Letters: Tabor and same-sex marriage

Posted on Sept. 24, 2009, at 1:02 a.m.

TABOR key for students

TABOR II, on the ballot in November, was placed there by the people, just like TABOR in 2006. Any criticism you read of them is probably from people who feed directly off tax dollars.

If students hope to be able to work and live in Maine after they graduate — or after they retire if they leave during their earning years — then vote for [TABOR II]. It’s for your benefit.

The young are the lifeblood of the state and it is turning into a state of old people and those collecting benefits. It’s called “the entitlement crowd.” TABOR isn’t a Democrat-Republican thing. It’s your thing. It’s all about you. If you can’t control spending, you won’t be able to stay here.

TABOR is very generous. It allows for spending increases each year up to the rate of inflation before legislators have to ask the voters if they can spend above it. The scare tactics that distort TABOR are shameful. Don’t fall for them.

It’s your future at stake with TABOR II. Don’t be brainwashed by the university and unions. They are major “takers” of tax dollars. Vote yes for your own sake. You will have to carry the financial burden of overspending for the rest of your lives. It is worrisome to me if your student generation doesn’t wake up and take control.

- Mary Adams
Chair, TABOR 2006 Campaign

From a Californian, protect equality

I understand the difficult choice Mainers face on same-sex marriage. Californians like myself survived this fight last year. The five months California permitted same-sex marriage were joyful for gays, lesbians and supporters of equality, but opponents quickly launched a campaign to eliminate same-sex marriage rights at the ballot box.

Prior to California’s 2008 vote on Prop. 8, warnings flooded our airwaves. If gays and lesbians could marry, we were told, churches would be sued and schools would teach students to embrace homosexuality. These arguments convinced a narrow majority to ban same-sex marriage while devastating those who oppose discrimination.

Our law permits no more, but we still have 18,000 same-sex marriages that preceded our election. This unique situation allows us to disprove misguided arguments against equal rights. No churches were sued here, nor do schools brainwash kids. The marriage ban agonizes an oppressed minority, but our married gays and lesbians harm no one.

California missed its opportunity to affirm equality in a shameful failure. Afterwards, many who stood idly by wished they had done more to prevent legalized prejudice. Voters of Maine could be the nation’s first to say that religion does not justify intolerance and that all Americans deserve fairness, respect and dignity.

- Matt Johanson, Castro Valley, CA