Finding fixes for a 'more perfect' world

One of the best phrases in the U.S. Constitution is "a more perfect union."

I'm so glad the guys who chose that phrase skipped over "an absolutely, positively infallibly perfect union."

Nothing is perfect.

After Thursday's storm and a lightning strike caused flooding in downtown Cape Girardeau, some folks complained that the city wasn't prepared. Why, for example, didn't someone just roll a generator to the pumping station and plug it in?

Tim Gramling, the city's director of public works, called me Friday to point out that work crews first had to figure out what the lightning struck before they could fix it. In the meantime, a portable pump sent water to the nearest lift station.

Gramling said the city could conceivably spend enough money for backup plans and equipment to cover something as catastrophic as all the pumping stations failing simultaneously.

"Where do you draw the line?" he said. "You can have all the backups available, but at what cost?"

Because nothing is perfect, there will be problems.

One of my favorite people, Helen Barackman, knew this. She fielded her share of problems, including three forms of cancer, always with a big-picture view. Her idea of planning and zoning meant seating a dinner party so her husband couldn't start some kind of mid-meal political row. He generally ended up surrounded by the youngest grandchildren, king of the kids. For Helen, family mattered most. Her dedication was reflected by those who gathered for her final moments Saturday. In a perfect world, she would still be here.

Much was made over Tim Russert, for his ability to see fundamental values in everyday behavior. During an interview with Charlie Rose, Russert said politics was supposed to be about finding ways to bring parties together to work for larger goals, as opposed to being mired in fights over partisan ideology.

This, I believe, was the general idea when our founding fathers wrote, "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

As in, we are all in this boat together and should be figuring out more perfect ways to navigate and use the paddles.

Instead, it seems we the people end up arguing about where we're going and whether we got there and what to name the boat, just as some are fussing about the city of Cape Girardeau's displaced fireworks instead of figuring out how to make the event succeed.

In Marble Hill, Mo., dozens of people showed up for the second annual ice block races Saturday. Heat made the grass too dry for good sliding in 2007. Instead of giving up, organizers added a giant plastic sheet this year, raising $300 with a more perfect event.

The money will help pay the $7,000 tab for an entertainment stage in downtown Marble Hill's Magnolia Park. That park was created after city, state and federal officials agreed most of that land would repeatedly flood. A small parcel of high ground is reserved for the stage, according to fundraising volunteer Jack Watt. He said developing new Marble Hill attractions is essential for helping the community grow. The next fundraiser is a multi-band concert from 1 to 6 p.m. July 19 at Magnolia Park. Bring your own picnic basket and blankets or chairs. Admission is by donation.

Questions, suggestions or tips for Lost on Main Street? E-mail pmcnichol@semissourian.com or call 335-6611, extension 127.