"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a Free State, the Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED."

In order to be a country, borders are essential. It is one of the prime duties of the federal government to protect and secure the border, and Congress needs to step up and get this done. The wall is needed in many areas, and yes it isn't feasible in others, but that doesn't mean that we should do everything in our power to limit who crosses into our country, where they can cross, and when. This is part of the Preamble of our Constitution, to promote the general welfare of the people.  Read More

All life is Sacred.  We must do all we can to protect it.

I have yet to have anyone realistically explain to me when 2 living cells come together during conception, that the result from that joining is not LIFE. This nation has always held that all life needs to be cherished, and we should net be using abortion as a method of birth control. There are many ways that men and women can prevent pregnancy, not to mention the numerous choices that both people could make up until that time... 

If 2 people do not want to have a baby, then they should be responsible enough to take the needed precautions. They have many chances to make better choices before they jump right to termination. I used to have a rather dated view of abortion. I have heard many stories of young women becoming pregnant and having a tubular pregnancy, and with those type of pregnancies, I was told that the only option was abortion or the continued development would be dangerous if not fatal for both the mother and baby.  I have since learned that tubular pregnancies are extremely rare and as such medical science is developing better ways to correct this condition. 

Now, ultimately, I would love to see medical science develop a safe way to 'transplant' the unborn baby into a willing mother.  I know that being a surrogate mother is rather easy, and I feel using similar methods might be available to women who do not want to have a baby...  

Hopefully, time will make such a thing a reality.

Our veterans have made some of the most severe sacrifices for our country, and we need to give them all of the support that they require to attain a high quality of life that they used to have before and during their military service. As a husband of a disabled Iraqi war veteran, I have first hand knowledge of the deficiencies that currently plague the Veterans Administration and their healthcare system. I know of many young veterans that have trouble financially because they cannot draw from both their VA disability and Military disability funds, as it was proposed by President Bush shortly after Operation Desert Storm. 

Depending on where that veteran calls home, the couple of thousand dollars that they get will never be enough to make basic bills and living expenses, let alone to have a full life. On top of that, to have to wait and deal with marginally effective healthcare procedures is more than what many veterans can handle. Congress needs to have members in it that understands these important facts. Congress really needs to have people in it that will not let these veterans down.

In a word...NO!

Entering our country illegally should never be rewarded, regardless of their personal situation.  WE are a country of laws and everyone needs to follow and obey those laws, especially the laws regarding the proper entry into the country and application to become a citizen. Many Maine citizens are having a hard time just making ends meet, and having illegals brought to our state claiming refugee status just makes it harder for them. The resources to help our citizens that are especially hard hit are finite and we need to take care of them first. Refugee laws are very specific and must be declared at the first country that you enter after you left your homeland. Nearly every person that was brought to Maine never declared refugee status until they got to our southern border. These people need to be processed as illegal aliens and sent back to the country that could have taken them in as refugees, if that is what they truly are.

Sometimes a complicated issue needs a simple solution.

When Obamacare was forced upon Americans, we were told many promises that this plan would accomplish. Yet, many of those promises fell flat. It never became affordable for many families, it made getting insurance more complicated for most everyone, it forced people to get coverage for problems that they would never experience, or pay for coverage that went against their religious beliefs. None of these things should have occurred. 

I have read of many other plans that could be more affordable and more protective as far as healthcare systems go. But, nationalizing every healthcare provider, and service under a one size fits all system is proving to be neither affordable or efficient.  Single payer healthcare may work for some countries, but I don't think that that such a system would even come close to what Americans need or want. Allowing multiple methods of payment for various services is a step that can be made. Having both employer and employee put money away in Health Savings Accounts seems to me to be a better system for a majority of Americans, but not for everyone. I do not have the answer for what is right for everyone, but I will listen to people when they have issues, or ideas as to what they think would be a better option for them.

Should American tax dollars be sent to other countries?

     In a word, NO. Americans work hard for their money, and law makers shouldn't be sending it away for other governments to use how they see fit.  How many times have Americans been asked to donate to this country or that country for whatever reason, and then find out that the money or items had been taking or stolen by the government, be it local or national. American generosity has been abused for far too long and it need to end now. Tax dollars have been spent for a multitude of reasons that many Americans do not agree with. It is time to have someone in Congress that will actually stand up and ask the question "Why are we sending money there if that money could be better spent here?" 

     Everyone knows that you should make sure that your own house is in order before you go out and start helping others with their house, and even then, the help should be limited to what we know will actually help the country, not just giving them money. Our government is supposed to be very limited in its function, under the control of all American citizens and yet, it has been allowed to run amok. Young people of this country have been told that the government knows what is best and to follow instructions from the government.  It is so bad that the common argument against changing something is that it is 'settled law', which is a farce of an argument, because each and every law on the books right now can be changed if enough people want it changed.

I will state that I am against the NECEC corridor to bring power from Quebec, Canada to Maine and ultimately Massachusetts.

I have a couple of issues with the NECEC corridor...1st, it makes America dependent upon a foreign entity for a primary resource (think 1970's OPEC) 2nd, having several states tied together in a regional grid network is a big mistake, google any video about an EMP attack on the US and see what the military expert say will happen. 3rd, Water, sewer, information communication, and electricity used to be considered "Public" utilities, and used to be regulated by a state agency, that is where they need to be again. 4th, People need to get over their hysterical fear of nuclear power. next generation designs are significantly safer and more powerful than first generation power plants. Building a multi-stage Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor system would be a godsend for Maine and it's citizens, lowering electric rates and forcing CMP and BangorHydro to reduce their "delivery charge" to a reasonable level. 5th, and this is a big one... I do not believe that any vital resource in America should have it's controlling parent company be a foreign company. Said company has no vested interest in our company and could in fact use their control of that resource to undermine our sovereignty