What does Maine need to prosper?

In these challenging economic times, much of the dialogue in Maine has revolved around cost-containment (especially in regard to state government). Fiscal responsibility and living within means is indeed critically important for Maine. But cutting alone can never lead to prosperity. If it could, then by cutting and cutting and cutting some more, we could eventually shut down the government, at which point we would be rich.

Others in Maine believe we need, fundamentally, to grow the pie by increasing incomes and bringing better paying jobs to Maine, rather than fighting over a shrinking pie. This line of thinking is also essential, and our attention to education, reducing taxes, energy and infrastructure, etc. can allow Maine to produce a business climate that is much more amenable, finally, to job growth.

But is cost containment paired with providing basic conditions for a better business climate the total picture in regard to a prosperous Maine? No. In addition to these two required dimensions, there is a third also needed critical element as well: market sophistication.

In the globally competitive landscape of the 21st century, Maine can learn to better integrate, coordinate, leverage and market its leading expertise in high growth markets to successfully reach a "critical mass" necessary for global competitiveness. While private industry, rather than government, must determine what Maine's most vital industries are going forward, a few examples of areas in which Maine is already historically strong and which are consistent with Maine's traditions and values include: forestry, agricultural science, maritime science and renewable energy.

Components of environmental science, broadly defined, are also in great global demand across the planet to address such issues as deforestation, food production and clean drinking water, global warming effects and many more. In fact, the United Nations has identified environmental science as one of the top five growth areas of the 21st century.

Maine can greatly develop our export trade skills such that Maine businesses can readily identify where their goods, expertise and services are already in demand across the world and learn how to meet that demand most effectively.

Maine can also employ "smart economic development" that incorporates quality of place and beyond for Maine to serve as a beacon to grow, attract and retain profitably sustainable businesses that are respectful of Maine's environment and responsible corporate citizens.

This requires Maine's leadership to have a sophisticated understanding of what needs to be done to be effective in the world as it exists, and the skill sets to accomplish what is needed. Problem-solving capabilities that relate to such a competitive landscape is a critical type of needed experience which can help identify who can most successfully meet Maine's challenges going forward.

In short, Maine will advance and, yes, prosper when, as a state, we work as smart as we do hard, when we integrate the best and most sophisticated ideas and strategies from wherever they arise, and work together to meet economic challenges in a way that best leverages Maine's leading strengths of expertise, traditions and values.

Alex Hammer of Bangor is an independent candidate for Maine governor.