Are the national parks simply a nationalized theme park system? Are they privately owned by the government?
With the close down and the government actively keeping people out of areas that are usually open and free to all it makes me question the system. It also makes me question how they should exist. Should people be forced to pay money to visit a national park? Are national parks not meant for all? If they are meant for all, then why force people to pay to visit them? It keeps the poor from visiting the parks.
Why should the government actively keep people out of areas that are meant for the public? If I can simply walk into a park to enjoy it, why prevent me from doing so?
Are parks meant for the people? Or are national parks meant for the government. As they exist at the moment, I'd say they exist for the government. This is inherently unamerican.
Interesting story on how Obama is dealing with this issue and how it was dealt with in the past.
http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/02/monuments-and-memorials-remained-open-during-previous-shutdown/
Although President Obama claims that he can’t avoid shutting down public sites and monuments, war memorials were in fact kept open during the 1995/1996 government shutdowns. The administration’s decision to barricade the Lincoln Memorial marks the first time in its history the memorial has been totally off limits to visitors during a shutdown.
Originally posted by EladarIf parks were privately owned, then I guarantee you we'd have to pay to use them. At least the government can keep parks open with tax payer money.
Are the national parks simply a nationalized theme park system? Are they privately owned by the government?
With the close down and the government actively keeping people out of areas that are usually open and free to all it makes me question the system. It also makes me question how they should exist. Should people be forced to pay money to visit a nat ...[text shortened]... they exist at the moment, I'd say they exist for the government. This is inherently unamerican.
Originally posted by vivifyIf the national parks were privately owned, not only would everyone pay, probably far more than now to enter, there would be chunks sold to private individuals for private homes, I doubt huge sections would be kept wild and fairly inaccessable except to the very physically fit. There would probably be drilling and mining along with roller coaster theme parks and wax museums.
If parks were privately owned, then I guarantee you we'd have to pay to use them. At least the government can keep parks open with tax payer money.
Originally posted by vivifyI thought you already had to pay to use them. Have you tried going to the Grand Canyon?
If parks were privately owned, then I guarantee you we'd have to pay to use them. At least the government can keep parks open with tax payer money.
Besides I did not say they are privately owned, nor should they be. I said that they are being run as if they were.
Originally posted by EladarIf this shutdown continues the questions will keep mounting...
Are the national parks simply a nationalized theme park system? Are they privately owned by the government?
With the close down and the government actively keeping people out of areas that are usually open and free to all it makes me question the system. It also makes me question how they should exist. Should people be forced to pay money to visit a nat ...[text shortened]... they exist at the moment, I'd say they exist for the government. This is inherently unamerican.
Originally posted by EladarI found it interesting that the monuments in DC were "shut down". Most of them don't have any employees, just volunteers, at least when I was last in DC. Since shutting them down, they've erected barriers, and have guards.
I thought you already had to pay to use them. Have you tried going to the Grand Canyon?
Besides I did not say they are privately owned, nor should they be. I said that they are being run as if they were.
Now as to the matter of running them in the manner of private owned land, Why not?
The parks, national and State, that I've visited, are so far from "nature preserves" as to be called McParks. They are to real parks, what a Big Mac is to a real sandwich.
National parks usually charge some sort of admission; certainly for vehicles. To preserve its effectiveness as a national park requires a lot of money and many man-hours of government operation. Take away ground keeping and regulations and national parks would turn into dumps in no time. If the government temporarily has no budget to care for a national park, the logical thing to do is to keep people out so as to preserve its integrity for the day (probably within a few weeks) that it can be re-opened to the public.
Originally posted by normbenignCould you clarify what you mean by this? I've never been to any of the American national parks. What makes them so far from "real parks"? I better they're closer to the real thing than many of the Japanese ones!
The parks, national and State, that I've visited, are so far from "nature preserves" as to be called McParks. They are to real parks, what a Big Mac is to a real sandwich.
Originally posted by TeinosukeI assume he means the fact that they've become tourist traps.
Could you clarify what you mean by this? I've never been to any of the American national parks. What makes them so far from "real parks"? I better they're closer to the real thing than many of the Japanese ones!
Personally, I disagree. The national parks that I've been to have been pristine and beautiful, for the most part. Sure there may be a cheesy gift shop or two, but nobody's forcing anyone to spend time there.
Just don't go on a July Saturday and expect solitude. If you don't want to compete with the throngs of tourists then either go when they're not there of find the out of the way trails where the tourists are not.
Originally posted by EladarAs for this question, entry fees to national parks are so low that they don't prevent the poor from visiting. IME, it's generally $25 per vehicle (less if you're entering by foot or bike and free if by bus). That's, for example, $25 for a family of 5 or 6. Plus there are big discounts for seniors and yealry passes and whatnot.
Are national parks not meant for all? If they are meant for all, then why force people to pay to visit them? It keeps the poor from visiting the parks.
This tiny fee (compared to at least $50 per PERSON generally charged by theme parks) is hardly a barrier to entry. The big expense of visiting a national park is actually getting there.
Originally posted by sh76Getting there and staying there. Renting a cabin, hotel room, camping space, camping equipment, etc.
As for this question, entry fees to national parks are so low that they don't prevent the poor from visiting. IME, it's generally $25 per [b]vehicle (less if you're entering by foot or bike and free if by bus). That's, for example, $25 for a family of 5 or 6. Plus there are big discounts for seniors and yealry passes and whatnot.
This tiny fee (compared ...[text shortened]... ardly a barrier to entry. The big expense of visiting a national park is actually getting there.[/b]
Originally posted by USArmyParatrooperWe couldn't afford cabins or hotels, so we just camp. I think it is a private company that you have to do business with if you are even going to camp.
Getting there and staying there. Renting a cabin, hotel room, camping space, camping equipment, etc.
Although $25 means nothing to most people at this site, for some people that would be something that would require budgeting for or doing without. It seems to me that if the parks are supposed to be for the people, then there should be an option that is totally free.
Originally posted by sh76I can't afford to visit theme parks. I suppose I could, but my budget isn't so great that I can afford such a luxury and enjoy it knowing that other things need doing.
As for this question, entry fees to national parks are so low that they don't prevent the poor from visiting. IME, it's generally $25 per [b]vehicle (less if you're entering by foot or bike and free if by bus). That's, for example, $25 for a family of 5 or 6. Plus there are big discounts for seniors and yealry passes and whatnot.
This tiny fee (compared ...[text shortened]... ardly a barrier to entry. The big expense of visiting a national park is actually getting there.[/b]