Author: Joshua Durgin

It’s been an exciting time in politics as of late, with the liberal media frothing at the mouth and eagerly awaiting a miscue by the current administration. As strange as it looks, it’s actually a really good sign. For the last 50 years, liberal-progressivism has infiltrated the mainstream media in the United States. They had almost total control over the media’s narrative by the 1980’s, and they have been able to maintain that control (except for a few cases, like conservative talk radio). Now, it is the liberal-progressive juggernaut that is on the run. They’re spinning in circles because they…

For those concerned about the education of Maine’s youth, Gov. Paul LePage has taken another step toward improving the efficiency of our state’s public school system. Public school reform was at the top of LePage’s priorities when he first took office, and after completing various efforts such as charter school reform early in his gubernatorial career, he promised that it “would return to the forefront of his attention” by the end of his tenure. LePage’s return to education reform focuses on a two-pronged attack to reduce costs and improve the quality of education for Maine students. He has issued an…

Since Donald Trump won the presidential election, there have been protests and riots in several areas of the country. For those steeped in recent American history, this is no surprise; it is just the continuation of the juvenile behavior seen in radical youth since the sixties. Ever since college students in the sixties realized they could scream and cry about whatever they didn’t like, they’ve been doing it, much like infants protesting when their mommies don’t let them have all the cookies in the cookie jar. What you are seeing is a temper tantrum against what today’s leftist students don’t…

Referendum Question 3 is a heavily out-of-state funded attack on the rights of law-abiding citizens which has received stark opposition from many Mainers, particularly in rural areas which have a strong connection to individual freedom. The “No on 3” campaign has brought a lot of freedom-loving Mainers together, educating and preparing them for the fight to preserve our rights against out-of-state oppressors. Thirteen of Maine’s 16 county sheriffs have announced their opposition to Question 3 as well. This is not surprising since sheriffs have traditionally supported the will of the people because they are elected by the people of their area,…

Question 3 isn’t just an attack by anti-gun forces on our individual right to keep and bear arms; it’s an attack on our rights as a community. A lot of people forget that there are two parts to the Second Amendment; the most quoted is the second part: “the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” This is an individual right applied to the people of the United States; as individual members of the public we each have the right to keep and bear arms. The less quoted, first part of the Amendment is…

We are reminded once again by this year’s Referendum Question 2 that it is time for parents to become a bigger part of the education process, because the school system is saying it needs more money. Those who know history understand that money is not what’s going to solve today’s questionable education standards. But, reaffirming the family-centered education system of the Founding Fathers can. Fortunately, we do not need to wait for the school system to realize this, as parents can begin doing it on their own right now during Maine’s fair season, which provides a perfect opportunity to rekindle…

Under Gov. Paul LePage’s leadership, the State has reigned in irresponsible spending and upheld the rights of Mainers. But recently the Bangor Daily News (BDN) published an article accusing the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of throwing away federal money and abandoning mentally ill Mainers. What makes this such a surprising accusation is that the article is based upon a flawed premise. Even the title of the article says “With no explanation, Maine rejects scarce funds for young people with mental illness,” which is not true. The fact of the matter is that, according to DHHS, “services…

A few weeks ago, Greg Dougal and Adam Lee each presented their viewpoints on Question 4, the minimum wage referendum, at the Maine Society of Association Executive Point-Counterpoint event. Dougal, executive director of Maine Restaurant Association and Maine Innkeepers, warned against the proposed wage increase as being too radical at this time. Lee, chairman of Lee Auto Malls argued that it would bring more money to workers in Maine with little impact upon businesses. While I can certainly identify with Lee’s perspective that the wage increase would bring more money to workers in Maine, I found it to be more hopeful…

Anyone who’s ever watched the movie Stripes, starring Bill Murray, about hapless men joining the U.S. Army, should remember the scene where the new recruits are introducing themselves. One of the more disturbed members explains that his real name is Francis, but everyone calls him by his nickname Psycho, and if anyone calls him Francis, he’ll kill them. Naturally, the drill sergeant turns to the new recruit and says, “Lighten up, Francis.” I’m reminded of this movie scene because today the American people are overburdened by a monumental amount of gun control laws at the federal and state levels, which…

Something I will occasionally do while going through checkout at a store is ask the cashier what he or she thinks of the self-checkout machines at the end of the checkout lanes. Not to disparage the hard working American, but normally, all I receive in reply is a blank face of confusion. Maybe they just don’t know why I’d ask such a question, or maybe they didn’t think they were supposed to have a formulated opinion on the robotic cashier across the aisle. It’s certainly easier to acknowledge the new machine’s existence than to understand why it exists. I’ll tell…