"When ESPN bought BASS the rumblings started.ESPN is "big business" and all about profits. With such a simplistic attitude does it not follow that Wal-Mart is much more adept and a bigger player than ESPN? So are they "evil" too?

I don't think Wal-Mart is evil.  Capitalism itself can be nasty business, but not evil.

Started long ago when TBF warned us BASS wanted to dictate state sponsorships.  BASS never did and still has not but TBF sold out to FLW and category exclusive sponsors.

I haven't begun to understand the full agreement made between any of the organizations, that may be ignorance on my part.  The TBF had the opportunity to negociate deals based on what would benefit their membership the most, I think they have done that, although they should not give up their right to be a stand alone organization.  If they have done this, then I would take exception.

The trouble with an organization with a membership as large as the Federation is the needs and wants of the group are so diverse that I doubt there will ever be complete satisfaction, I was in a federation club with 20 members and WE never had complete satisfaction.  As I understand it, (correct me if I am wrong, as though I need to tell you that,) the leadership of the TBF was voted into their positions and entrusted to do what is right for the group, not necessarily the individual members.  You are putting the leadership of the TBF in a near impossible position, by expecting them to solve your problems.

Issues over booze. Why not "change" the membership image and views before trying to enact change from the bottom up.  And really, let's do a search in the parking lot of a FLW tournament event.  Before Everstart it was Red Man (tobacco) and Wal-Mart influenced/financed the change of name and FLW takes pride in its no alcohol/tobacco stance and rules yet Wal-Mart sells both.  Incongruous?   FLW, put your Wal-Mart money where your mouth is or stop perpetrating a fraud! 

These words are correct.  However, tobacco and alcohol are part of the fabric of our society.  As far as big business is concerned.  Corporations are not driven by individuals, they are driven by stock holders, (even if there is only one stock holder.)  The apparent look of "evil" is really just a company doing what it must do to return profit on the investment of it's stock holders.  I am not thrilled about alcohol and Cialis adds in bass fishing, but for the sport to grow, we really can't have it any other way.

TBF told us BASS was going to eliminate our Classic slots.  BASS never did and we now have 6 slots.  Actually, I believe the "eliminate Fed anglers" was voiced first by a couple of pro's (in print) and BASS got the blame because it came up in discussions with the PAA.  TBF has swapped 6 guaranteed Classic slots for much less "valuable" slots and the lone biggie is not guaranteed. 

Yes, however what were you going to have to do/give up in order to retain your Classic Spots? 

TBF claims BASS does not communicate well.  I have received more open letters from BASS than TBF or my state combined.  Why are so many anglers confused.

There are so many issues, (opportunities,) and because, (I know from experience,) that the individual club angler really doesn't get involved in a controversy until he/she is affected personally.  Take a look at the way this country votes.  Have we had more than 50% of the registered voters actually vote in the last three presidential elections?  (I really don't know, I have not looked it up-correct me if I am wrong-I know you will.)

Could it be(it is) that TBF does not want BASS and anglers to communicate directly.

Yes, but I doubt it.  I'm not sure that BASS is prepared to deal with 40,000 direct questions via e-mail, I have about 40 here, and this is a real struggle!

Why can't TBF handle BASS sending open letters? 

I think they can handle it.

Why can't I read BASS opinions on subjects?

Isn't there an editorial section in Bass Times and the magazine?

Does TBF think so little of  anglers that anglers can not make their own informed decisions? 

I know for a fact that the TBF cares deeply for it's membership.  The United States has a Representative Democracy.  Not a Direct Democracy.  The United States is too big for it's citizens to vote on every little issue.  This is why we elect Representatives.  The Federation, with 40,000 members is too big to have a vote on all the issues.  The Greek City State of Athens had a Direct Democracy, and I'll bet it was a real pain in the bass to have go and vote every time an issue needed a decision.  Why does TBF want to be the lone communicator? 

If all is as TBF claims, and TBF communicates so well with its membership, then why the gaping split?

Diversity within the memberships.  This by the way is actually an advantage that the Federation has.  It's membership is not a "like thinking" membership.  Look at the United States.  We have blue states and red states.  If the TBF is not representing the majority of its members, than in the next elections, membership should change leadership!        

TBF has claimed "overwhelming" support which means "50% or so" in their world.  Did the TBF lie and overstate support? 

I don't know what the final score is, it is possible however that states who entrusted their presidents with a vote are now waking up and deciding they didn't like the decision they told their presidents to make.  We do that all the time with our President of the United States.

Were they just talking to presidents and not aware the anglers were divided severely (90-10 is not severe, nor probably 80-20) enough that Irwin Jacobs would recommend publicly, anything less may be better "reconsidered".  If it was not a lie then they are definitely out of touch with their anglers.  Do not buy the percentages unless it is based on a true percentage of anglers, not clubs or presidents, not regions.

Again, I will need to call on the Representative Democracy comment.  You can't elect someone to represent you, and then condemn them for making decisions.  You can elect someone else next time.

Why was the $5 increase done "too fast" for bylaw issues yet many states gave 2 weeks or less for clubs to decide?  

I don't know.

Could it be that they did not want cooler heads to prevail? 

Anything is possible, however it is far more likely that the speed of the vote was in reaction to the speed at which events were unfolding.  That was a pretty amazing couple of weeks back in November and December.  

Have we ever seen an accounting from TBF? 

How about going to their web site and asking for one?  What would be in an accounting?  How the money is spent?  If so, yes, there should be a public accounting of how money is spent.  That information would be found in the TBF budget, which I suppose could be made into a web page.

Why haven't they published how much they are paying the new hires?

Maybe it is embarrassingly little.  Again, perhaps with a publishing of the budget, we would have these answers.  Do you think they are lining their own pockets?  Do you think the leadership of the TBF has been in Mexico "living it up?"

They haven't, they have been in Florida, making sure that the Federation Championship went off without a hitch, even though there were not supposed to be there.  They were making sure the Casting Kids events happened, so families would not be left in the lurch.  They were doing a real thankless job, that I am sure, had they not done it, they could have found other ways to amuse themselves.

BASS,FLW and the Federation Anglers are not the main problem.  Yes each has contributed something negative but probably in the grand scheme of things more positive than not.  I did not forget the TBF-they have omitted themselves. 

TBF should accept the blame for the morass that has evolved.  TBF does not speak without slanting or trying to sway anglers. 

Who does?  Aren't we all out there to try an influence people to our way of thinking?

Has TBF ever presented a topic without presenting their position.  Simply put, have they ever said: "Here it is,  you tell us what to do, you decide"?

Representative Democracy.  Your government will always read your comments, notes and letters, but ultimately, representatives must represent.  It is a thankless job.  When you decide one way, it angers the other. 

TBF had no right to send my BASS money back or hold it when they had promised to deliver it for me and asked me to send it to them.

Didn't you send to them for the purpose of your trust that they would do the right thing?  I really don't know the answer to this one.

They did not do what I wanted them to do, what I had told them to do and what they said they would do. Would it have been more effective,in the vein of peaceful protest, to galvanize the membership to request refunds from BASS individually?

Certainly, however, look at the diversity of the group, do you think you could have organized a 40,000 member group to act as one?  But I think you did.  You entrusted your State Presidents!

Imagine the sheer mayhem caused by the volume of mail. 

I think I can.

Would it have been more effective to utilize 40,000 members writing 10 letters each to BASS sponsors? Could we have sent BASS all the Bassmaster products we bought or requested a refund from Bass Pro?

Could really have been done?  Come on, The typical club guy wants to fish.  I agree, all those letters could mean something, but could you really count of 40,000 members doing this?  Again, does half of the registered voters in this country even vote in Presidential elections?

There are a lot more, and I promise to try and get to them over the course of the next few weeks. Keith