Yeah, now that's the spirit.

Hey you, Plum Creek, get out. We don't don't want you and your corporate kind here.

And don't let the door hit you on the bum on your way out.

Or so today's guest column in the Portland Press Herald appears to say regarding the Plum Creek Moosehead Lake region proposal. (I know. Yawn!).

I would be grateful only if Plum Creek folded its corporatist tent and took its playground to one of their three other states of operation.

That's nice.

Let's further disparage "wealthy out-of-staters" and now our Canadian neighbors.

Let's savage the "corporatists" some more.

Talk about tired rhetoric. There's some for you.

Out-of-staters = bad?

For goodness sake, our state would be broke without visitors from away spending gobs of money here! You know about that little cottage industry we've got going here called "tourism," right?

And while we're at it, let's also knock the folks at LURC who are overseeing the regulatory process re Plum Creek. And all the concerned local folks who've participated in the public process. And the economic development folks. And the environmental and recreational people and sportsmen who've spoken their minds and added their comments.

These good people, real people--the "living, breathing beings" as they've been referred to--have engaged Plum Creek. And their efforts are having a positive effect. They are moving the process. In response, Plum Creek has indicated it's making significant adjustments to its plan. Changes that are hopefully reasonable enough to satisfy both sides.

And I am hopeful.

Plum Creek IS going to happen. And, yes, it is going to have a major impact on the Maine's north woods.

Not everybody is happy about all of it, for sure. Me, you, others. Change is difficult and the uncertainty is real. That makes people understandibly anxious.

But we can't (forgive the tired phrase, please) bury our heads in the sand and hope the big, bad corporate monster just goes away.

By engaging Plum Creek as has been done we are helping to mold the project into something better than what might have been.

I know a lot of folks in the outdoors community who in their hearts oppose Plum Creek, but realizing this fact, have come to see opportunity as the path to take, rather than blunt opposition.

I agree.

Much as some would like, there'll be no gate at the NH border with a KEEP OUT sign. We're better than that. Smarter than that.