NATIONAL PARKS IN DISREPAIR

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

[countrydummy]

ping!

[arm958]

Custom houses, armories, navy yards, post offices, etc. are mentioned in the Constitution; parks are not. They began with Teddy Roosevelt.

Actually, it was a lot earlier. Yellowstone Park was authorized by Congress during the Grant Administration. The U.S. Army originally provided stewardship. The National Park Service was authorized by Congress in 1914 during the Wilson administration, long after the first parks were established.

[arm958]

I try to stay away from National Parks. They are run like private fiefdoms. It annoys Park Service careerists that they have to let common people into their fiefdoms. Therefore, they come up with all sorts of administrative regulations to make it difficult. National Forest Service careerists are a little less possessive, but they are getting worse with arbitrary road closures, etc. The BLM careerists are the best of the bunch; they at least realize that the land is for public use.

[Rebelbase]

My mom was with the park service at a historical site for 17 years prior to her retirement.

In all that time, I only saw her abuse her authority once and that was on a family gathering in DC, one summer pre -9/11. The line to get up into the Washington Monument was 3 hours long in swealtering heat. Mom took some of us and the grandkids and walked up to the front of the line, whipped out her badge and asked if she could "escort these people inside".

We were granted immediate access. There were some pretty pissed people waiting in line outside when we exited a while later.

[Double Tap]

I've been to Yellowstone (x5), Grand Tetons (x5), Glacier, Rocky Mountain (x6), Big Bend, Mesa Verde, Carlsbad, Black Canyon of the Gunnison (x4) and a couple of others I don't remember the names to.

The feedback I get from most, but not all, rangers is that they would rather humans not be in their parks. On the other hand, the private consessions, like the Hamilton stores, are staffed with gracious, friendly people who don't work for the government and who do want to get your business.

[countrydummy]

I still want to know why anyone in their right minds would think that the NPS should be allowed anymore land acquisition funds when they have us, the Tax Payers in debt for $6 billion for maintainence fees!

I agree that the parks we have should be parks.....but this gross negligence of stewardship PROVES that private ownership is better guardians!

Another point to be made.....the NPS has such a debt because they have not used funds for maintainence, but to steal lands from private landowners..moms and pops....PLEASE get the documentory film, "For The Good of the All"....by Jessica Savage....it concerns Cuyahoga Falls in Ohio.........what a mess!

[TexanToTheCore]

Most of our park services spend three quarters of their budget in DC. The money never makes it out to the field personnel. A good place to start would be to halve the DC staff of all these services and use the money in the parks. Most of the needed fixes would be covered in the first year.

[TexanToTheCore]

What has happened in Cuyahoga Falls? I used to play in the Gorge.

[Richard Kimball]

Now, the little green communists that make up the park service are complaining about losing their jobs???

Little green communists, I think I like that better than environazis.

[Vinnie]

My personal favorite..

In addition, President Bush has done less to expand the national park system than any president in more than 100 years, a Knight Ridder analysis found.

The point??

[sasquatch]

President Bush has done less to expand the national park system than any president in more than 100 years, a Knight Ridder analysis found. The point??

The point is:
Knight Ridder would have complained about GWB if he had expanded or contracted the park system.
The fact that there are more park related costs than the country can afford is meaningless to them.
If the NPS and the rest of the govmnt were subject to the same rules as private business,
Enron wouldn't have made the headlines.