Federal presence in N. Maine not wanted
In the May 27 article, "Seeking favor," George Smith is quoted as saying the federal government is perceived as "autocratic and dictatorial." That part is true. I was, however, offended at the untruth in the statement he made that "Paper company jobs are long gone."
This comes as a bit of a shock to the approximately 380 employees at Lincoln Paper and Tissue in Lincoln, just on the edge of the North Woods. These people work year round in jobs that sustain families, with wages that typically pay twice or more of the state average and with benefits. Tourism/national park jobs in the north country generally do not meet that standard.
Paper mill-based jobs also have an economic multiplier effect of about five, according to the state. That means the Lincoln mill supports about 1,900 jobs locally.
I suppose those who are employed in pulp, paper, sawmills and other wood facilities are similarly shocked that their jobs are "long gone." The amount of money contributed to Maine's economy from the pulp, paper and forest-related industries dwarfs the relatively miniscule amounts associated with Acadia National Park.
People in this region rightly fear having a federal presence in the form of a national park. I grew up in the western United States and the federal government has made a holy mess of its massive holdings there. The federal government cannot manage the parks and land it has, so I have a difficult time understanding why a national park in the North Woods would be good for anyone.
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