You weighed in on flags, toxins, taxes, Patriot’s Day

This week, ClickBack focused on Patriot’s Day, flags, drink taxes and toxic chemicals. Here are what readers had to say.

A University of Maine at Farmington student made American flags out of plastic and duct tape on the floor of the school’s student center, leading to protests. Is the U.S. flag so sacred that it can’t be used in art projects?

Yes, the flag is sacred. It represents us, so we should represent it completely and always. Our soldiers have died to protect it, we hold our hands over our hearts in respect of it, it brings out the feeling of pride, and it represents all those who live here in the United States. We should not have to test how people feel about the flag. We already know. Art project gone bad is what this was. Some things in the United States are global and universal and the flag is one of them. Disrespect the flag you are disrespecting your country.

– Christine of Perry

The Legislature raised beer, wine and soda taxes to help fund Dirigo Health. Is this excessive?

All the Legislature needed to do is to admit that Dirigo Health is a failure, discontinue it (saving millions) and then change our insurance laws to allow competition such as in normal states. Not only would we be paying less for our beer, wine and soda (and health insurance claims), but then we would start saving hundreds of dollars per month on our health insurance premiums. The moral of this story: 34 years of Democrat control of the House provides us with exactly what we deserve – a state going down the tubes.

– jecifuwus

Our pets are full of potentially harmful chemicals, stores are pulling plastic bottles off their shelves for fear of the chemicals they contain. Is our world too toxic?

It’s not just our pets that are full of harmful chemicals … we are.

Since the “better living through chemistry” era dawned in the 1950s (my first decade on this earth), cancer rates in the United States – excluding lung cancer where the environmental causes are now very obvious – have risen by more than 30 percent. Science suggests as well that endocrine system, reproductive and neurodevelopmental disorders, asthma and learning disabilities are to a significant extent related to environmental exposures.

Toxins in the home are a major source of those exposures. The Maine Legislature is to be congratulated for its big step forward on this issue this session. Legislation requiring closer scrutiny of these chemicals in consumer products will be a powerful incentive for industry to rise to the occasion and “green” their chemistry.

The Maine economy can benefit by being a source of greener, safer products like Tom’s of Maine and InterfaceFABRIC.

– sharontisher

When serious steps are taken to address a serious problem some may see it as over-reacting, but truly drastic measures are needed to combat generations of ignorance. It is not just our pets at risk, but every healthy American who may be exposed to toxins. The Legislature did a really great thing for Maine.

– MPAAndy

What’s the point of Patriot’s Day?

Fire your musket on the way to work and dump tea in the harbor on the way home. Remember Paul and Steven while you work your regular eight hours.

– Jerry Nault

To participate in ClickBack, go to www.bangordailynews.com and look for the logo. New questions are asked Tuesday on the editorial page and some responses are published Friday’s here on the OpEd page. Read what others have to say, post your own comments and pose your own questions.