ChanteyLass points out that her local supermarkets are owned by firms outside the US - but the real issue here, in my opinion, (and, as also reiterated by McGrath of Harlow) is not that the port operation may be purchased by (shock horror drama) the FRENCH! but that a profitable business/monopoply in public ownership should be sold off into the private ownership "of those who will milk this national treasure for profits at the expense of the travelling public and British commerce" in order to finance expansion of the business.

Chris Laming, from P&O Ferries, one of three ferry lines who claim £60m they provided to fund a second terminal at the port of Dover will have been wasted if the sell-off goes ahead.stated -
"We've now filed a complaint to the secretary of state because we're so concerned about the prices we could be charged in the future under the Dover scheme, which is really the PRIVATISATION OF A MONOPOLY, and it could threaten the whole of the ferry industry in Dover."

As for a community 'bond scheme' it seems a "vain thing fondly invented"
The port would still be run for profit by a private operator even if the land itself is leased
Although the "Sids" were encouraged to buy shares in Gas if they wanted to the professionals still managed and ran these privatised companies not a load of well intentioned but inexperienced "volunteers" as envisaged under the Tory's 'Big Society' which is simply political dogma disguised as giving 'power to the people'.

Unlike the libertarian principle of anti 'big government' many people in the UK still prefer as one reader of a conservative blog replied -

"People don't want parents running schools or laypeople running hospitals, traffic control, the police or any other essential services. They want the State to do by means of professionals. Charities don't want it, voters don't want it, professionals don't want it.
It's just an excuse to cut essential services.

I want to know that when I send my kids to school or go to hospital, or get on a bus, I don't have to run the damned thing myself, but pay my taxes and have someone well paid and well qualified to do it for me."