Michigan's business community has permitted itself to be seduced by Nestle into thinking that public water privately sold as a product in bottles is just like water used to make cars, baby food and other products. If this is a sign of the IQ level of said business community, it does not bode well for Michigan's future economy.
Here's an example of the overheated, misguided rhetoric from the Michigan Manufacturers Association:
The Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) says that the Granholm Administration may be undermining the "economic use of water in Michigan," referring to the Governor's recent Executive Directive relating to water bottling operations in the State. Mike Johnston, MMA director of regulatory affairs said, "MMA member reaction has been strong and immediate. The governor’s recent moves imply that the sale of every product made in Michigan using water either in the process or as part of the product will be limited to just the Great Lakes Basin. What about pop, beer, pharmaceuticals, latex paint, cement, baby food? Will they be banned from sale outside the basin too? This directive undermines Michigan’s economic base and sends a clear message to the manufacturing community that the regulatory climate is unpredictable." MMA said it will be "considering all legal and legislative options to ensure Michigan manufacturers can operate and compete nationally and globally using Michigan water."
And here's what's wrong with it, in the words of a seasoned observe who understands what is really at stake:
MMA continues to let Nestle cozy-up in its manufacturers members' bed.
Nestle is using MMA and other users of water within our watersheds and the
Basin to change the law -- common or statutory -- so Nestle can extract and
sell water somewhere else in competition with those like MMA members who use
the water here. If ever properly explained Big Auto, manufacturing,
beverage, chemical and utility companies and workers would kick Nestle out
of bed in a moment. One Nestle has changed the law so that sale and export
is on the same playing field to get Michigan water, MMA members will be
sorry. Not immediately, but within a few years they will regret it.