NPS re-thinking fee increase April 05, 2018, 11:40:13 am Americans tell Interior to take a hike over proposed national park fee... 5 Likes
Re: NPS re-thinking fee increase Reply #1 – April 05, 2018, 02:28:17 pm Thanks for that post Daughter mine, in my estimation it held valuable and important information. 2 Likes
Re: NPS re-thinking fee increase Reply #2 – April 05, 2018, 10:20:11 pm Saw this earlier this week in the KC paper. Didn't realize they'd also been proposing another jump in the lifetime Senior Pass...Guarding mine like gold, since they say they won't replace a lost or damaged one (what's the point of registering info when I first got it??), but must buy a whole new one.I hope I'm not being unwelcoming when I think the wealthy (like any foreign tourists who can afford to come over & join a chartered bus trip, or Oprah when she had her honkin' big tricked out motorhome) should be able to pay higher rates than a family with kids. who have to pay for school & sports fees when they get home or are saving for college, 3 Likes
Re: NPS re-thinking fee increase Reply #3 – April 06, 2018, 11:15:15 am "would raise $70 million to help address a nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog with deteriorating park buildings, restrooms and roads"/soap box mode onMy mother always said you get what you pay for. Sadly our 'cheap' parents wanted free to very low cost National Parks so they didn't pay for upkeep. Looks like we are doing the same time honored thing by passing the cost to our children. I don't like paying taxes but if I want a government service I should pay for it not ask my children or grandchildren to pay for my enjoyment of that government service. /soap box mode off<smile> as an aside I have two, yes two old person National Park passes. 2 Likes
Re: NPS re-thinking fee increase Reply #4 – April 06, 2018, 03:26:00 pm <soapbox>I think National Parks Maintenance has lagged since the CCC left</soapbox> 1 Likes
Re: NPS re-thinking fee increase Reply #5 – April 07, 2018, 03:19:05 pm Quote from: colddog - April 06, 2018, 11:15:15 am"would raise $70 million to help address a nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog with deteriorating park buildings, restrooms and roads"/soap box mode onMy mother always said you get what you pay for. Sadly our 'cheap' parents wanted free to very low cost National Parks so they didn't pay for upkeep. Looks like we are doing the same time honored thing by passing the cost to our children. I don't like paying taxes but if I want a government service I should pay for it not ask my children or grandchildren to pay for my enjoyment of that government service. /soap box mode off<smile> as an aside I have two, yes two old person National Park passes. And from Joel--<soapbox>I think National Parks Maintenance has lagged since the CCC left</soapbox>Agreed...agreedSo my </soapbox>Even though I'm not always cheerful about how many of the dollars are spent, I'm blest to be able to pay forward for those who don't have what I do. I especially like this from Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes: "Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society." Reportedly first said by Holmes in a speech in 1904, alternately phrased as "Taxes are what we pay for civilized society, including the chance to insure", Compania General De Tabacos De Filipinas v. Collector of Internal Revenue, 275 U.S. 87, 100, dissenting; opinion (21 November 1927)"I was talking with a vet recently about the amazingly small proportion of the population that serves with the current all-volunteeer model. I know why it was developed, and the current military heads point out that they have a better-educated/all-around-better force with the current model. Somehow, though, when I think of the CCC/WPA/etc., I think we missed the boat in not creating a mandatory service model (like the Swiss/Israelis) for all 18-20 y/o, male & female, where everyone went through some sort of boot camp/basic training module, and then were sorted out (like Harry Potter's hat ??) to active-duty military/CCC or WPA or NPS or Forrest Service somethings/a domestic Peace Corps/emergency responders or something... Some might find a lifetime career while others use the foundation to move other directions, but there would be a level of social cohesion that seems missing when so few of the current population serve. When I'd listen to my dad & others talk, despite their different backgrounds/life paths/politics/etc., there was a certain bonding that I've certainly not ever experienced. I think we threw the baby out with the bathwater. Maybe that would help take care of those NPS treasures that belong to all of us and not just keep pushing the delayed maintenance to the next generation. And maybe if enough discussions happen in enough places something beneficial will percolate up to the deciders instead of what usually trickles down...'cause I know lots of brains working together are better than mine on its own. </soapbox> Lynne 2 Likes
Re: NPS re-thinking fee increase Reply #6 – April 08, 2018, 11:16:34 am I don't have a problem with increasing park fees as long as fees for tour buses go up. A lot up. They are using our parks for profit.We seldom enter a park. We have seen every one in the west. Now, most are too crowded to enjoy. The combination of boomers retiring and the hordes on tour buses. 3 Likes
Re: NPS re-thinking fee increase Reply #7 – April 13, 2018, 10:11:47 am Here is some new information. Looks like the fees are increasing less than anticipated due to public backlash:Popular national parks to raise fees to , not | The Fresno Bee
Re: NPS re-thinking fee increase Reply #8 – April 13, 2018, 10:23:05 am "The current $30 fee is the highest charged by the park service and applies to the 17 most-visited parks. More than two-thirds of national parks will remain free to enter."Here is the one of the basic problems. Asking 17 parks to support the other 'free riding parks' is a wrong headed policy. Maybe a better solution is to ask each park to have a fee that will make that park self supporting. Or find a stream of money the 100% supports the costs of the upkeep and operations of said park. 3 Likes
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