Conserving, trailing and other matters of some import

In the weeks since our representative in the U.S. House of Representatives announced her resignation, there has been some discussion about how Southeast Missouri has turned into a stronghold of political conservatism in recent years, especially in the years since Bill Emerson took the House seat as a Republican, a major shift at the time in the tide of popular voting. The Republican nominee is pretty much considered to be a shoo-in for the vacant seat.

In the flip-flop of political parties, a Missouri Legislature that had been run by Democrats for so long that no one remembered otherwise became a Republican stronghold -- in both chambers.

But Southeast Missouri didn't become politically conservative all of a sudden. No, it always has been conservative. Back when Democrats ran things in this part of the state, they were conservative Democrats.

Somewhere along the line, there was a national political shift. Partisanship -- and winning -- replaced deals made in smoke-filled rooms. These were deals that resulted in legislative compromise and, in some instances, wonderful displays of statesmanship.

Quick. Name me one current statesman in Washington, D.C.

Gotcha.

Part of the conservative mantra belabors the gush of spending by our elected officials. Republicans -- they're all conservative now -- say the problem with America is the outrageous spending by Democrats. True, the spending is unbelievably out of whack, but it's the result of massive spending plans approved by both parties during the last few decades.

But here's a curious thing that is becoming more and more obvious: In Southeast Missouri, Republicans bemoan runaway federal spending. I'm not talking about the professional politicians here. Just about everyone who calls himself a true-blue Republican in Southeast Missouri knows all the lyrics to the party song.

But while Southeast Missouri conservatives aim their loaded shotguns at massive federal debt and deficits in Washington, they tend to regard local spending with a pea shooter. There are signs all around us of projects that beg the limits of tolerant taxpayers, all approved by local authorities who claim to be conservatives, or Republicans, or conservative Republicans.

Now we have a city council in Cape Girardeau looking for glamorous ways to spend the new influx of casino revenue. At the same time, a lot of good folks are looking at their city utility bill -- the one for water, sewers and solid waste disposal -- and wondering why we're paying so much and why some of the casino money couldn't be used to help out a little where it hurts just about everyone's pocketbook. After all, there are a bunch of new restrooms being used by gamblers.

Much of the increase in city utility costs is related to the new sewage plant under construction. The federal government told the city years ago that folks down the Mississippi River didn't like us dumping raw poop into their water supply, and so the city was given a federal mandate to take care of the problem.

This was a problem the city knew about before it asked voters to approve a water park and before the school district asked voters to approve a massive facilities-improvement scheme. But a decision was made to hold off on asking for voters to approve funding for sewage treatment -- how perky would that be? -- until voters said "yes" to the water park and schools, which they did by rather large margins, absent any raw sewage distractions.

Then we got the word: Sewer rates would have to triple and then some to pay for the sewage treatment plant, and if voters didn't like the plan at hand, the costs would be even more onerous. So there. Either way you vote you're screwed.

But, we have a water park. And wonderful schools.

And now we have casino revenue. All of which is being spent on gewgaws so everyone can see how beneficial it is to have a gambling palace in town.

Thanks, conservatives. That's just what we need.

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As work continues on the Amazing and Wonderous Trail along William Street in our fair city, it has become obvious that the trail takes some interesting loops at Silver Springs Road, connecting eventually with existing trails on Mount Auburn Road.

Perhaps some of the casino cash could be used to furnish licensed trail users with a mobile GPS. Just in case.

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OK. I have to confess. There's a new trail in my neighborhood, too. As a matter of fact it's in my front yard.

In replacing the sewer line at my house, the front walk had to be removed. Monday a crew came and poured a lovely new trail.

We still call it a sidewalk. But the fact is that it will get just as much use as the William Street trail. Which is why neither my wife nor I know how to open the front door when the occasional FedEx delivery person forgets how easy it is to get to our patio door.

By the way, we paid for our new trail. Not a dime of city, county, state or federal funding was used.

We're pretty conservative about things like that.

Joe Sullivan is the retired editor of the Southeast Missourian.