July, 1997
Commentary
John Alphonse
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| This summertime view of the Bath Iron Works dry dock may be replaced by luxury cruise ships. |
Are the pieces finally beginning to click into place?
Is Portland on its way to once again earning its name?
Are city officials finally going to take advantage of the city's advantages?
Plans are in the works to expand the present Portland International Ferry Terminal area to accommodate the recent increase in international shipments from Maine, primarily through German container ship giant, Hapag-Lloyd.
The ferry terminal activities will possibly be moved near the Maine State Pier, if Bath Iron Works pulls its dry dock facility out of Portland as rumored.
Expansion of the container shipping industry here could bring prosperity to the city in the form of high-paying marine jobs and skilled spinoff employment, and supposedly more cash-on-hand in City Hall's coffer to invest back into the area's quality of life.
But there's a huge potential downside to all this potential prosperity. We must above all be careful not to sell away the state's resources to the rest of the world, especially trees, and leave us barren. Controlled growth is essential in an era of depleting resources.
Enough selling off bulk wood cheaply for a powerful few to make huge cash on, and the like. If anybody who actually lives in this state is going to benefit from economic gains through the export trade, stuff must be made here.
If our resources further pave the Road to Made in Malaysia, and its many sequels, we can flush this state goodbye. But if we can stave off the greedy bottom-liners who are sucking the bottom out of our work force, we can pace the economy so everyone benefits.
The Old Port was once filled with wood furniture makers and other craftspeople, not bars. Drink up! While the big money gets swallowed by the Big Drinkers. Knowing who you work for involves more than reading the company letterhead these days. For example, are you aware that the corporate offices of Westbrook's S.D. Warren paper mill are located in Boston, and that its owner since 1994, Sappi, Ltd., is South African-based? Makes you wonder where the profit's going.
No wonder American job satisfaction has become an oxymoron.Where has craftsmanship and pride gone in much of our daily work? I'm not sure if it translates into Sri Lankan. Truth is, gone with them went the "good money", the big-dollars-an-hour jobs, the ones you take your time with and do your best work on, the kinds of jobs you love.
The revitalization of shipping here can help bring good work to town. Or it can be the widest turnpike to hell ever opened to traffic. The difference is going to have to be every one of us willing to step up, take control, spit out the Paycheck Pacifier, and TAKE BACK OUR STATE.
© 1997 reality x publishing co.
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