MDC income

[Crippled Caddis]

jc wrote:

<DONT FORGET TO VOTE!!!!!>

AMEN! But from an informed position!

I am a devout Constitutionalist and a great admirer of Thomas Jefferson. Therefore some quotes from the principle author of our Constitution pertinant to the subject, but preceded by a few words from one he admired. CC

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The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." - Plato

"It was by the sober sense of our citizens that we were safely and steadily conducted from monarchy to republicanism, and it is by the same agency alone we can be kept from falling back." --Thomas Jefferson

"We are to guard against ourselves; not against ourselves as we are, but as we may be; for who can imagine what we may become under circumstances not now imaginable?" --Thomas Jefferson

"Time indeed changes manners and notions, and so far we must expect institutions to bend to them. But time produces also corruption of principles, and against this it is the duty of good citizens to be ever on the watch, and if the gangrene is to prevail at last, let the day be kept off as long as possible." --Thomas Jefferson

"The time to guard against corruption and tyranny is before they shall have gotten hold of us. It is better to keep the wolf out of the fold, than to trust to drawing his teeth and talons after he shall have entered." --Thomas Jefferson

"[Montesquieu wrote in Spirit of the Laws, VIII,c.12:] 'When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.'" --Thomas Jefferson: copied into his Commonplace Book

"I wish... to see maintained that wholesome distribution of powers established by the Constitution for the limitation of both [the State and General governments], and never to see all offices transferred to Washington where, further withdrawn from the eyes of the people, (where) they may more secretly be bought and sold as at market." --Thomas Jefferson

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On this Eve of Independence day I commend to the readers the words of another who loved his nation:

"Study the Constitution. Let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislatures, and enforced in courts of justice."

-- Abraham Lincoln

[gonefishin]

CC: what was it Thomas Jefferson said about exercise. Something along the lines of in the matter of exercise I recommend the gun it ......

[Gavin]

Sorry, but not all answers are simple or soundbyte worthy..Sometimes you have to think about it for awhile..They really are subject to a fair amount of oversight..The governor, the conservation comission, the state auditor, plus the Dem's, Republicans, Farm Bureua, and property rights folks are always looking for a way to stir up scandal and snatch their 1/8cent sales tax money or find a way to make them impotent like DNR...

Heres a link to their most recent audit..

http://auditor.mo.gov/press/2005-74.pdf

Most of the report lists the state auditors findings (stuff they did wrong, stuff that needs improvement, etc.), follow ups on prior findings. Scroll to the last couple pages for the numbers..cash on hand etc...there are some big line items that would draw a lot of scrutiny from the State Auditor.

[gonefishin]

Thanks Gavin. You are right there are some big number lines there that should draw a lot of scrutiny.

[jcoberley]

Gavin, that report is ending june 30 2004 would there happen to be a more current one?

[hank franklin]

Decisions by the MDC and Conservation Commission are fair game and can and should be discussed and debated. That debate can be very helpful, especially in an online public forum.

Complaints about access to information, and accusations of cover-ups, obfuscation, etc. in my opinion ring very hollow given the wealth of information out there.

You may not be able to get it instantaneously, but all financials, minutes, agenda postings, etc are all open public records and in my experience are readily available online.

[jcoberley]

I keep hearing how under staffed they are however I find in the 2004 report they As of June 30, 2004, the department

employed approximately 1,500 salaried employees and 730 hourly employees. 2230 employees. Thats 20 per county Avg.

[Gavin]

Sorry, but I'm not aware of a more current report..The State Auditor audits them on a bi-annual basis and it looks like it took them 14 months to complete the 6/30/04 report..Maybe they will have the 6/30/06 report out soon...

FWIW, I think those audits need to be more timely...I wouldnt have any clients if it took me more than a couple months to complete a job. Cheers.

[Crippled Caddis]

gf wrote:

<CC: what was it Thomas Jefferson said about exercise. Something along the lines of in the matter of exercise I recommend the gun it ......>

I think you're referring to this one:

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun, therefore, be the constant companion of your walks." --Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785. ME 5:85, Papers 8:407

I recommend:

<http://famguardian.org/Subjects/Politics/ThomasJefferson/jeffcont.htm>

[gonefishin]

Yep. That is the one. Great quote huh.