Of interest to anybody boating in or near a national park:

Last year, the Bush Administration appointed a Deputy Assistant
Interior Secretary (Paul Hoffman)
to compile a list of changes desired in the operation of our national
parks. When Hoffman finished his list, it called for increased
commercialization and privitization of national park resources, a
relaxation of restrictions against placing religious symbols and
messages on park property, and an easing of regulations banning or
restricting motor bikes, snowmobiles, and (of interest to this group)
motorized water craft from the majority of National Parks.

However.............

45,000 Americans "commented" on the proposed changes to National Park
management, and the reaction from congress was almost universally
negative.

As a result........

Yesterday the Bush Adminsitration cancelled the wish list of changes.
Interior Secretary Dick Kempthorne instead announced a new policy (or a
return to previous policy) that prioritizes preservation over any other
activity in national parks. Park managers are being specifically
instructed to promote clean air, clean water, and "natural sounds"
within park boundaries.

In my opinion, it's pretty much OK to have certain areas set aside for
preservation. A lot of folks would enjoy being able to trailer a boat
to some of the areas currently off limits to motorboats in national
parks, or ride dirt bikes and snow mobiles through the forests and it
is regrettable that they cannot.....still there are places for those
activities and not many places set aside to preserve that tiny
percentage of the country still in a wilderness state.

Thank God common sense ruled the day. Too many yahoos ripping around
the woods on ATVs & snowmobiles could wreck havoc with the wildlife
and the eco system.
We see it up here with only a small fraction of the population

wrote in message
oups.com...
Of interest to anybody boating in or near a national park:

Last year, the Bush Administration appointed a Deputy Assistant
Interior Secretary (Paul Hoffman)
to compile a list of changes desired in the operation of our national
parks. When Hoffman finished his list, it called for increased
commercialization and privitization of national park resources, a
relaxation of restrictions against placing religious symbols and
messages on park property, and an easing of regulations banning or
restricting motor bikes, snowmobiles, and (of interest to this group)
motorized water craft from the majority of National Parks.

However.............

45,000 Americans "commented" on the proposed changes to National Park
management, and the reaction from congress was almost universally
negative.

As a result........

Yesterday the Bush Adminsitration cancelled the wish list of changes.
Interior Secretary Dick Kempthorne instead announced a new policy (or a
return to previous policy) that prioritizes preservation over any other
activity in national parks. Park managers are being specifically
instructed to promote clean air, clean water, and "natural sounds"
within park boundaries.

In my opinion, it's pretty much OK to have certain areas set aside for
preservation. A lot of folks would enjoy being able to trailer a boat
to some of the areas currently off limits to motorboats in national
parks, or ride dirt bikes and snow mobiles through the forests and it
is regrettable that they cannot.....still there are places for those
activities and not many places set aside to preserve that tiny
percentage of the country still in a wilderness state.



I'm sitting here shaking my head, wondering about "placing religious symbols
and messages on park property". This reinforces my belief that if I were
president and politicians suggested this sort of thing, I would have a small
gang of dubious characters ready to take those idiots out behind the White
House dumpsters for a tuneup involving a baseball bat, resulting in a long
future in a wheelchair.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:

I'm sitting here shaking my head, wondering about "placing religious symbols
and messages on park property". This reinforces my belief that if I were
president and politicians suggested this sort of thing, I would have a small
gang of dubious characters ready to take those idiots out behind the White
House dumpsters for a tuneup involving a baseball bat, resulting in a long
future in a wheelchair.

No point worrying too much about what *didn't* happen.

We almost had the right to go motor boating in more National Parks. Now
of course the number of people who would *want* to motor boat in a park
would be significantly reduced under certain conditions. Can you
imagine a billboard along side the road, with a white bearded prophet
and a halo replacing Smokey the Bear and his hat? "Only YOU can avoid
hell fires!" :-)

Then there's Yellowstone, of course. Under "commercialization and
privitization." On mega-loud speakers blaring in all directions: "The
last eruption of Old Faithful was brought to you by Viagara. Want to
get it up and spout like a geyser? Want to be able to perform every 60
minutes? Ask your doctor about Viagara today."

The good news is that our political system worked, and the
Administration responded to a widespread public concern when formatting
the final policy. Although we can't operate motor boats in most of the
national parks, we are probably better off as a result.

wrote:
The good news is that our political system worked, and the
Administration responded to a widespread public concern when formatting
the final policy. Although we can't operate motor boats in most of the
national parks, we are probably better off as a result.

Not wanting to opine the matter, but unless I'm missing something,
45000 people isn't really a great lobby barometer , let alone force
that I would say could promote "a widespread public concern" ,
especially on a federal level.

Or is it?

wrote:
wrote:
The good news is that our political system worked, and the
Administration responded to a widespread public concern when formatting
the final policy. Although we can't operate motor boats in most of the
national parks, we are probably better off as a result.

Not wanting to opine the matter, but unless I'm missing something,
45000 people isn't really a great lobby barometer , let alone force
that I would say could promote "a widespread public concern" ,
especially on a federal level.

Or is it?

It would seem unusual that 45,000 people would take the time to write
letters about a pretty low profile government regulation. It was
significant enough that AP commented on it.

Very few of the polls we read bout anything ever sample 45,000 people.
That might be a better barometer than you think.

wrote in message
oups.com...

wrote:
The good news is that our political system worked, and the
Administration responded to a widespread public concern when formatting
the final policy. Although we can't operate motor boats in most of the
national parks, we are probably better off as a result.

Not wanting to opine the matter, but unless I'm missing something,
45000 people isn't really a great lobby barometer , let alone force
that I would say could promote "a widespread public concern" ,
especially on a federal level.

Or is it?


45,000 may have represented the majority of park users in a particular
place.

wrote:
Of interest to anybody boating in or near a national park:

Last year, the Bush Administration appointed a Deputy Assistant
Interior Secretary (Paul Hoffman)
to compile a list of changes desired in the operation of our national
parks. When Hoffman finished his list, it called for increased
commercialization and privitization of national park resources, a
relaxation of restrictions against placing religious symbols and
messages on park property, and an easing of regulations banning or
restricting motor bikes, snowmobiles, and (of interest to this group)
motorized water craft from the majority of National Parks.

However.............

45,000 Americans "commented" on the proposed changes to National Park
management, and the reaction from congress was almost universally
negative.

As a result........

Yesterday the Bush Adminsitration cancelled the wish list of changes.
Interior Secretary Dick Kempthorne instead announced a new policy (or a
return to previous policy) that prioritizes preservation over any other
activity in national parks. Park managers are being specifically
instructed to promote clean air, clean water, and "natural sounds"
within park boundaries.

In my opinion, it's pretty much OK to have certain areas set aside for
preservation. A lot of folks would enjoy being able to trailer a boat
to some of the areas currently off limits to motorboats in national
parks, or ride dirt bikes and snow mobiles through the forests and it
is regrettable that they cannot.....still there are places for those
activities and not many places set aside to preserve that tiny
percentage of the country still in a wilderness state.

Our National Parks wouldn't be worth a hoot within a decade if some
folks got to use them as a sandbox.