Goodfellows52: Washington gives us another reason to shake our he...

Goodfellows52: Washington gives us another reason to shake our he...: “You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for dis...

Washington gives us another reason to shake our heads in despair

“You can't have people making decisions about the future of the world who are scientifically illiterate. That's a recipe for disaster. And I don't mean just whether a politician is scientifically literate, but people who vote politicians into office." 

Neil deGrasse Tyson 

Editor’s note: I wrote this letter in response to Idaho U.S. representative Raul Labrador’s absurd comment about health care. Yes, I am a registered democrat who often disagrees with the Republican’s agenda, but when you make a comment like this, no matter what party you are from, it demeans all voters and whittles away our trust in our leaders. Please, no acerbic comments. Save it for the Internet trolls who post their anger on news organizations' websites.

Representative Raul Labrador did you understand the repercussions of your callous remark when you uttered "Nobody dies because they don't have access to health care?”

I am shocked by your arrogance and how uninformed you are about the health-care issue.

Nearly everyday I am embarrassed by unenlightened congressmen or presidents who have NO clear understanding of issues — or American history for that matter. I guess, sir, you are an active member in that exclusive club, which contributes to our disillusionment of our leaders.

Let me help you, Mr. Labrador, especially since you clearly don’t understand the health-care issue in this nation.

According to Time magazine: “A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Public Health before Obamacare became law said that 45,000 deaths in the U.S. were linked to a lack of health insurance.” Congressman, people who have health insurance live longer and are treated with respect in any emergency room.

That is a fact, Sir!

This is not fake news even though the current administration has made it a priority to discredit dedicated journalists.

The only thing that is really fake is the GOP’s agenda. Anyway, thank you for solidifying my loyalty to the Democratic Party.

But then again I shouldn’t be surprised when a member of the GOP makes another insulting and inaccurate statement. Absurd, inaccurate and hateful comments have become epidemic from the right side of political spectrum, and much of it starts from the top at the White House.

Sincerely,

Tony Blasi

Goodfellows52: Catching the show on the road

Goodfellows52: Catching the show on the road: FARMINGTON/L...

Catching the show on the road

FARMINGTON/LIVERMORE/JAY— Route 133 is a road lined with bird’s-eye views of Western Maine’s rolling mountains and a breathtaking skyline that rivals anything man-made in a big city.

You could say this is Maine’s version of Route 66 — although a much shorter version of that storied road.

This road is filled with twists and sharp turns — and the last thing you want to be doing is looking down at your phone or speeding like a NASCAR driver behind the wheel of a supped-up stock car.

Ignoring the speed limit or being distracted will cost you your life — or worse, somebody else dies because of your stupidity.

And then there are the local sheriffs, who remain invisible until they come dashing out from the tree line like a fox that just spotted its next meal across the street. I often smile at a driver that passes me at the speed of sound, only to find that same driver down road next to police car with flashing lights

If you race across this route like a NASA rocket hurled through space, they will be picking up what is left of you with shovels. And then there are the sheriffs who will gladly hand you a ticket or arrest you for driving to endanger — depending, of course, on how fast you were going before you saw the boys in blue in your rearview mirror.

Route 133 is about 31 miles long and runs through several towns before it empties into Route 4 in Farmington— a college town that features the University of Maine at Farmington. I usually pick it up in Livermore to avoid most of Route 4. If you are obeying the law, it takes about 15 minutes to traverse it. This allows you the opportunity to avoid an endless array of traffic lights and the numerous school buses that descend on these towns after 2 p.m.

I travelled around the state covering everything from high school sports to boxing and auto racing. 

Yeah, I have been around.

I got a hot tip to use Route 133 to avoid a segment of slow-moving traffic on Route 4 as well leaving a trail of loud expletives throughout those quiet towns.

Yes, there are dangers to using Route 133, with deer crossing and drivers, whose skills behind the wheel are dubious.

But the views of these mountains on a sunny day are spectacular.

I refuse to drive Route 133 at night during the winter months due to black ice. During the day, the road is fine.

In a way, that road also acts as boundary when it comes to winter weather. I have often seen rain to turn to snow as I headed into Farmington. 

And in the fall, the view of Maine’s foliage is stunning and the tree line along the 133 appears to be on fire with its bright colors.

Those views of Maine’s mountains are worth the drive just to spend 20 minutes marveling at our green planet.

Enjoy the photos. My wife Terri took the wheel of the car so I could rattle off pictures of nature’s creations with my Nikon.

Goodfellows52: Women's march a righteous cause for all of us

Goodfellows52: Women's march a righteous cause for all of us: “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”  — Edward R. ...

Women's march a righteous cause for all of us

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.” 

— Edward R. Murrow

“Freedom is hammered out on the anvil of discussion, dissent, and debate. “

— Hubert H. Humphrey

“Free societies are societies in which the right of dissent is protected.”

                                                                                         —Natan Sharansky

AUBURN — Witnessing a sea of humanity snaking through the streets of our nation’s capitol during the women's march reassured me that common sense, dissent and freedom are alive and well in the United States.

If you have a gripe with what you just saw across America and in fine cities around the globe, writer letter or relocate to a nation ruled by despots who intimidate and murder citizens for their opinions and outspokenness. 

If the current administration can’t understand what just transpired on the streets of Boston and New York City, then it doesn’t comprehend the intricacies and brilliance of the United States Constitution and its citizens, who gave us an old-fashion lesson in civics this weekend.

I stand with all women who demand to be treated with equality and respect — in and out of the workplace. I have no problem with a woman governing this nation. As a liberal democrat from the great state of Massachusetts, I voted for Mrs. Clinton after taking issue with President Trump’s acerbic remarks directed toward a female candidate and President Obama during an ugly campaign.

I grew up with three sisters and learned quickly that they are a formidable force when they band together. 

Nobody in this nation should be considered a second-class citizen.

Being bitter about Clinton’s loss is a waste of precious time, but what I can’t understand is a president with a Twitter addiction and his disdain for the Fourth Estate — the press. Calling the press to a briefing and then admonish it over the reporting of the size of inauguration crowds is simply absurd. This is the same nonsense when the president reeled off tweets about SNL skits about him.

Should the current administration move the press out of the West Wing, does the president truly believe reporters are going to go away or news organizations will start pandering to him?

When the press is doing its job right, I know the nation is doing well and not sliding toward rogue status, where life is cheap and leaders are assassinated when their countrymen grow tired of being tortured. We vote our presidents out of office. It works better that way.

By the way, the press isn’t going anywhere. Whatever it takes, the Washington Press Corp will file stories from the Watergate or from a phone booth like Clark Kent. The press will continue to keep a watchful eye on the U.S. government and its leaders, who need to be held accountable for their actions. 

I think we sometimes forget our officials work for us, but we reminds ourselves and politicians every time we vote. That is why citizens were standing up for themselves this weekend. It is our duty as Americans and to the founding fathers of a country that embraces dissent and debate.

This nation has always been a work in progress and I would like it to continue moving forward no matter who is in office.

Goodfellows52: A fine how do you do from Old Man Winter

Goodfellows52: A fine how do you do from Old Man Winter: "Maine is a joy in the summer. But the soul of Maine is more apparent in the winter."  Paul Theroux ...

A fine how do you do from Old Man Winter

"Maine is a joy in the summer. But the soul of Maine is more apparent in the winter." 

Paul Theroux

 AUBURN — Winter left its calling card two days before the new year arrived.

Old Man Winter wanted to assure residents of New England that he was still in the neighborhood and doesn’t like to be forgotten.

The weather guys and gals got this wrong again, but that is nothing new when it comes to Maine’s fickle forecasters.

Of course, weather reports varied just like Trump’s inane Tweets. We were on the receiving end of 19 whopping inches of snow in western Maine. It took 15 minutes with two guys (me and my son) manning  shovels to clear the walkway to the street.

It is miserable, heavy snow that puts your heart through a stress test.

But, and I hate to say this, we needed the white stuff after a summer drought that I had never witnessed in my lifetime.

For the morons who don’t believe in global warming, it was the hottest year ever on the planet, and if we continue to treat the globe like a toilet, watch Florida disappear thanks to rising tides due to a melting polar ice cap. I can’t fix stupid and I fear for the environment when an uninformed and inept presidency is sworn in at the White House on Jan. 20.

China is creating 10 miles of desert each year because of its neglect of its natural resources. You have to ask yourself what is the sense of being an economic powerhouse if a nation can’t drink its water due to rampant pollution. I guess having a fat wallet can justify ignorance.

Anyway, enjoy the snow and Old Man Winter’s chilly touch as we head into another year.