Review and respond to our current questions

Former Maine Warden Service head Tom Santaguida, who fished recreationally for lobster, was found with nine lobsters smaller

As a response to the high cost of heating oil, many Maine households are considering converting to heating with pellet stoves and furnaces. Will the growing pellet manufacturing and pellet stove industries continue to expand? Will Maine serve as a
model for other northern states? Or could pellet production falter, and leave homes stuck without an adequate supply?

A Maine Department of Labor report shows Maine netted 700 more jobs from May 2007 to May 2008. Is this a sign that the worst is over? Will the national and state economies begin to expand again, despite high energy prices? Do you feel secure about your job?

Imagine Bangor five or 10 years in the future — will the Hollywood Slots facility be seen as a boon for the city and the region? Or will residents wish the gambling enterprise had been built somewhere else? Critics and supporters seem to agree that Hollywood Slots will remake Bangor — but for the better or worse?

The Christian Civic League of Maine dropped its petition drive to reverse Maine’s human rights laws regarding sexual orientation. Is the issue dead?

Sen. Barack Obama last week announced he will not accept public financing for his presidential campaign —is he a special interest sellout or wise guardian of tax dollars?

The outpouring of compassion for the gender conflicted child in Orono is very admirable, but if a child identifies as a tomato should we put a sticker on him and leave him in the produce section? What if he thinks he's a horse, should we take him to school in a trailer? When is it time for a reality check?

The British have committed to sending more troops to Afghanistan; should the United States do the same? Should troops be moved from Iraq to Afghanistan? Does the United States have important interests in Afghanistan? Or should Iraq continue to be the focus?

Plum Creek, the Seattle-based timber company and the largest private landowner in the United States, has gone in a different direction from Maine’s paper mills, by seeking to sell some of its land for housing and resorts. The Land Use Regulation Commission is presently weighing Plum Creek’s application to rezone much of its holdings around Moosehead Lake to allow 975 house lots and two resorts. Should LURC turn down the application? Or should it insist the company scale back its proposal, perhaps dropping its development proposals for the east side of the lake at Lily Bay?

Katahdin Paper Co.’s mill in Millinocket is facing possible closure because of the high price of oil. Employment has been steadily declining in Maine mills, yet production has increased, thanks to automation. Should Maine government work to sustain paper mills? Or should market forces dictate what happens? How would you counsel a young man or woman considering a career in a paper mill? Is this the lifetime employment it once was or should young people look elsewhere?

Some called Sen. Clinton’s speech Saturday, in which she suspended her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination and endorsed Sen. Obama, one of the best of her life. Critics said it was too little, too late, and that she snubbed Sen. Obama when he wrapped up the nomination early last week. Is she angling for the vice president spot? Is she secretly hoping Sen. Obama will lose? Or is she ready to campaign vigorously for Sen. Obama? Will it help Sen. Obama beat Sen. John McCain in November?

Consumer surveys have shown that $4 per gallon gasoline represents a tipping point for most people. It’s the price at which most Americans will begin to change their driving habits. Will you alter your driving now? Are you able to do so? What steps will you take? How much of your driving is discretionary, and how much is necessary?

Las Vegas odds makers had the Los Angeles Lakers as 2-1 favorites over the Boston Celtics in the NBA championship series. Now that the Cs have won the first two games, some of those Vegas types may be sweating more than Kevin Garnett after a fast break. Will the Celtics take two from the Lakers in L.A.? Or will they win just one out West, and win the championship on the parquet of Boston? Or is Kobe Bryant just getting warmed up?

In light of the news article "Nation's beekeepers trying to rebuild" (BDN, May 31-June 1) which describes the unexplained "colony collapse disorder" destroying honeybee colonies, I would like to know if pollen from genetically engineered crops are the reason our nation's bee colonies are dying? What else do we not know about G.E. crops?

Sometime in the next week or so, if not sooner, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will have clinched his party’s nomination. Why won’t Sen. Hillary Clinton, who will finish a very close second in the race for the nomination, drop out? What is your theory on why she persists in keeping her presidential bid alive? Is she justified, or selfish? Will Sen. Obama offer her a role in his administration (if he wins in November)? Should he?

Last week, Katahdin Paper Co. in Millinocket announced that it plans to close its facility because of the high price of oil. The mill uses millions of gallons of oil each year to operate its machines. Is this the beginning of a new exodus by businesses to warmer climates? What can be done to help such businesses? What about homeowners? Many will struggle to pay heating oil bills this winter and they can’t close down. Are alternative energy sources feasible? What can jump start the switch?

Why would a movie, based on an HBO TV series, set in New York City and centered on the lives of four chic and well-heeled (in both senses of the phrase) women be popular in Maine? Is it because we secretly yearn for a lifestyle of cocktails, lunch at trendy restaurants and R-rated gossip? Bonus question: If there were a Maine version of this show, what would it be called? “Shivering by the Woodstove in the County”?

There is a line in the Declaration of Independence that states it is the responsibility of the people to overthrow the government when it has become corrupted by greed or fails to abide by the people's wishes and needs. Take a look around; we are there. Our state government is spending out of control, the federal government is just plain out of control. So I ask you again: Is it time for another revolution?

Is the U.S. prepared to care for returning veterans? Memorial Day reminds us to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. But do we care enough about those who have served and returned? Many of those who return to the States from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan have physical rehabilitation needs, and many eventually will be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, requiring months or years of therapy. Is the government prepared to pay for such care? Which, if any, of the presidential candidates is committed to providing such care?

Should Maine public schools be allowed to go to four-day weeks to save energy? Education Commissioner Susan Gendron has been asked to consider allowing districts to schedule four-day weeks, but she said there is no provision in state law allowing such flexibility; the law requires 175 school days. Districts could reap significant savings in bus fuel and heating oil costs by not having classes one day a week. Could this arrangement work? Is it worth changing state law? Do extreme conditions call for extreme solutions?

What will high gas prices mean for Maine’s summer tourism season? Those in the tourism business often have a hard time predicting what higher gas prices will mean for Maine. The state’s core market is in Greater Boston, southern New England and New York-New Jersey. Will these regular visitors to Maine stay home this summer to save on gasoline costs? Or will those who typically travel farther from home instead drive 300 or 400 miles to Maine and see it as a savings? Is there anything the state can do to encourage tourism this year, such as a toll holiday?

Tuition at University of Maine campuses is set to increase an average of 10 percent. The university system says it is passing on higher heating costs, as well as the lack of increased funding from the state. The system will cut staff, but is there more that can be done to soften the increase? Should the state devote more of the budget to higher education? Is the seven-campus system too much for a small, sparsely populated state to support?

With gas prices already topping $4 per gallon in parts of the U.S., fuel costs are a growing concern. What would you urge the presidential candidates to do about the prices? Insist on help from OPEC? Tap the strategic reserve? Create more mass transportation?

Because of rising gas prices, tiny vehicles are gaining in popularity. Would you consider buy-ing one? Would you be worried about being flattened by an SUV? Will fuel economy be a factor in you next car purchase?

The secretary of state is prepared to approved an initiative by the Maine Christian Civic League to repeal state law protecting gays and lesbians from discrimination in employment, housing, credit and education. The group will soon begin collecting signatures to try to get the measure on the November 2009 ballot. Will you sign the petition? Why is it acceptable to treat gays and lesbians differently than other people? Will repeal of these protections make Maine a less attractive state for businesses and visitors?

Over the past few months, I have heard and read numerous references to Sen. John McCain's comment on the U.S being in Iraq for 100 years. Am I the only person who saw what he truly said? It was on television.
What the senator said was that we could still have a presence such as a base there in 100 years much like Germany and a variety of other countries. He at no time was saying that we would still be at war. Recently, Howard Dean, chair of the Democratic Party, stated that Sen. McCain's comment was not taken out of context. Why has the media perpetuated this myth?

This week, ClickBack asks readers to submit questions they would like to ask candidates in the 1st Congressional District primary races. Six Democrats — Michael Brennan, Adam Cote, Mark Lawrence, Steve Meister, Chellie Pingree and Ethan Strimling — are seeking their party’s nomination. On the Republican side, Dean Scontras and Charlie Summers are vying for their party’s nod.
If you could sit down with the candidates, what policy questions would you ask? Here are some topics to consider:

The Penobscot Indian Nation has threatened to sever ties with the state after Gov. John Baldacci’s veto of their plan to install 100 slot machines on Indian Island. The tribe has said it might install the slot machines anyway. Should it? The tribes in Maine say they are sovereign nations and should be treated as such. Should they? How would this work since they are an inte-gral part of Maine? What would the state lose if the Penobscot Nation ceased relations with Augusta?

A petition has been filed to repeal the upcoming tax increase on beer, wine and soda. Would you sign it? If it were successful, the people’s veto would end funding for the state’s Dirigo Health insurance program. How should that program be paid for? Or should those covered by Dirigo simply go without insurance?

Maine truckers went to Washington, D.C., to protest high diesel prices. Farmers worry that high fuel prices will put them out of business. Blueberry growers fret about the cost of burn-ing their fields to promote growth. What is the solution? Should the U.S. drill for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? What about areas off the New England coast? Should gas-guzzling SUVs be banned?

Landowners are upset about proposed changes to the plan governing the state’s 10 million-acre Unorganized Territory. Where does a landowner’s right to do what he wants with his land end? Should the state, through the Land Use Regulation Commission, restrict what happens in the North Woods? Is there a place for nonmotorized recreation? Where?

State and municipal employees had Monday off, but mail was delivered and most banks were open. For most people Patriot’s Day was just another work day. 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?

American colonists were urged to dump their tea into Boston harbor to oppose a British tax. A Maine newspaper wondered if readers should dump their soda, beer and wine to protest a new state tax on the drinks. Does wasting beer this way make sense? Will the tax encourage you to drink less? Should lawmakers have raised the cigarette tax instead?

Is the U.S. flag so sacred that it can’t be used in art projects? A University of Maine at Farmington student made American flags out of plastic and duct tape on the floor of the school’s student center. She asked people to either step on the flags or walk around them. The project led to a protest by a veteran’s group. The student said the point was to make people think about how they feel about the flag. Are there better ways to get people thinking? Did the protesters miss the point?

An Italian landowner has proposed a major resort for the Schoodic Peninsula. Are hotels and a golf course next to a section of Acadia National Park appropriate? Will ecotourism like this bring sorely needed jobs to Down East Maine? How should local officials balance the need for jobs with protecting the scenic landscape that brings tourists to the area?

Our pets are full of potentially harmful chemicals, stores are pulling plastic bottles off their shelves for fear of the chemicals they contain. Is our world too toxic? Maine lawmakers recently passed a law requiring closer attention to a host of chemicals. Is it too late? Or are we overreacting to chemicals that have been used for generations?

From reader Richard: Overcrowded airports, massive delays, airlines going out of business, ever increasing fares, whole fleets being taken out of service for failure to perform inspections. Has deregulation really improved service?

The state is considering raising the cost of hunting and fishing permits to help fund the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Warden Service. The proposed increase is modest - $2 - but why stop there? Why not raise permits to $100 per year for residents? Many Mainers pay that much to play a couple of rounds of golf or to ski for a day. The proposal raises related questions: Should kayakers be required to
register their boats (for a fee)? Should hikers be required to buy a day permit?

From reader Vaughn Anthony: The latest Maine moose assessment says that the animal's population has doubled in the past decade while the moose browse has declined by 25 percent to 75 percent and parasites are now killing moose in significant numbers. The
scientists say the herd should never be greater than 60 percent of its carrying capacity, which it now may be. The current permit system allows a removal rate of only 5 percent

Presidential candidates such as Republican Steve Forbes ran on the flat tax proposal in 1996 and 2000. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee raised the idea again in his campaign. Is it possible to create a flat tax and not gore any income group? Or should the tax burden be shifted to the more wealthy or to corporations? How about a national sales tax?

As the Olympic torch makes its way across the globe, it has drawn protests from people advocating for China to end its occupation of Tibet. Some have called on President Bush
to boycott the opening ceremonies in Beijing this summer. What is the connection between the Olympics and world affairs? Should the sports event be free of political overtones? Or is it legitimate to bring human rights concerns to the attention of the host nation?

Autum Aquino died last week at 23. Many remember her as the little girl from Ban-gor with AIDS, featured in newspapers and on TV news programs in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She contracted the disease from her mother. If Aquino was the face of AIDS in Maine, former NBA star Magic Johnson is the national face of AIDS, and he seems to be healthy. Is AIDS now overlooked in this country? Do young adults think it has been cured, and take sexual risks because of that belief? Is enough research being done to cure the disease?

Maine is a friendly, trusting place. So what’s wrong with giving drivers licenses to people who may or may not live in the Pine Tree State? Regardless of the state’s problems with the federal Real ID plan, should Maine require more proof of residency for those seeking drivers licenses? Could such requirements be easily faked? Does it matter?

Do your next door neighbors have a 1,500 watt street light hanging from their garage? Does it bother you? A group on Mount Desert Island believes Maine should keep the night sky dark. A satellite image shows the state, east of the Penobscot River and north of Bangor, to be one of the few places on the East Coast without light pollution. Is this something to be proud of, or should we be embarrassed that there is so little activity here?

Lawmakers passed a bill banning smoking in cars with kids in them. The governor is expected to sign it into law later this week. This follows a ban in Bangor. Is this necessary or does Maine risk becoming a nanny state, keeping too close a watch on its residents and their activities? What about children, do they have a right to not breathe cigarette smoke?

The latest Maine moose assessment says that the animal's population has doubled in the past decade while the moose browse has declined by 25 percent to 75 percent and parasites are now killing moose in significant numbers. The scientists say the herd should never be greater than 60 percent of its carrying capacity, which it now may be. The current permit system allows a removal rate of only 5 percent of the population while 20 percent is required to merely stabilize the abundance. Would you favor increasing the moose permits to 20 percent, at least in some areas, to stabilize the abundance?

Many people who love and empathize with wildlife have taken to feeding deer this winter, especially as the deer struggle to survive the deep snow that has eliminated their access to food. Yet state biologists say the practice of providing deer with grain and other food is ultimately bad for the herd. In the past, bills proposed in the Legislature to ban such feeding have not won support. Should such a ban on feeding deer be reconsidered?

The Maine Legislature appears, at least as of late Monday, to be on the verge of adopting a supplemental budget. Now that this critical work is done, what should legislators focus on for the duration of the spring session? Further refining school and jail consolidation? Rethinking the state's social service philosophy? Downsizing the number of state employees?

The federal government has taken the unprecedented step of backing JPMorgan's buyout of investment firm Bear Stearns. Should the federal government be bailing out private banks? And if so, should U.S. taxpayers benefit if the company recovers and flourishes?

Vice President Dick Cheney, when told by a morning news TV show host that most Americans viewed the invasion of Iraq as a mistake, replied: "So?" He later said the public opposition was not a surprise, and that decisions as serious as going to war should not be based on opinion polls. Do you agree? Should decisions by government take into consideration public opinion? When it is it appropriate and when is it not?

State lottery officials are hoping to boost annual revenues from $50 million to $60 million, and are using focus groups to learn how to lure more people to buy lottery chances. Scratch tickets are more popular than the Tri-State Megabucks, and research has
found that the design of the scratch tickets affects their popularity. Online lottery use is also a growing sector. Which lottery form are you most likely to participate in, if any?
Can - and should - the state lottery commission work to increase sales?

With all the snow days used by Maine schools this winter, many won't close for summer vacation until June 20. Should the state waive the snow days and end school at the usual date? Or is it important that students get in a full school year? Extra credit question: should the U.S. go to year-round school?

With predictions of a deep and long national recession looming, are the financial needs here at home reason enough for the U.S. to withdraw troops from Iraq?
The fifth anniversary of the invasion will be marked on Wednesday. The U.S. has spent $3.3 trillion to invade, occupy and police Iraq, substantially more than the $50 billion the
Bush ad-ministration estimated in 2003. Whether or not the mission is noble, is there a point at which pressing financial needs in Maine and the U.S. are more critical, and
dictate a reallocation of the money?

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is being criticized for statements made by the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the pastor of the church he attends in Chicago. Rev. Wright
report-edly gave sermons that "damned" the United States. Is it fair to link Sen. Obama with Rev. Wright? Where do you draw the line? If a candidate's auto mechanic is charged with sex abuse, is the candidate implicated?

Last week, the state Department of Education announced the nominees for the Teacher of the Year honor, and none were from schools north of Lewiston; should central and northern Maine be insulted? Each individual school is encouraged to forward the name of one teacher to the superintendent, Education Commissioner Susan Gendron has said, and superintendents
then forward a nominee to the state department. But what happened then? Why are there no nominees from our neck of the woods? Were financially strapped school districts in

The Hancock County prosecutor doesn't want Travis White, who served six years in prison for molesting young boys, to return to his parents' home in Bucksport so he's been living at a homeless shelter. Is this safe for the community? Where should sex offenders go when they get out of jail?

Magnesium chloride, a kind of liquid road salt that has been shown to not corrode
vehicles, costs more than the calcium chloride now in use. Would you agree to a plan to
raise vehicle excise taxes by $20 to pay for the less corrosive salt? Or should road crews
return to using salted sand instead of the brine? Or should vehicle manufacturers learn to
make vehicles that resist corrosion?

For the first time since the mid-1980s, the University of Maine men's hockey team didn't make the play-offs. If you had been the coach, what would you have done differently? Which players would have seen more ice time? Who would have been benched? Should underclass-men have been given more ice time last year? What about next year?

As state lawmakers struggle to close a $200 million budget gap, the governor and
legislators are considering cutting funding to local schools and social service programs,
and working toward merging state agencies to save money. How would you slice and dice it? What programs get the ax and why?