| To the editor:
A week before Sen. Gary Nodler sauntered with free movie passes into a children’s matinee movie on Friday, July 22, 2005, accompanied by his brother, a citizen calling Nodler's office was told that the senator could not meet with the citizen's group he represented. They were opposing the massive MoArk egg factory expansion in Neosho located within smelling distance of Crowder College's students and all the other unfortunate Neosho residents living and working in the area. The citizen was told that Nodler was so busy he didn't have the time.
These citizens after checking the senator's schedule were able to stop him when he was leaving a Neosho businessman's luncheon where he was the key speaker. Fourteen concerned citizens, representing more than 3500 citizens, pulled up chairs and offered Gary Nodler no choice but to sit and talk.
In the course of the conversation, which was tape recorded by one of the citizens and portions videoed by an area TV station, Sen. Nodler, while pointing at each one, blamed the citizens for MoArk's expansion. The most troubling statement made by this Missouri State Senator was in telling these Missouri citizens that Moark was as much of a "constituent" as any of the voting citizens sitting there and would receive the same representation. At that time Moark was majority-owned by Land O'Lakes, a six billion dollar transnational company based out of Arden Hills, MN. (Today MoArk is wholly owned by Land O'Lakes.)
A funny thing about corporations/businesses is that they do not cast votes. Yet, Sen. Nodler is telling Missouri voters that he represents the interests of a mega-out-of-state company in the same way as he represents Missouri voters.
One has to ask if Land O'Lakes has the same concern for Missouri as Missouri citizens should who actually vote for their representatives. And what other states, countries or entities does Sen. Nodler represent other than Missouri citizens?
This form of misrepresentation has become so ingrained in our political system that it is repeated as normal activity even by a State Senator. This form of misrepresentation has got to go and is not in the best interest of Missouri.
It's obvious we need change. Think about who Sen. Nodler represents when you vote this Nov. 7th. There is an alternative in the form of an Independent candidate named Kim Wright. Her motto is, "Every vote, every voice, everyday people". She has no attachment to big business.
Mark Adams
Neosho, MO Go Back | 
