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parks are a little bit different. If our parks were privately owned someone would build condos and golf clubs all over them. I love our state and National Parks and they should remain like they are, open for everyone to enjoy forever. Bash away, I don't care.

I'm with you on this one, Ditter, and we may be in the minority here. I am glad we have the national parks, especially the big scenic ones like Yosemite, Yellowstone, and Grand Canyon. These places truly are national treasures and they need to be preserved in some state of wildness.

Tonight's program showed pictures of how, already in the 1800s, these places were being turned into tacky, commercialized tourist traps. The comparison even back then was that they ought not be turned into "another Niagara Falls." Having been to Niagara Falls a couple of years ago and having seen the encroachment of kitsch, I know what they mean.

I have gone backpacking by myself on a couple of trips into the high backcountry of the Sierra Mountains, away from anyone else and anywhere you could get to by car. It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen on earth. I know how John Muir felt.

Where I differ from some of the folks on tonight's program is, I do not worship nature. Rather, I praise the Lord God who created all this, and I enjoy his handiwork.

One of the most interesting things I have ever seen was a volcano tube. You could walk down into the volcano on a winding path until you were deep enough for ice to remain even though it was summer. It was during a long car trip and I am not certain of even which state, Utah, Nevada, somewhere in the west. It was privately owned and operated and the tackiness was appalling. I think the owners thought they were being clever but this natural wonder didn't need all their silly signs.

“Just like Niagara Falls”

Yes, how DARE folks create a series of ways for the rest of us to view and enjoy these natural wonders, and even make them useful for folks who may never otherwise see them. (the historical comment was about the hydrodam projects, BTW).

If you want to preserve something, let PRIVATE ENTERPRISE control it. You will end up with a surplus of whatever it was, whereas if the government looks after it, it WILL be destroyed eventually (see “the Tragedy of the Commons”)

The “Mustang Ranch” was a legal brothel and bar that was seized by the IRS for non-payment of taxes. As is required by law, the Fedgov tried to run it in order to keep it a salable asset for disposal.

It went bankrupt within two years of the tax default.

Do you honestly think that the very same government that couldn’t keep a whorehouse that sold whiskey running for any length of time is capable of running ANYTHING that matters? How about your HEALTH CARE, let alone a couple of pretty spots.

THINK, not “feeeeeeel”

Count me in the minority too. It was history and the parks would not have survived in private hands. I am glad they are here, they are our wonders.
John Muir was different, call him what you may, he beat to a different drummer, but good came from his work. I am glad.
I will never ever forget my first visit to Yosemite. We were unprepared. Had heard about it, drove out with just us and 3 kids. So beautiful we could not go back, spent night all of us in one room and no change of clothes, tooth brushes, etc.
Our next trip to the west coast, we were prepared and also went to Muir Woods. What beauty.