. He stressed the need for jobs to hold young people in Maine.

A successful war against illegal drugs must strike at root causes. The overwhelming number of broken facilities, black and white; chemical residue in the environment and food chain. The culprit is agri-business; family neglect out of balance with a workforce flooded with women.
Nelson Mandella marks the coming of age of the black man. When elected president of South Africa, he said, “We will measure our success by the wellbeing and happiness of our children.”
Also to quote [Abraham] Lincoln: “You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time. But you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

Russell Vesecky
Harmony