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To be honest, notwithstanding having enjoyed park visits in my day, I don't think we should have national parks, outside of DC. Otherwise, land should belong in private hands or be owned by the States in which it is located. If those owners want parks, they can do that if they want.
The parks are an amazing resource both for the public's enjoyment and for scientific research. They would not look anything like they do now if they were held privately. They're one of the few things that I think the government has mostly gotten right. We do not need 1 million dollar condos overlooking Yellowstone Falls.
I'd leave it up to the States whether they want to establish and maintain parks or put the land in private hands. Regardless, the Federal government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.
Because our entire system of government is based on sovereign States which formed a limited Federation. They only gave certain enumerated powers to the Federal government and the rest stayed with them. If any particular State wants to devolve their powers down to the county level, I don't particularly care. The concept of subsidiarity suggests that is the best approach. But the Feds unconsitutional usurping of powers from the States is a really big issue and the source of many of our modern problems.
Because the higher up you get the less they answer to the people. The feds have been doing all kinds of horrible things and no one answers for any of it. IRS profiling, the entire TSA, illegal surveillance - the list goes on and on.
The parks were originally conceived as conservation areas and cultural treasures. Conservation and wise use of resources is paramount to any civilization. However, the government has broken that promise and is leasing off signifigant acreage to private interest and can't even be bothered to nationalize the profits.
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[–] Thisismyvoatusername 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
To be honest, notwithstanding having enjoyed park visits in my day, I don't think we should have national parks, outside of DC. Otherwise, land should belong in private hands or be owned by the States in which it is located. If those owners want parks, they can do that if they want.
[–] ForgotMyName 1 point 8 points 9 points (+9|-1) ago
The parks are an amazing resource both for the public's enjoyment and for scientific research. They would not look anything like they do now if they were held privately. They're one of the few things that I think the government has mostly gotten right. We do not need 1 million dollar condos overlooking Yellowstone Falls.
[–] [deleted] 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
[–] Thisismyvoatusername 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
I'd leave it up to the States whether they want to establish and maintain parks or put the land in private hands. Regardless, the Federal government should have absolutely nothing to do with it.
[–] didntsayeeeee 0 points 3 points 3 points (+3|-0) ago
Why the State? Why not the county?
Honestly I don't see any particular reason why it should be any one level of government rather than any other, so I'm fine with it being the Feds.
[–] Thisismyvoatusername 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Because our entire system of government is based on sovereign States which formed a limited Federation. They only gave certain enumerated powers to the Federal government and the rest stayed with them. If any particular State wants to devolve their powers down to the county level, I don't particularly care. The concept of subsidiarity suggests that is the best approach. But the Feds unconsitutional usurping of powers from the States is a really big issue and the source of many of our modern problems.
[–] ForgotMyName 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Because the higher up you get the less they answer to the people. The feds have been doing all kinds of horrible things and no one answers for any of it. IRS profiling, the entire TSA, illegal surveillance - the list goes on and on.
[–] Le_Squish 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
The parks were originally conceived as conservation areas and cultural treasures. Conservation and wise use of resources is paramount to any civilization. However, the government has broken that promise and is leasing off signifigant acreage to private interest and can't even be bothered to nationalize the profits.