THE PUBLIC MIND: CITY ZONES WOULD OPEN THE DOOR SO ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE COULD RUN FOR CITY GOVERNMENT

Dear Editor:

I read with great interest the Perspective on City Zones vs. At Large System of Zone Representation as posed by Larry Godfrey and David Limbaugh. Mary Wulfers and former Editor of the Southeast Missourian John Blue added another dimension to the article, and thus, I would also like to interject my perspective of this amendment to the City Charter.

First of all, I would like to comment on David Limbaugh's usage of the word "plebiscite" in his efforts to discredit the zone system of government. A rather ostentatious word, considering the "common" man may not understand it. Let me quote: "However, our country was never intended to be ruled by an ongoing plebiscite."

Webster's Dictionary gives this word broader meaning but let us state what a plebe or plebeian is. "A member of the ancient Roman lower class, a vulgar coarse person, characteristic of the lower class in ancient Rome or of the common people in any country." In short, an uncultured person. Now, a plebiscite is "A vote of the whole community or nation, a decree of the plebs."

I guess, in Mr. Limbaugh's mind I am a "plebe." Yes, Mr. Limbaugh, Mr. Blue and Ms. Wulfers, I am a common man, but with beliefs that go back to the days of the beginning of our country, to the days of the "Minuteman." To give a brief history on what a minuteman was and how he affected our great country, let me just say they were members of the American citizen army at the time of the Revolution who volunteered to be ready for military service at a minute's notice. I dare say, President Washington would not have called them "plebiscites."

But this is how the present council sees its constituents, because at every turn the present three councilpersons use terms and phrases that merely accentuate what the citizens of Cape Girardeau, "the common man," see as the big problem with the current at large system.

We common people suffer from "class envy," a new socio-political term the two attorneys on the council like to label those who are opposed to the current system of government in Cape. No, I do not envy anybody in your "class." But that is what separates and divides the country and this city, the perception by the current council that it is they who are the ruling class and we are their servants. But the constitution states otherwise and has been quoted enough times in the past that any more inferences to it would be overkill. To put it in another way, my wife and I live only one block away from Mary Wulfers, so I dare say, class envy is not the order of the day.

As it now stands, our politicians currently running in districts of which the whole state is made up are concerned with their own district, of which Cape Girardeau is in the 8th. Does this mean that representatives from this area, only concerned with this area, affect the running of the whole state, the growth of the whole state, the wellbeing of the whole state because they voice the concerns of the constituents in their district? If this was so, why is it still this way? Why not have everyone running for office do so from St. Louis or Kansas City or even Springfield?

This is what the one person one vote principle is all about. This principle is based on population of 18 years and older, not on the requirement there be a certain number of registered voters.

As I have been told by many respected members of this community, the date at which time the amendment will become effective is understood by law to be "immediate" when not stated. As to the procedures one must follow to run for the council, it is that they shall be nominated and elected as provided in Article VII of the charter. How much more clarification must one have? If a common man can understand it, it must be clear. Had the Zone boundaries been correctly drawn up at the beginning of the Charter adoption there would be no problem in amending this charter. As I read it, the charter was drawn up rather liberally.

The consistent usage by the present council that the people are voting for a "Ward" System is misleading to the public. The amendment clearly states the city council will consist of seven members, six councilmen and a mayor, it does not say there will be an alderman of 17 wards represented on the council. And as far as divisive, the current perspective of each council member is narrowed already to four against three, with four persons from one area of the city determining the general welfare of the entire city. Where is the growth and upkeep of the city greatest...need I say more on that?

Only since the zone system issue has come up have any improvements been even attempted on the older sections of the city. If Cape Girardeau wants growth in tourism, the city as a whole must be presentable and in good repair. Also, if corporate health is at stake, why are many businesses moving out and why are many businesses not moving in? There are many flaws in the concepts of the present council system, and by attacking the zone system, they are only mirroring what they themselves have become.

In conclusion, the common man or plebeian is the backbone of this nation, and to say that only a certain class of people are fit to run the government leads me to believe that voting in favor of city zones is what Cape Girardeau needs...a good shot in the arm.

Charles Gudermuth

Cape Girardeau