Things Look This Way to Me

Editorial by J.B. McKinley 11/1/07

Local, State & Federal Potshots

Since my last venting in this column, three irritants cropped up in conversation here at the newspaper office that arose from each level of our government. You might ask is that all, but maybe that’s being too cynical!

Taking aim at local government for my first potshot, it seems to me that it is long past time for the Town and Village of Morrisville to completely and finally resolve the many issues over the sewer plant and department. Many meetings have occurred over a period of decades; agreements have been crafted and drafted – then elected officials change and everything stagnates nearly at Step One. Sure, the situation is very complex with the Village’s Water & Light Department, accountability to ratepayers, the  moribund nature of Village government with declining responsibilities, all balanced against the many demands on town government at a time of record high taxation. But, having sewage regulations and an attendant bureaucracy that a supplicant can have a reasonable chance of understanding and satisfying, for example, if a business needs an increased sewage capacity, is a necessity.

Having a reasonable chance to develop something new without months or years of hassle and hiring attorneys is simply necessary to growth in housing and our local economy. Someone has to knock down many of the hurdles. What will MSI do, if and when it grows? What will happen if something big wants to go into the field across 15 from Kinney’s? Well, I’m guessing the folks at HearthStone will tell you the way things stand, nothing will happen. Nothing will be built.

Okay, now I’m shooting for the 10-ring on the state target! Loyal readers who also look at The Transcript may have read Amy Noyes’ story on Wolcott School’s hike of the Pinnacle recently. There is a bit of follow-up story. Apparently someone read this article and the State of Vermont was made aware of the hike. The school was called and emailed with the peremptory news that all hikes of this nature involving 20 persons or more needed a permit from the state to hike.

What?!!!! This has got to be a regulation/law about as enforced as no spitting on the sidewalk. Horsemen or women hang a bag under your mount’s tail and if you’re taking your car out for a spin make sure to have a horse drag it through the village so as not to disturb the horses! Boy Scouts, have you always requested state permission to go on a hike?

So, apparently the solution is to form groups of 19 and go hiking. Enjoy the heck out of yourselves as long as you don’t have a 20th friend.

Finally, I’ve reached the federal government. I guess I could just aim anywhere to slay an irritant, but this time I’m thinking of the “contractors” (read mercenaries) like Blackwater employees. Two things about the situation with contracting military workers angers me. First, they are paid far better than our soldiers, who, increasingly, are our neighbors. Secondly, the use of contractors radically decreases the political impact of whatever military action we are taking. We, the people, simply don’t feel the impact of 100,000 mercenaries sent to war.  Those 100,000 persons are merely a budget item in a budget so huge a pickup truck can’t carry it. This is not the way it should be. Our soldiers should be paid fairly for their patriotism and service. Their mission should be worth the pay, effort and sacrifice. All costs of a conflict should be made as obvious as possible. On this third and last target, don’t you agree? I’ve finally hit a bullseye.