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| 10/10/2008 6:31:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | 'How the DNR stole Wisconsin' on sale now
Moore: Time is now to change state agency
Richard Moore's new book, "How the DNR Stole Wisconsin," goes on sale today through mail order at The Lakeland Times.
The book contains 45 of Moore's best columns and articles about the natural resources agency, all originally appearing in The Lakeland Times.
The book can also be purchased online at Moore's website, www.rmmoore1.com.
Moore, a former editor of The Times and currently an investigative reporter for the newspaper, also includes a piece never before published, Compatible Virtues, an extended essay about how property rights advocates and true environmentalists can and must work together and are, in fact, natural allies.
"The book gives readers the history of the transformation of this agency, as well as examples of some of its more horrific actions," Moore said. "It shows how the DNR essentially mutated from a department whose wardens and conservationists worked with people pro-actively and on a daily basis to solve problems into a regime that everyone fears, not only enforcing laws with jackbooted arrogance but making them up on a whim and backing them up with their own judicial and police powers."
The book explains how a group of radical aestheticists hijacked the DNR, aided by judicial activists who forced a divorce of privacy rights from property rights, and how the state's administrative rules process augmented their power.
"How the DNR Stole Wisconsin" also contains within the essays a blueprint for reform.
"Most of the essays include specific recommendations for reform," Moore said. "Many people may have better ideas, but the main point of the book is to issue a call that the time is now for change."
Moore said he is planning a number of appearances across the state in the coming months to promote that call.
"My one hope is that the book helps, in some small way, to lead to change, to a more robust democratic government, to better and more constitutional treatment of our citizens, and to a healthier environment," Moore said. "My wish is that this book's subtitle - 'How Citizens Can Take (Wisconsin) Back' - ends up being more enduring, relevant and prescient than the title that necessitated it."
Lakeland Times publisher Gregg Walker said the newspaper was proud to have partnered in the publication of "How the DNR Stole Wisconsin."
"This book continues our tradition of commitment to investigative journalism and open government," Walker said. "Over the years our newspaper's investigations and court fights for open records have had an important impact - ensuring that the disciplinary records of public employees are open to the public, for example, divulging spending excesses such as the DNR's drunken buying of vehicles, and exposing corruption and favoritism inside the agency - and we pledge to stand firm in that commitment to truth."
Moore said the newly released DNR proposed budget for 2007-09 underscores the need for change, as the agency sits on the sidelines while homeowners and local lake associations battle invasive species.
"For the most important environmental fight of our time, the fight against invasive species, the agency is asking for an increase of only $250,000 a year over what is already a paltry sum," Moore said. "But guess how much of an increase they want for their vehicle fleet? That would be $1.1 million a year. It's shameful."
Moore's articles and essays have appeared in more than two dozen national and regional publications, including The New York Times Sunday Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Charleston Magazine, The St. Petersburg Times, The Progressive, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He has also served as editor of The Reedsburg Times-Press and the Merrill Foto News.
He is a contributing author to The Reform of State Legislatures (University Press of America), which John Fund, editorial writer for The Wall Street Journal, called "an excellent report" on changes in state legislatures. Moore's writing has also appeared in college texts (e.g., Social Problems, edited by Stanley Eitzen, Allyn & Bacon, Inc.).
"How the DNR Stole Wisconsin" is available by mail by sending $16.95 plus 94 cents sales tax and $5 shipping and handling per copy to Highland House, c/o The Lakeland Times, P.O. Box 790, Minocqua, 54548. Make checks out to Highland House.
Mail orders only, please. Books will be shipped beginning Oct. 15.
"How the DNR Stole Wisconsin" will be available for pick-up purchase at The Lakeland Times beginning Oct. 15.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Friday, December 18, 2009
Article comment by:
William Gollon
great read..if you want to do more on the rail roading and twisting of the truth please contact me.......you wont believe what you hear or see....or maybe you will
Posted: Friday, October 17, 2008
Article comment by:
Steve Jackson
I find it interesting that the DNR would barely increase the funding for invasive species, which should be a high priority concern for the state, yet place demands on the Prairie du Sac dam to install a multi-million fish passage, er, invasive species passage. It is known that invasive species are present below the dam and after the fish passage is built they will migrate up the dam too!! My feeling is that the DNR does not really understand the issues, yet, as your article states, they operate with jackbooted arrogance.
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