Al, Saco:

Maine as an educational system is smaller than the top 20 largest school districts nationally; if we consolidated Maine into one district the savings would be in the tens of millions of dollars. So many districts duplicate the same functions that could be done by one individual. Many of the top 20 have academic outcomes far exceeding the best we offer our children. One statewide superintendent, 10 area superintendents, one state office to manage operations. Expand the authority of Principals to "have local control". Institute a statewide curriculum, have a statewide textbook adoption list, and set real standards to national benchmarks. A five year plan would allow migration, attrition, and accomodate displaced staff through a graduated FULL consolidation.

Mike, Shapleigh:

I would like to see more emphasis on improving education in our state. Education is the key to any meaningful progress. Certainly passage of charter school legislation would be a good place to start.

Seamus, Bowdoinham:

How about rural broadband and internet accessibility? That's a good issue that I believe is important to constituents outside of major cities. As a business woman, Rosa is fully aware of how critical it is to stay connected and up to speed with business and you can't do that if the business is isolated. It could be said, "we may have broken roads and highways that need repairs, but some areas in Maine don't even have suitable access to the Information Highway. And this is suffocating their potential for growth and business." That's just my two cents. And I'm biased as I'm working in Bowdoinham, only 40 minutes out of Portland, and my internet here has kicked me off the company server 4 times in the course of writing this e-mail. I guess I'll have to make them shorter from now on.

Carl, Mechanic Falls:

I am a member of the new RSU 16 School board. Consolidation was a great idea, but it should have been of a positive bent rather than a negative. Instead of punishing those who didn't join together it should have rewarded those who did join together. How sad! Rewarding good deeds will accomplish far more than punishment.

Mary S.:

80% of job creation comes from small businesses (under 500 employees in size). Government funds can create government jobs or jobs that depend on government sponsored projects, but small business creates jobs in the private sector, which pays the taxes. Support tax and other policies to create and nurture small business and you will create sustainable jobs and growing and sustainable tax base, which will attract people to Maine or at least keep people from leaving.

Victoria W., Bangor:

Matt S., Bar Harbor:

I'd like to express my support for wind power and wind turbines in our great state. Maine can be a leader in wind power in conception, construction, and execution. We are in a fateful struggle to save this planet from irreversible, catastrophic climate change and to wean our country and state of a dangerous addiction to foreign oil.

I am blessed to live in one of the most beautiful corners of our state and I would gladly see a wind turbine on top of Cadillac Mountain if it brought us that much closer to saving our planet and that much closer to energy independence.

We are in an epic battle against powerful foes in the fossil energy business. And, we are losing. Attacks on wind power from the extreme left regarding "destruction of scenery" and "big companies" and "noise" are sweet comfort to Exxon Mobil and their ilk. We can't wait for perfection. The time to act is now--or in 100 years or less there will be virtually no one alive to look at all that beautiful scenery.

Merrylyn S.:

1. Stop ruining the scenery with wind turbines in remote wilderness areas. Promote passive solar and active solar. Stop the big companies selling Maine on wind power. Wind power creates more power lines to upset the beauty of the state, destroys wilderness as roads are made to erect and maintain the turbines. The reasons go on and on. Noise, danger to birds, destruction of wilderness, more power lines...
2. Create turbines powered by the tide. We always have the tide, as long as there is a moon. If underwater turbines can be proven safe and we HAVE to produce power to put on the grid, do it where it is less invasive. Of course these turbines may also create the need for new and massive power lines, which is why credits and assistance with solar seems the way to go on individual residences and on businesses.
3. Put some backbone in LURC.
4. Support the game wardens and the Maine state police. Make funding available for excellent training so we have a law enforcement that is known for its ethics and training. And continue to fund them so they can excel in their field.
5. Promote the arts and technology, working side by side. Whatever will keep our bright young scholars from leaving Maine for good. Many will leave for college; let's offer them exciting, crucial jobs to bring them home after higher education. We need to bring our Maine youth back to the state. You are young, you're here to do great things. Let's get more like you back to Maine!