Let's make a deal

To the Editor:

I would like to make a proposal for a business venture in your town that you just can't refuse! I won't be completely upfront about everything my business may or may not offer, but I implore you to just listen to me and trust my word.

My business structure will be approximately 40 stories tall and I have dozens to put up but don't despair for I will only place them on the highest elevations in your town for all to see. I will employ a few people temporarily but when I get my business up and running I will not employ anyone from your town. Sorry, I simply will not need your assistance so you won't be able to find gainful employment with me or support your family off my work. However, I will support my business off yours since I will be using your tax dollars to build and sustain my business.

My business will decrease in value by 5 percent every year and I'll spell that out in the contract we enter. I also reserve the right to declare bankruptcy or sell my company if I can't make a profit. Further, you'll have to give me seven years or so to come up with some money to tear down my project if it fails or becomes obsolete.

I'll conduct testing to see if your town is compatible with my business and my product, but I will keep those results secret. I can't let anyone know because it's a business secret but trust me when I tell you the tests came back favorable.

When I sell my product, I will not tell you how much I sell it for, or how much I sell, or anything else for that matter. We may fib a little on how efficient our product is but this is not personal as it makes the government feel bad for us and give us a few million dollars more of your tax money for relief.

My business will add millions to your town valuation. I'll give you money based on that increase in value and it will reduce your taxes but only for three to four years, then the state will realize your worth more and raise your school appropriation and county taxes, and reduce financial assistance by the thousands for your schools.

Also, you don't have any use for our product in your state because you already have tons of the same products, which is why we sell our entire product to out of staters even though we use your land to produce our product. And our product is far more expensive than other similar products and we have to sell it for more, but there are laws that help us, so you'll have to pay more for the product your purchase even if you don't use the product we're producing. Confused?

I'll infringe on those living in close proximity to my business and will disturb their peace and quiet, but it's a business and I don't care how your friends feel. I'll cause a reduction in your friend's property values, too, but my business will reject that fact and fail to recognize that real estate agents will be hesistant to enter into sales contracts with those property owners.

As a last report, we'll pay you to leave your beloved town. Come on, "Let's make a deal!"

If you feel this "deal" looks bad, trust your instincts, it most likely is bad.

The sad reality is these "deals are being proposed to small rural towns all over Maine, which is prizes by people who live here or travel here from all over the world for its scenic vistas. We need to preserve the natural and unique beauty of our magnificant town. We pride ourselves in our motto, "Dixfield -- The Only One" but we'll be nothing more than "Like all the Others" if we allow wind companies to devastate what we hold dear. We need to hold on tightly to our ideals and protect our quality of place for it is an irreplaceable treasure and once it's gone, it's gone forever!

Vote "no" on wind in Dixfield on Nov. 6.

Gerald Marcoux