Columnist wrong to defend Nestle’s use of Maine aquifers

In reference to Tony Payne’s column in the Telegram June 20 (“Property rights issue swamps water debate”), wherein he extols the virtues of corporations, may I quote from his “Alliance for Maine’s Future” website home page: “Democracy is like a muscle — it works best when exercised.” How true this statement is.

Just ask the Kennebunk Board of Selectmen regarding their opinion of Central Maine Power, now a subsidiary of a Spanish multinational corporation, about how a corporation treats a small community with their corporate political influence and endless financial resources.

Ask the residents of Wells, when Nestle Waters launched a $1 million slick advertising campaign to convince voters on a new regulatory ordinance that would have permitted large scale groundwater extraction, funding a campaign barrage of television, radio and newspaper advertisements. The Wells voters were intelligent enough to become educated in the real issues and overwhelmingly voted “no” in last November’s referendum.

This is democracy in action! Yes, local citizens are beginning to flex their constitutional muscles when confronted with a corporation that comes into their community, two years in advance of a public announcement, and attempts to lay the groundwork with quiet meetings with local town and municipal officials. Small communities do not need a corporate-funded political action committee telling them what a great job corporations are doing for us.

We are already seeing the effects of that in the Gulf oil spill disaster. Can BP turn around and solve the country’s worst environmental disaster simply with the continued promise of jobs and capital investment?

Only local citizens, who are educated in the issues, participate in their local governments and display an entrepreneurial spirit, will turn around our state’s economy — not the corporations.

Bob Walter
Kennebunk

This editorial originally appeared in the Portland Press Herald on 7/4/10.
Online version here.