[.38sw]

So there isn't enough money to properly maintain the National Parks. Then why is the Federal Government creating more National Monuments, which cost money to administer and maintain, and purchasing more private land?

[Cowgirl]

I've never seen an actual park ranger or Conservation employee actually clean up anything, they always use volunteers. I wouldn't give them a cent.

[cogitator]

So there isn't enough money to properly maintain the National Parks. Then why is the Federal Government creating more National Monuments, which cost money to administer and maintain, and purchasing more private land?

As I understand it, there's a lot more to a National Park than a National Monument, so they cost considerably more to maintain (the infrastructure requirements for NMs are lower). I don't know how much private land the Feds are purchasing to create NMs: I seem to remember that the most recently-created NMs were converted in name from BLM lands that were already federally-owned. (I'm probably only remembering some cases and not other cases where the government did purchase private land.)

[MarthaNOStewart]

AMEN! If they can't maintain what they have, why get more? GREED...They don't want anyone else to have it. I disagree on higher user fees...the public parks are for those who can't afford the higher cost of private parks like DISNEYWORLD. It isn't the "single mom and two kids" who are the problem...its the beaurocrats who hire the "bozos" who are Game Wardens or forestry enviros (some are great so don't get in uproar) that want to close everything because they are "afraid" to do their duties as a "policeperson" and only want to deal with fishermen/women and drive the vehicle around. If there is party or loud disturbance they close the camping areas...that isn't managing, that's controlling and preventing public from using park. They don't understand how to handle crime and its prevention so they want to have roadless areas, campsites no one will use so they don't have to put out too much effort.