TGTL AIN'T SO BAD

Lance Tapley writes: "[Jonathan] Carter mocks the idea that timberland owners need another tax break when they already reap the benefits of the state’s Tree Growth Tax Law, which greatly reduces their property taxes." (see "Last Minute Relief," July 1)

I am unsure about the effect of LD 1305. It could very well be that it will not help keep large areas of forest intact. However, I strongly disagree with the statement above. I think that Carter and others are wrong to oppose the Tree Growth Tax Law. Does Carter support the idea of taxing forest land at its "highest and best use"?

An explanation of the Tree Growth Tax Law (TGTL) is at Carter’s own Web site, http://www.powerlink.net/fen/TMW_LateWinter2000/Tree_Growth_Tax_Law.html , which oddly seems to be complaining about the lack of harvesting activity.

Because the tax savings of TGTL is based on the difference between "the highest and best use" and its value for the production of timber, it only reduces property taxes in areas where there is demand to convert forest land into housing lots. An example is my family’s wood lot here in Bowdoin. Does Carter believe that my family should pay taxes on our woodlot based on the value as house lots? Does he support the idea of converting wood lots to house lots? Does he believe that suburban development is less harmful to the forest then timber harvesting?

In much of northern Maine where large corporations have ownership, the difference between the value of house lots and wood lots is small. In fact, in some areas, the value for wood production is higher then the local market price for real estate. Because the amount of tax savings is based on the difference of value, the reduction in property taxes on much of the land in northern Maine is correspondingly low.

I believe that Carter simply picks issues that he believes will raise his profile to further his political ambitions. Hence the reason he was "preoccupied with other issues." He prefers high profile confrontation to cooperation, even in cases where cooperation might benefit Maine’s forest

Kurt Melcher

Bowdoin

TIME TO RISE UP

A friend of mine gave me a copy of your commentary titled, "Home at last" (by Nicholas von Hoffman, March 25). The article was sent to my friend here in Maryland by another friend who resides in Portland — so it passed through numerous hands before getting to mine. The article has been sitting quietly in my purse for a few weeks now. As I cleaned out the receipts, balled up tissues, and loose change from the bottom of my purse today, I came across the crumbled up newsprint remembering that my friend said it was a "powerful read." Your article was not only a powerful read, it knocked me out of my office chair and into the realm of what truly is important right here, right now.

You, as a father and as a citizen, have expressed your views with clarity and with passion and have, most likely, mobilized folks to react, not just in thought, but in action.

As the daughter of a man who served three tours in Viet Nam, I do have some understanding of what it is like to worry for a loved one during a war without honorable purpose. I remember my Dad as a young man questioning government authority in the confines of our home, but all the while, being a brave and effective soldier. I am so very proud of his service to his country. However, today, he is a hard-core Republican and believes every word spewed from the mouths of those in ultimate authority over this nation, but also those who lead the cheering section from the conservative news stations.

I have done my best to educate myself and to counter his arguments, but he remains loyal to his President.

Even with the constant references to liberty and freedom within the very brilliant spin techniques pulling along millions of people, including my Dad, who have become desensitized to outright deception, I still have hope. Your article has fed this hope. I genuinely believe that there are more of "us" than there are of "them." I have never been an activist and, but I think it is time to collectively rise up. It was Gandhi who defeated the occupation of India with his peaceful response of, "There are more of us than there are of them." Thank you, Mr. von Hoffman, for your words. You have facilitated a renewed call to action — not just for me personally, but surely among many others, many many others.

Linda R. Walls

Chestertown, MD