Save the Moke? Save the World (as we know it!)
Being a regular patron of the Moke below Camanche Dam for 23 years, I was ultimately disturbed to see 40 workers constructing a conduit under the Moke during the "quiet time" of the river with respect to recreational users in January/February 2008. A "money-maker" was under construction to send more water to the highest bidder...
The Department of Water Resources answers to NO ONE and generates countless dollars to any politician who obtains water for the countless growing population of California who come here for the weather, on the decline, but still good, and the opportunities for employment, currently non-existent, unless it involves WORK, a four letter word not in the vocabulary of most who call the "Golden State" home.
Throughout my life, I have always gauged where a geographic location is "healthy" by the water quality available. When I migrated here 23 years ago, CA was a wonderful place. In the ensuing years, I have seen greed evaporate the reason I chose this state to be my home.
Steelhead, trout, bass, stripers, and shad florished here when I arrived. They are ever increasingly harder to find as greed predominates. Russ Chatham left in the early 90's for the same reason. He went to Montana which he has discovered is being "raped" in a different manner.
Thank God, I'm getting older and soon won't give a damn if I can fish...I shall remain here because of the weather. If I were a young man and loved the outdoors, I would vacate this God forsaken political hell and go someplace pristine. Problem is, as greed dominates, there no longer is anyplace "pristine"!
Madoff shouldn't go to jail- he should become the Governor of California and "finish off" the state. He truly exemplifies the greed of the "wannabes" who are leading our state to ultimate destruction.
Sure hope I "inflame" someone...unfortunately, it will be some conscientious bastard, like myself who is powerless because he/she works instead of 'scams' to advance themself in life.