NATIONAL PARKS IN DISREPAIR

San Jose Merc ^ | May 25, 2003 | Seth Borenstein

[goldstategop]

The complaints about underfunding of national park maintenance wouldn't be amusing if the enviro wackos didn't try to add more land to a system that's falling apart at the seams. I mean if they can't protect land that's already federal domain, how are they going to take care of new territorial acquisitions? Its a question no one seems to want to answer.

[Walkingfeather]

This is an anual article by the NPS. If you do a lexus nexus search a similar article comes out everytime on this date. Just ignore it. NPS wants to turn the parks into museums that only the enviromentally elite can visit. And only behind the glass of a electric bus. And only if you donate to the right earth first charity. I hope Bush can give the parks back to the people.

[Diddle E. Squat]

The article complains(perhaps validly) that not enough is being spent to maintain the parks we have. The article then whines that Bush has not added as much new parkland as previous presidents. So if we can't afford to maintain what we already have, isn't Bush doing the parks a favor by not adding more that would drain away further funds?

[Gritty]

I fail to see how I "hijacked" the thread for immigration purposes.

My first point is, there are other reasons for this neglect and discussion in addition to not enough money. One is the envirogreen elitists hate the generally unrestricted use by the public of what they feel should be their own private nature preserves (and a number of our "public servants" who run these areas have this sort of attitude),...

...and...

... the purposeful misuse and damage by drug growers/dealers and illegal immigrants in some areas is a significant and growing problem which needs to be addressed before these areas are ruined - not by Ma, Pa and the kids with their pop-ups and hot dogs over a fire but by criminals using these areas for their own nefarious purposes.

Both points went conveniently unmentioned by the author although they bear directly on the problem.

Although he waxed eloquently on many topics from leaky roofs to rotting bridges, he pretty much sniffily ending with the conclusion "send us much fewer people, more government jobs, and much more money".

And, oh, by the way, it's all the fault of that anti-environmental miser, GW Bush!

[Double Tap]

Right on both points. And your comments fit right in with this thread.

I've done quite a bit of travelling in the last 6-7 years, and I've visited a lot of National Parks. Without exception, the federal employees that work in the parks as "Rangers" are surly, unhelpful and resentful of you being there. All I've ever seen them do is drive around and tell folks to move along when they are stopped trying to get a picture.

On the other hand, the private concessions that are in the parks were very friendly. After all, they are trying to make a living.

As to your second point about illegals, I've got pictures of illegals selling walking sticks, beads and of all things, scorpions, in Big Bend National Park. When I notified the rangers, they shrugged it off as no big deal. Acted like they could not be bothered to do anything about it.

[farmfriend]

My brains are adled from being sick. I kept reading this Pork system instead of Park system. I also noticed that they weren't just concerned about the loss of federal jobs but the "general weakening of protection for air, water and animals". Sounds more like a political agenda than a genuine concern.

[hedgetrimmer]

"Actually, the environmentalists don't want our parks recreational areas maintained. They want all the federal lands to be returned to wilderness"

Correct.

[dogbyte12]

I was actually physically disgusted at a state park recently. People had been using a river bed as a trash dump. Alot of the "maintenance" that needs to be done, is vandalism.

True conservationists know how to use the land properly. You don't see hunters tossing 5 happy meals onto their favorite spots.

[freekitty]

Well, Gee, if Clinton hadn't taken all of America and put it under the protection of a national park; maybe we could afford to maintain our parks.

[sasquatch]

Please don't take this the wrong way.
Take a copy of the Constitution to your favorite reading chair, sit down and read carefully...

I study the Constitution frequently. It's a work of art. And I agree that the Federal Government should not be in the business of owning property. They're (its) not good stewards. Private property generates revenue; gov't dissipates it.Or pisses on it.

[sasquatch]

I didn't notice any mention in this article about Mexican drug gangs growing marijuana fields and really trashing the environment

My family has timber property. The dope growers include neighbors who rent nearby and plant on our property. One guy went so far as to steal some lumber that we had milled from culls after the last harvest and used it (pretty nice heart redwood) for retaining walls for his garden. He also tapped another neighbors water system for the plot. After the sheriff and choppers (both types) finished, I recovered the lumber for my deck.

[sasquatch]

People had been using a river bed as a trash dump.

My folks live along side a creek. Yesterday afternoon while visiting with them and my nephew, I heard a minor commotion in the creek about 100 yds away. There were four kids thrashing around in the creek bed. One was taking a leak facing away from the others. I was about 50 feet above the creek bed on a trail about 75 feet up stream.(he didn't see me) The craziest thing was that he was pissing up stream. They really don't teach kids ANYTHING anymore.

[Khurkris]

HEY PARK SERVICE!...Try doing some fund raising of your own!
I believe the general public will support your efforts in this. Stop Whinning...Get some fund raising going.

[sasquatch]

Thanks; get well.
D.

[Dahoser]

The proof of privatization's benefits can be seen along interstate highways such as the NJ Turnpike where the rest areas are now maintained by the likes of McDonald's and Burger King instead of the state. These companies cannot afford to have people associate them with needing a hazmat suit to enter a bathroom because they'll lose business overall. The state never had such concerns and it showed. And smelled.

[CJ Wolf]

Split up the land and give every American 10 acres. See how nice it becomes then.

[1Old Pro]

a historic cabin that's falling apart -- will go unrepaired.

Perhaps they should have mentioned that it would cost $200,000 to repair the cabin, then taxpayers would rejoice that the repairs are not getting done.

[lilylangtree]

Who cares! The Clintoon Administration tied up so much land for wilderness and parks. Why didn't the Clintoon Administration, specifically the Fish and Wildlife and Parks and/or the National Park Service, take the money instead of buying MORE land repair the parks already in existence? No sympathy here!

[Wallace T.]

Everything a government agency manages seems to wind up mismanaged and unsatisfactory. Whether we are talking about parks, public education, highways, water supply, garbage pickup, the monopoly government services are routinely inferior. As several have pointed out, privately run amusement parks are usually clean and well-maintained, while National parks, and often State parks, are in poor shape. Private and parochial schools, as well as home schools, do an overall superior job to public schools in educating young people, by any objective measurement. The Interstate system is deteriorating in many states, and urban planners generally oppose new or expanded freeways, leading to gridlock over longer periods and worsening air pollution. Even in communities where the state government rates the water system as outstanding, suppliers of bottled water and water filter distributors do not lack for business. Municipal governments are generally cutting back on trash pickups and switching to mini-dumpsters. The size of these dumpsters are often too small, leading to many instances of residential illegally using apartment, park, and commercial dumpsters.

All of this is excellent illustration of Jefferson's adage that the government that governs best governs least.

[countrydummy]

Is this not to most whinny article you have ever read about the NPS? Course they do this every year, but they should get the idea that they don't need to acquire ANY further Lands at ANY time in the future!!!! They CAN'T take care of what they already have!

6 Billion Dollars behind in maintainence needs!!!!!!! Somebody please tell me why The NPS "NEEDS" any more lands???? They have this country "oweing" THE 6 Billion Dollar maintainence fee!!!!!! It does not come out of their dang pockets!!!!!!!

Private Property and private ownership is the best and most cost-effective method of land control!!!!!! PERIOD!!!!!!