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Opinions and Publications
Privatization of Medicare won't save money
Bangor Daily News, 08/10/07 — Reversing the privatization of Medicare will free up precious public resources that could be used to expand access to health care for those who need it most, our children... read more
Confused by TABOR and voting against it
Portland Press Herald , 10/19/06 — I'm confused by TABOR; therefore, I'll vote against it. I refuse to vote for something I don't understand. I'm confused because Mary Adams says it won't cut any budgets. If that's the case, how can it relieve the tax burden? ... read more
Tax cap bill takes aim at wrong culprit
Maine Sunday Telegram, 08/16/06 — Some supporters of the proposed government spending cap known as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights believe that those who oppose it "just don't understand it." Perhaps they are right. I don't understand why we would want to tie the hands of our government and cut off investment in our community infrastructure... read more
TABOR a Serious Threat to Maine Schools
Maine People's Alliance (MPA) and the Emergency Campaign for America’s Priorities (ECAP) released an eye-opening report on the status of Maine students. Are we Investing in our Students? A State of the State Report on Education in Maine details the vital supports for Maine students that have been, and continue to be severely slashed by the federal government, and raises serious concerns about the ability of Maine’s school districts to meet students’ needs if faced by TABOR spending limits at the same time as federal cuts... read press release, read report
DirigoChoice works for Maine
Bangor Daily News , 11/01/06 — In February 2003, skeptical and angry as a hornet, I went to Augusta, ready to go head-to-head with anyone that dare suggest that anything was right or reasonable about the price of my health insurance doubling in two years. It was the first time I had done anything political beyond voting.... read Dave White's Op-Ed piece
Many opposed to TABOR
Portland Press Herald, 06/28/06 — Proponents of the TABOR referendum on this fall's ballot claim that only "special interests" could be opposed to it. The Maine Education Association is opposed to TABOR. If your children and their education are special to you, then maybe MEA is a "special interest"... read more
Keep Maine safe from toxic chemicals
Bangor Daily News, 06/28/06 — Every day, Mainers come in contact with toxic chemicals in toys, cosmetics, televisions and many other products that we use. At the same time, a study by the Environmental Working Group showed that the blood of newborn American babies can contain up to 200 industrial chemicals, including pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline and garbage... read more
MPA urges Maine Senators to oppose repeal or drastic reduction of the Estate Tax
06/27/06 — A vote for repeal or drastic reduction of the estate tax means that a relatively few super-rich heirs and heiresses like Paris Hilton will be further enriched by billions, at the expense of working families. Giving more to the ultra-wealthy means providing less education and health care to everyone else...
Read letter to Senators
New Alliance newsletter
See how your Senator and Representatives voted on MPA issues in our 2006 Legislative Scorecard (PDF file). Learn more about our summer canvass on toxics; get chapter and issue updates—all in the Summer 2006 Alliance (PDF file)!
The Hidden Costs of Repealing the Estate Tax
For almost 90 years, the estate tax has helped the United States build schools, fight crime, care for the sick, and fund programs that elevate standards of living for all people nationwide. But now the nation's wealthiest heirs are lobbying their congressional allies to destroy our most progressive tax at the expense of community programs that benefit all of us... read full report (PDF file)
Health insurers put thumb on Dirigo scale
Portland Press Herald, 05/26/06 — The insurance industry wants you to believe that the financing of Dirigo Health is "terribly flawed." They insist that this part of the program is "controversial" and "legally challenged." The industry says it can step in with a "compromise" that will fix the problem... read more
Fox in the Henhouse? Anthem's role as the provider of DirigoChoice health insurance
Between November 10, 2005 and January 28, 2006, 37 volunteers made calls to Anthem agents across the state to request information about the DirigoChoice plan. The results of those calls raise real concern that Anthem has failed to represent the DirigoChoice product enthusiastically or accurately... read full report (PDF file)
Featured Letters to the Editor
Universal health care our best solution
Newly released statistics by the National Center for Health Statistics and the Census Bureau on life span in America place us 42nd as compared to other countries ("America's rank in life expectancy continues to slip," Aug. 12).
Over the years, we have gradually worsened while other countries have passed us by. This is at least in part due to other nations' advances in health care and prevention.
Our high infant mortality is also a national disgrace. Although not the whole story, it is obvious that these facts are the result of a shameful health-care system in the United States that prices 45 million Americans out of health-insurance coverage and causes countless to be under-insured.
That the present administration is unaware of this disgrace is clearly portrayed in a recent Wall Street Journal column by Allan B. Hubbard, who is assistant to the president for economic policy and director of the National Economic Council.
Mr. Hubbard states, "Let's start with what's right. America's private system of medicine is the world's finest."
Wrong. Flat-out wrong. This misconception has been touted by politicians
-- aided and abetted by the pharmaceutical and insurance industries -- for so long that some might actually believe it.
Our current life expectancy of 77.9 years is a long time. However, there is an obvious, simple, socially just, money- saving way to improve this number.
Universal health care in the form of Medicare for everyone is waiting patiently for the elections of 2008. In the interim, we have a serious job to do in order to make this happen.
We must expect a fight, a media blitz opposing change, orchestrated by the deepest pockets of all -- the for-profit health-care industry.
If we just allow ourselves to do the right thing, we can finally win this battle, which is easily the most significant domestic issue of our time.
Richard C. Dillihunt, M.D., Portland
Portland Press Herald
August 15, 2007
Universal health care
As more and more people are unable to afford health care in this country and state, it is becoming clear to me that the big insurance companies are looking out for their bottom line before the health of people. When 45 million people in the U.S. are uninsured, and more than one out of every five Maine people cannot afford access to health care, there must be a better way.
A universal, single-payer health care system for the state of Maine is in the works, and it offers a viable solution to our health care crisis. According to a feasibility study conducted in 2002, a universal, single-payer system could save the state $400-$600 million after four years. This type of plan would not only save the state money, but would decrease the amount of out-of-the pocket money spent on health care for the vast majority of individuals, while ensuring quality coverage to all Maine citizens.
As a college student, the health care crisis in the state and country is something I feel must be addressed. After returning from a semester of studying abroad and realizing that, of all the industrialized countries in the world, only the U.S., Turkey and Mexico fail to offer coverage to their citizens, it's obvious that something needs to be done.
The time has come for a universal, single-payer health care system in the state of Maine.
Caroline Ginsberg,
Lewiston
Lewiston Sun Journal
August 18, 2007