I was disappointed to read on Jan. 17 that Maine lost its bid to have an airplane manufacturing company at the decommissioned Brunswick airbase.

This would have brought 600 new manufacturing jobs to Maine. I believe that Gov. Paul LePage and his staff did the best they possibly could to offer an attractive package to Kestrel Aircraft Corp., but Superior, Wis., was able to give Kestral an even more attractive subsidy package.

The problem is not with our Maine state government; the problem is with our national government. This problem has been growing for a very long time.

There was a time in history when businesses usually located in the best place for them to be successful, considering economic factors such as the best source of raw materials, the location of markets, availability of labor, energy and other factors, so that they could make and market their products at least cost.

But now governmental subsidies are part of the mix. How much will competing states give to attract a business that will employ people and pay taxes?

It is unfair for businesses to expect states to compete in this way. This system obviously gives an advantage to those states that are already successful in attracting business and can easily afford to subsidize — as compared to other states that cannot afford as much. So the rich states get richer, and the poor states get very little, even though they might be the best location if no subsidies were available from anyone.

The federal government should enact a law that prevents this kind of subsidy system from being used at any level of government: states, counties or municipalities. The people of this country would be far better off.

Elery Keene

Winslow