http://www.newburyportnews.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:59:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_310220922.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_310220922.html I was late for midmorning coffee, and Big Freddy was packing it in when I showed up. "Sit down," I said, "I just got here." "I can see that," Freddy said, "and what kept you? Oversleep?" "You missed it," I said. "An army psychiatrist killed a bunch of soldiers down in Texas." Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:58:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_310225323.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_310225323.html The hunt is on once again for the man behind the tree. It was the late U.S. Sen. Russell Long of Louisiana who reportedly explained why tax reform was so difficult with a pithy line illustrating that everybody is a special interest: "Don't tax me. Don't tax thee. Tax that man behind the tree." Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:57:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_310221454.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_310221454.html We thought it meant the end of international contention. We thought it meant the nuclear menace was no more. We thought it meant Russia and America, the two powers of the future envisioned by de Tocqueville, could be friends. We thought it meant the end of espionage. We thought it might even be the end of history. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:59:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309233946.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309233946.html It's been said that the rest of the country should look at Massachusetts to witness the success of universal health care. Perhaps they shouldn't look too closely. Massachusetts has had universal health care since 2006, thanks to former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, the late U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy and the Legislature. At one level, it looks like a smashing success and mdash; according to state officials, nearly 98 percent of the state's residents have coverage of some kind. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:59:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309234509.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309234509.html It was glorious evening, was that of Saturday past and mdash; one especially choreographed for trick or treat and mdash; a peaceful evening, plotted and planned for by children, their parents and householders awaiting them with baskets of candy. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:58:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309234014.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309234014.html To the editor: Tuesday night, Oct. 27, at the Newbury Round School was one of those moments that define a community. People from all corners of Newbury came together to take swift action to help save Plum Island. It would be impossible to thank all of the people who contributed so much to make this happen. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:56:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309234022.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309234022.html To the editor: It is the season for political epiphanies in Newburyport. The latest submission is the abolition of the Civil Service process for police and fire positions. The reasons: According to The Daily News account of Councilor Cameron's proposal, "We have a much stricter accountability around ethics and corruption. I think for these two positions (police and fire chief), it would be worth taking a look at pulling these out of Civil Service." Fri, 06 Nov 2009 03:54:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309234538.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_309234538.html To the editor: I wish to take this opportunity to thank the voters for 1. voting to review the charter and 2. for electing me as one of their nine representatives on the Charter Review Commission. I thank you for the opportunity, and I will do the best job I can. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:59:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223809.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223809.html It's hard to draw conclusions from off-year elections held in a couple of Eastern Seaboard states. But clearly the White House isn't smiling over the results of the gubernatorial elections Tuesday in Virginia and New Jersey. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:58:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223817.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223817.html To the editor: The other day I was talking with a person who lives In Ontario, Canada, about the health care reform package that President Obama and his comrades in the U.S. Congress are trying to get passed. This person in Canada was trying to tell me how inexpensive it is to live in Canada. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:57:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223832.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223832.html To the editor: The Amesbury Rotary Club would like to thank everyone who took part in our First Scavenger Hunt on Friday, Oct. 16. The event attracted over 40 people who had a wonderful time. Even with the cold weather, everyone managed to navigate Amesbury with the clues offered, and picked up several food items for Our Neighbors' Table. Long-time residents even discovered new sites and locations! Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:56:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223840.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223840.html To the editor: Commuter rail is not just a Newburyport issue, it is a Merrimack Valley issue. It is a Salisbury, Newbury, Amesbury, Seabrook and, for that matter, a southern New Hampshire and southern Maine issue. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:55:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223851.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223851.html To the editor: Money, while important, is not all that matters (Taylor Armerding: "State can fill its coffers by treating pot like gambling," Oct. 24). What also matters is that our laws comply with the federal and state constitutions; both suppose the consent of the governed. The vote on Question 2 annihilated the notion prohibition of possession backed by criminal sanction had such consent. The vote on Question 2 and the rampant civil disobedience to the law and mdash; over 10 percent of Massachusetts voters consumed it last month and mdash; establish there is not consent here for the prohibition of its commerce. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:54:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223946.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308223946.html To the editor: Elizabeth Della Piana, Jack Garvey and others have uttered the usual refrain from the left, i.e., "I want someone else to pay my bills." We now have a single-payer health care system; that is, I am the single payer for my family's health care. What others want, of course, is for me to be the single payer for their health care also. For those who want Canadian- or European-style health care, it is readily available and mdash; in Canada or Europe. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:53:00 +0000 http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308224044.html http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_308224044.html To the editor: We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everybody who gave food or money to Community Service of Newburyport, Inc. at the Newbury Town Meeting on Oct. 27. Your support will help us to assist needy families in our area. Thank you for your concern and your generosity.