"Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth." - Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
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Many people feel so far removed from the machinations of government that they believe it's a waste of time to try to affect change by themselves.
That's partly why our country has a problem with apathy in the political and governmental process. Despite our past pleas on this page for everyone to exercise their right to vote, only a fraction of people typically make it to the polls.
More than half a century ago, President John F. Kennedy famously said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."
One good way for people to do just that is to serve on governmental boards, commissions and committees.
It's a way for ordinary citizens to have an impact on government workings and politics and - at least indirectly - help their neighbors.
But that link between government and its citizens is broken when volunteers aren't appointed to those boards. That's what has happened in state government in recent years.
In a "closeout" audit of the governor's office, Missouri Auditor Nicole Galloway criticized the Nixon administration for leaving a large number of such volunteer positions vacant. The audit covers finances and procedures for the Nixon administration, up to the transition of the new official into office.
There are currently about 220 boards with 1,600 governor-appointed positions. Of those, approximately 1,130 positions (70 percent) were waiting to be filled by the governor, either due to a vacancy or because of an expired term.
Fortunately, Missouri law allows boards to continue operating because those volunteers continue to serve until their successors are appointed and, where required, confirmed by the state Senate.
That doesn't excuse the lack of new members on boards and commissions, but it doesn't create an inertia preventing the state from moving forward.
But, the audit also reported, in some cases, boards continue to exist after years of inactivity due to a perceived lack of interest or need.
"The state's boards and commissions can fill important needs in our state, but only when they have the members and resources to fulfill their responsibilities," Galloway said in a news release. "If the board's mission is completed or becomes obsolete, the board should cease to exist instead of slowly deteriorating into bureaucratic oblivion."
She issued an overall performance rating of "fair."
Nixon's replacement, Gov. Eric Greitens, formed a new committee to consider other such panels that can be done away with.
Just as we hope the panel doesn't limit citizen input by abolishing helpful panels, we also hope the governor's office works to fill vacant positions with Missourians who are ready and willing to help their government.