Mdc Announces Name Change And New Director

[ozark trout fisher]

I suspect this thread will be deleted soon.

I am very tempted to go on a rant right now,but it is enough to say that I have irreconcilable differences in political opinion with Smalliebigs and JDMidwest, so I will hold my tongue, so as not to be the cause of another deleted thread.

But I will say if it weren't for those "darned liberals", we would have just about nothing to hunt and fish for, and Missouri would generally be a pretty crappy place.

[flytyer57]

And at least in MO, I can eat most fish and not have to worry about the mercury in them like in Ark. The only thing we have is some Dioxin in rough fish in the Missouri/Mississippi River basins.

And just how many streams has the MDC checked lately for mercury etc.

I'm sure there are a lot of streams in MO that have high levels of mercury and other toxins that are harmful to human health.

Just because a stream is not listed on the toxicology reports, does not mean it is ok. Many streams are never tested.

[Al Agnew]

Even though I'm sticking to being a pragmatic conserberal (I'm really liking that description), I'd like to point out that at the time most of our present environmental laws were passed, the line between conservative and liberal (and between Democrat and Republican) wasn't nearly as sharp as it is now. People from both parties voted for those laws. And people from both parties voted against them.

The Meramec Dam controversy, the first political issue having to do with the environment that I really payed attention to, was a good case in point. Several Democratic congressmen were all for the dams until they got so much flak from their constituents that they began to change their minds. And a Republican Senator, John Danforth, was rather instrumental in the defeat of the dam.

So although the environmental laws were mostly instigated and strongly supported by liberals, at the time a few legislators who would be considered conservative also supported them. To get on the soapbox a bit, that's what concerns me most about our present political climate. Positions have hardened to where it's like a law that you declare yourself a conservative or a liberal and then vote right down the line on whatever issue is being decided. And not only that, but your opposition if you're a legislator, or whoever is on the "other team" if you're just a citizen, is the enemy, and out to purposely destroy the country.

While there are people and politicians on both sides who probably have hidden agendas, the vast majority of people who consider themselves either liberal or conservative aren't out to get you, and love this country just as much as you do. The sooner we get back to understanding and believing that, the better off the country will be.

Off the soapbox now...

[jdmidwest]

Politics has nothing to do with this discussion. I for one never brought that up.

My opposition was about bleeding heart mamby pamby's that can't stand for a tree to get cut, or animal get killed, or a fish to get filleted.

And for the record, for the ones that get confused, I enjoy the outdoors as it currently exists. I harvest timber for profit, I hunt for food, I trap for animal control, I fish for food and enjoyment. I take long walks thru nature, study its historical past, and wonder greatly about its future. I fight hard to protect it so my children will enjoy it the same way I have. I despise those who attack the ones that manage our outdoors based on their agenda's.

[ozark trout fisher]

My opposition was about bleeding heart mamby pamby's that can't stand for a tree to get cut, or animal get killed, or a fish to get filleted.

I don't really think that there are any such people on this forum... At least I don't know who you'd be talking about.

I consider myself to be a liberal and an environmentalist (probably what you would call a bleeding heart), but I still fillet bluegills, hunt rabbits, and heat the house with firewood. The key is being responsible and not taking more than what you need to get by.

[Stoneroller]

I love all the talk, and that's all it is, TALK about how the Democrats have done ALL this work to help conservation and wildlife. Let me just remind those of you with limited historical knowledge that the Greatest conservationist that ever served as President was a Republican and it weren't for the efforts by Theodore Roosevelt, we would not have a national park system or a conservation movement at all. (he was an avid hunter, BUT understood completely that there MUST be strict laws and hunting seasons)

remember "Manifest Destiny"?? 19th century American belief that the United States (often in the ethnically specific form of the "Anglo-Saxon race") was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific Ocean. It was used by Democrats in the 1840s to justify the war with Mexico.

it's not a matter of liberal/conservative, the issue seems to lie with whether you think man 'RULES' the planet or man 'Lives' on the planet. I think the division is pretty clear. And if people like myself didn't stand up against people who believe the wonton, wreckless, and senseless killing of any animal is perfectly ok, we'd have NO wildlife left to hunt in a managed manner!!

and if you think humans are the grease that keeps the wheels of the earth turning, WOW are you disillusioned. maybe more schooling and less political rhetoric would be a wise path...

[Chief Grey Bear]

And just what has the republican party done in the last 50 years for conservation???? Or would you like me to make it easier on you and make it the last 75??? Or a slam dunk and give you 100????

I can't wait to read this.

[flytyer57]

And just what has the republican party done in the last 50 years for conservation???? Or would you like me to make it easier on you and make it the last 75??? Or a slam dunk and give you 100????

I can't wait to read this.

Under GWB they pretty much eliminated the clean water act and allowed the gas and oil guys to pretty much pollute all they want.

[Chief Grey Bear]

And don't forget the electric plants that use coal. I remember it was so they could compete. Against who????

[flytyer57]

And don't forget the electric plants that use coal. I remember it was so they could compete. Against who????

Environmentaly friendly producers.