Not putting words in Mike's mouth, but..... With the trout stamp the danged thing is $43.00 or thereabouts. I think his point is that with the higher price we would expect higher level of service - enforcement. We as trout fishermen, pay a little extra to pay for the program and to have the privilege of fishing a wider distribution of the cold water species. That is our choice. Without it many of use would have to travel 4 hours or more in lieu of 1 hour or less to fish for trout in Tennessee. However, with the higher fee and the paying of the privilege, we also expect better service (see the recent posts about the big box stores about this line of thinking of value for the dollar). Our perception is that we are paying Hardy/Orvis prices but getting WallyWorld service. However, what is the value of the chance of a grand slam in the Caney in April after the Brook trout stocking? But I digress!! I haven't lived in another state in almost 30 years so I don't have too much to compare to, but this state and this city (Nashville) seems to have a serious lack of enforcement of the laws that the Legislature loves to pass. Just travel our highways and biways and you can see one aspect of the lack of personal responsibility and selfishness of our fellow citizens and the visitors to our grand state and fair city! That same attitude is now extending into the waterways and reservoirs of this state. And as usual the government officials will be off planning their next party, apologizing to the Indians and "former"slaves, charging developers for trees they cut down to build a building while allowing trees to be cut down rampantly by their work forces or NES's, or building sidewalks that start nowhere - end nowhere - that nobody uses ...... (shall I go on?) instead of enforcing the laws that they are charged to uphold and enforce and for which they are paid to enforce by mine and yours tax dollars. Somebody will probably have to get hurt or killed before they get off their collectives backsides and do something about it - if even then. In addition, this state has to decide a simple question. Is the trout program a thinly veiled welfare program for a few, paid for by my license dollars, or is it something that is there to enrich the quality of life in this state and benefits the many? Simple question that all those bureaucrats can't seem to get their arms around and decide. With all that being said, I feel that the TWRA does a pretty good job of managing most of our wildlife resources - they just don't enforce the regs to the level of irresponsibility that our fellow citizens present. Now do I expect people who are basically biologists, wildlife mangers, and the ilk to be able to be tough but fair Law Enforcement Officers also? More enforcers are needed - plain and simple! How they do it can be varied - just hire more, swear in deputies as needed, have a system of riverkeepers who can record violations where the perpetrator gets a visit and citation later while in the comfort of his easy chair, bring in Guido, etc..... There are a number of ways that can improve, if only they want to! or they are forced to!
Whew - Rant over!
Actually not yet! Perhaps a good place to start is the system of Commissioners. Now, over the years I'm sure that there have been a number of Commissioners that I am sure were there because they were knowledgeable, loved the outdoors, wanted to do the best for the state, were conversation minded, etc.... But sitting right next to them are ones that don't hold to those same "values" if I may use that term. The Commissioners are simply a body of people selected by the Governor, quite often as a reward for their work in helping get the Gov. elected. Almost all the Commissions are the same. I had a good friend that used to sit on the Commission of higher education. Knowing him, he put his best effort into managing the colleges and universities in TN and I love the guy, but what experience or expertise did he bring to the table - he was a caulking subcontractor! However, he did hold some fund-raisers for the then Governor. I worked for a guy who became a TWRA Commissioner. Did this guy know anything about wildlife? - not much more than knowing how to absolutely slaughter waterfowl and dove. For proof, If not purged from the records, he was issued citations, I believe 3 times for game law violations. I saw the freezers (yes multiple freezers), full of nothing but waterfowl and dove. What did he bring to the table? He was one of the biggest fund-raisers for his party and he wanted to make sure he could continue to slaughter all the waterfowl he could while in a state of inebriation. The system is a breeding ground of favoritism of the privileged and sometimes is there for the protection of the elected. i.e. - if a large group of local and harvesting, fishermen, don't want restricting of limits and the like, a loophole or a private act is passed and the Commissioners go off whimpering. It is easier and safer for the reelection of their Leader or their party not to have controversy. The result is that what is the wish of a few overrules the "good of the many"? and that is not how this country is supposed to be run!
