MISSOURI WATCH: TAKING A LOOK AT THE FUTURE THROUGH A CALIFORNIA LENS

SOMEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA -- Is it possible to see Missouri's future by visiting another state?

Let's hope not, if only because the nation's largest dominion, the Golden State of California, seems to have more problems than anyone or any political party can solve. If our state's future is now in plain view in this huge expanse of both beautiful and very ugly landscape, then our children's children are in for a great shock. And so are we if we hang around Mother Earth too long.

At first glance, nothing appears to be amiss. Landing at overcrowded and overtaxed airports is a part of Americana these days. Damaged luggage, airline meals that don't even reach the level of the worst restaurant in town, long lines to reach human amenities, rude public servants---these are available anywhere in the Good Old USA. Experiencing such difficulties is akin to deja vu.

It isn't until one begins a close read of the state's major newspapers that a hint of California calamities begins to form. On the way to your hotel, there is a decided presence of too many cars for too few traffic lanes, but this occurs in St. Louis and Kansas City at various times of the day, so even though the hours are different, this is just part of today's urban culture. Get used to it.

While observing the traffic, however, the visitor fails to note a couple of decidedly more frightening incidents that aren't revealed until the newspaper makes them very clear: armed young gangs are operating, oftentimes totally out of control, in neighborhoods that you passed through en route to the hotel. The police, unmanned and outgunned as always, publicly admit they cannot control the lawlessness that has infected large areas of major cities.

Traffic was delayed on the ride from the airport because the states leading Democratic fund-raiser had jumped to his death from the Golden Gate Bridge. The city doesn't keep track of all the suicides from this historic landmark because officials are afraid even more will leap to certain death.

California's cities have long ago run out of space for new homes but this doesn't appear to have halted construction on hills that are impossible to climb. The term zoning law appears to be a contradiction in terms: either there is no zoning or there are no laws to enforce it. When unexpected rains or earthquakes occur, damage is unbelievably extensive to homes over large areas of the state.

After abandoning the bad news in the daily papers, a conversation with a Californian is instructive, as well as alarming. If Missourians are indifferent to the quality of political leadership in their state, Californians are downright hostile. .There is so little respect for the state is able governor, Pete Wilson, that one can only wonder how on earth he was ever elected. Besides, the visitor is told, the governor is only using his office to seek the presidency, but our advice to Pete would be to abandon any hope of widespread support. He might do better in Missouri, where he grew up.

California's growth has produced a water shortage that exists even in areas where the rainfall is equal to that in Missouri. Maybe the state ignores zoning because it is busily engaged in enforcing the water laws; even reading them makes one thirsty.

The Golden State has 12 percent of the nations population, crammed into an area that has about twice the land area of Missouri, but which has huge uninhabitable regions that make our Ozarks look like tiny molehills. California is only 10 miles wider than Missouri, with six times the population.

A visitor winces as Californians state as fact that they are America's future. Perhaps it's possible to accept some of the cuisine, but if rutabaga pizza and uncooked fish are the dishes of tomorrow, stockpile all the anti-acids you can find.

The two states have some similarities. We're both situated over huge fault zones, we usually vote alike in presidential races, we seem to share a populist view of government and we have an almost identical party split in our congressional delegations.

But it also safe to say that just about any problem our state is experiencing has been present for years in California and is now many times worse. Curious about tomorrow? Go West, young man, but get ready for a 10 on your Richter scale.

~Jack Stapleton of Kennett is the editor of Missouri News and Editorial Service.