We all like to think that we make rational, sound decisions based on our own quality judgment. We roll on with life, evaluate the facts we see in front of us and act accordingly.

Democrats took control of the US House of Representatives with a consistent and constant focus on issues that matter to voters, namely health care. In Maine’s 2nd Congressional District and the race for governor, health care was the No. 1 issue for voters. And the candidates treated it that way.

I am doing something these last two weeks I once did all the time, but not much the last several years. For about 30 years I owned a circa 1820 post-and-beam Cape with an El. That house always needed fixing or sprucing. And I was lucky to have neighbors, friends and family I could hire to tackle the tricky stuff (electrical wiring, plumbing), but I wanted to do as much of the home repair as possible. I was curious much more than I was trying to save a buck as a do-it-yourselfer.

I am always energized in the spring. This year, as so often before, I am in awe of the many opportunities we have in our community to grow more inclusive, more engaged, more healthy. So I am writing today about opportunity.

Thanks to the hard work of Maine’s congressional delegation, on March 12, the Land and Water Conservation Fund was permanently reauthorized when a bipartisan public lands package was signed into law. Since 1965, the fund has supported community projects all across the country.

This week, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout signed a new contract that is worth $430 million over the next 12 years, giving him the largest contract in North American professional sports history.

With more than 15 Democrats already running for president in 2020 and more announcing by the day, it might be hard for voters to pick a favorite, especially this far way from November 2020.

Thousands of Mainers take prescription drugs. For many, prescription drugs represent the only defense they have against crippling pain. For others, prescription medications are a lifeline in their fight against serious conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Americans pay the highest prices in the world for their prescription drugs, and the ill effects cannot be overstated.

Most of us know the sound of the 1960s. But very few of us can say we are a sound of the ‘60s. Drummer Hal Blaine, who died a few days ago at age 90, was one of those few. I worked with Hal (1980-83) when I was managing editor of Modern Drummer magazine.

When all is said and done, there will probably be more than 15 people running for the Democratic nomination for president. One thing is clear already. In order to win the nomination, Democrats are going to need to speak to the increasingly strident, socialistic, progressive activist segment, and energize them. All the attention, all the energy and all the money is with them.

It’s long past time that the Maine Legislature sends a state Equal Rights Amendment to voters. But a word of caution for the supporters — of which I am one: If LD 433, which would amend the state constitution to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on the sex of an individual, appears on the ballot, we will need to run a real campaign to make sure it passes and to protect against divisive and harmful attacks from opponents.

Maine's Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) proposes to eliminate rules that limit new development applications within 1 mile of clusters of similar development anywhere in the Unorganized Territories. The new proposed system would allow new development applications of any type in designated zones along any public road within 7 miles of 41 towns they have designated as "rural hubs." These zones encompass approximately 1.3 million acres.

While legislation could be submitted immediately on behalf of the board, I believe that to do so would place a decision reserved for the citizens of HAD 4 directly with the Maine Legislature. I represent the citizens in seven of the towns in the HAD, and I believe that given the information and opportunity, the townspeople will make the right decision. The results of a vote by the citizens would indicate to legislators that the process in the charter had been followed and would hopefully provide more clarity to what the people want to happen with their hospital and health care services.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society’s e-zine always has a survey for its readers. One of their recent issues asked if you could talk to any of your ancestors, without regard to language barriers or time, who would it be? They were interested in what century your chosen ancestor came from, but the question has got me asking myself: who would I choose among all the thousands of names of ancestors and relatives?

In addition to running a public policy think tank and writing this column every week, I have also been blessed for the last three years to host the morning drive-time radio program on WGAN, southern Maine's biggest news and talk radio station.

Musician and teacher, Susan Ramsey, has said more than once, directly and indirectly, how much she loves living in Piscataquis County. Piscataquis County -- the whole State of Maine -- is fortunate to have Susan Ramsey as one of its own.

It is hard to overcome an emotional response in politics. It’s part of the reason why President Donald Trump is able to maintain the support of his hardcore supporters. He connects with them emotionally – with anger, fear and, often, hatred.

It has been my honor and pleasure to serve our communities on two fronts over the last 32 years; as a physician and as a Mayo Regional Hospital board member. The hospital's financial status is in serious peril, with an operating loss of $1.5 million through the first four months of the fiscal year we could potentially see an operating loss of $4.5 million by the end of the fiscal year. This trend is unsustainable and the genesis of consideration of a merger with Northern Light Health.