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My husband and I have visited the majority of the big parks in the west. They are the crown jewels of our country. Here are a few of my thoughts on all this. Although I hate to see the parks priced out of range for a majority of Americans, the current fee is way too low. Why are the parks always on the bottom rung of the ladder when it comes to allocating funds by the government? They (the parks) don't take care of themselves. I am amazed - and I mean "really amazed" that the parks are able to use what piddlley funds are available to them to keep the parks in the pristine condition that they do. And I am talking from the very smallest parks to the very largest. Regarding the comment to take out the visitor's centers, entrance kiosks, etc. - just where would you go to the bathroom on your long drive through the park? And who would keep up the roads - patching, plowing, etc. The visitor's centers are there to help you understand what the park is all about and why it is important, how you can get the best experience out of your visit, etc.
When our current president says he is going to make America great again, it is clear he does not mean by helping the park system - which is the greatest part of America that there is - except for maybe its people. Rather, he does not care a whit about them. Instead of giving the wealthy that grandious tax cut, they should have donated all of that money back into the park system. Now that is what I call making America great again.
I propose a non-profit put together a national "go-fund-me" for the park system (without government involvement) and somehow get that money back into the hands of the parks. And do it once a year. And then, maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't have to raise the entrance fee out of sight for the average American. (And again....the lower and middle class get stuck shoring up this country!)
Although comments to the administration, when they are asking for comments, don't count for anything if they are not substantive (substantive may not count either), what is the problem with form letters? Why do they seem to count even less?
Even when the large majority of comments are against a proposal, it seems to have no meaning, so why do we comment, and how can we make our comments count?
I guess, argalite, it depends on what you think the comments are supposed to accomplish. If you are expecting them to reflect a
"vote", I it is no wonder you are disappointed. I believe the comments are to expose differing points of view or alternative approaches. Once someone has raised a point for consideration, sending 1,000 more form letters, or dozens of people standing up at a meeting saying the same thing is pointless and perhaps even counterproductive.
Remember this when elections 2018 and especially 2020 roll around.
The issue of public comments on government activities has nothing to do with the current administration. People have been bitching about not being listened to for ages primarily because they don't understand the purpose of the public comments.
EC, my own experince is that public comments do make a difference, provided the powers at be have not already predetermined the decision. The purpose of the NEPA requirements is the hope that public sector officials along with the political appointees of any administration would want public comment and the best information and science available to make deisions, then present a comphrehensive range of alternatives before a decision is made. Many citizens do understand the purpose of public comment and in many cases it has made a difference. However, you are right, many times it is just a hoop to jump through because, as stated earlier, the decison has already been made. The issue is usually decided in court provided the ctizens have the ways and means to challenge it.
The abuse of form letters and fake comments by the delusional environmental groups over the past decade have ruined the process. You guys have no one to blame but yourselves and you know I’m talking about Audubon, Sierra Club, NPCA, Defenders of Wildlife, Southern Environmental Law Center, etc...
Ron, I think we are in full agreement. The key point is the "public comment" does not equal "public vote". The powers that be may have a predisposition ("the decision has already been made") but if the public comment doesn't bring up facts and considerations to overturn that decision, a ten thousand letters saying "no" isn't going to make a difference.
Interestingly enough, and those with the expertise in enironmental law, please correct me if I am wrong, after the NEPA process is concuded, plaintiffs can only sue on the basis of process, not the final decision. After public input is accepted (the best information and science presented including experts in the field, the question is often asked, when does the political factor enter in, yes that is usually the final step. There is an excellent chapte ron this issue in Steve Coll's book "Private Empire, Exxon Mobile and American Power". This is an ecellent book, recommended by, among others, Financial Times.
Ecbuck, I wish you would quit trying to assign emotions to me. I am not disapointed. I am asking how best to comment on proposals by this administration. Form letters are actual comments made by real people, and the ease of sending should not be a reason to discount them as not being any more substative than others. So I guess the only way to make a point is science and facts, but if the proposal does not use these factors, (like this admin), it looks like you are still SOL