As part of BushCo’s unprecedented effort to destroy anything and everything that’s good about America, the Department of the Interior brings you this load of crap.
Larry Whalon, chief of resource management at Mojave National Preserve, said the changes would take away managers’ ability to use laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act to oppose new developments in parks.
And who do we have to thank for this proposal to replace peace, quiet, and preservation of wildlife with Six Flags Over Yosemite?
Hoffman came to the Park Service after serving as director of the Chamber of Commerce in Cody, Wyo. He had previously served as Wyoming state director for then-U.S. Rep. Dick Cheney from 1985 to 1989.
Hoffman is the moron who blocked removal of religious plaques from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and insisted on stocking the park bookstore with a book espousing a creationist view of the park’s history. Sounds like the second coming of James Watt, doesn’t he? Another one of the “use it all up because Jesus is coming” ilk.
Preservation of our national parks is way up high on the short list of genuinely inspired federal policies. Anyone who wants to further endanger those precious lands so rich cronies can grab a few extra bucks deserves to roast over a slow fire until the end of time.
There is no end to the greed of these people and no depth to which they will not sink in order to squeeze another buck. This bastard Hoffman wants to rape what’s left of America’s natural legacy and replace it with mines, cows, and condos. Elk and bison would have to make way for assholes on snowmobiles, chatting on their cellphones.
I sincerely hope that the ghost of Edward Abbey slips quietly into Hoffman’s bedroom and pisses on his head.
The National Parks are where I go to get away from the lunacy that’s going on in the rest of the U.S.
Will there be no haven, no last safe harbour for me to retreat to in order to regroup and refocus?
Where will be my Rivendell?
(And why did I slip into Rummy-rhetoric question (RRQ) mode to make my point? Sorry.)
I know exactly what you mean–some of the most rewarding moments of my life have been spent in national parks.
During a particularly agonizing relationship crisis, I packed up my tent and fled to Rocky Mountain National Park, where I spent a few days crying and listening to the elk bugle (we were all just looking for love). I was able to reconnect with the earth and jump-start the healing process.
The asshats of evil have no right to take away these amazing places.
is one of the places that I HAVE to get back to soon (especially before it gets ruined, apparently).
(O/T) I drove through there last summer, on my way back home from a vacation in Utah. Because of my schedule, the weather, and car problems, I only got to spend about 4 hours in the park. But wow, it is so beautiful. It and Grand Teton are the top 2 on my list that I have to get back to and hit the backcountry…
I hope you don’t mind if I post a pic…maybe it will at least help to show people what’s at risk 🙂
I’m lousy at figuring out which mountain is which, but I do know Long’s.
The most popular parks (RMNP among them) are already in danger of being “loved to death” by the hordes of people who visit. The National Parks Service has its hands full trying to preserve the parks without having to worry about freaking MINING!
There actually is a mine in RMNP–located at the ruins of a mining town called Lulu City. Nothing there anymore but a few remnants of cabins and a shallow hole someone dug into the mountainside, looking for either gold or silver. I just hope that’s the last mine that’s ever dug inside those borders.
wasn’t so insane, less people would need to find solace in the parks 🙂
Yep, that sure is Long’s peak. I’m horrible at identifying mountains too, but that one does stick out, doesn’t it?
Oh, thanks for that picture. I’m in the middle of another end-of-summer-and-I didn’t-make-it-to-the-mountains-again funk.
check out the wilderness areas, especially the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, Maroon Bells-Snowmass and Hunter-Frying Pan. Fanatastic trails and scenery with nothing like the crowds you get at the park.
“The Complete Guide to Colorado’s Wilderness Areas” by John Fielder is a geally great guide (and it has a lot of great photography as well).
The fox is not only guarding the hen house, it’s arranging tours of fellow foxes!
I remember when my big sister brought home a weekly reader with a great plan for the Grand Canyon! (This was any years ago – this wasn’t a Bushite plan, although it certainly sounds like one.)
A hotel built into the side of the canyon! No need to climb down or up, just take the elevator through the rock and your room would have its own private balcony and windows looking out through the side of the canyon!
Fortunately, wiser minds prevailed. That was in the days when even Republicans were conservationists.
Where have all those people gone?
There are plenty of places to put another Disneyland. We need to slap the hands of the super-wealthy to keep them from making national parks their private playgrounds.
I think most people in Colorado will be furious if these proposals proceed any further–providing that our especially incompetent media outlets let people know about it. We don’t much like our wilderness areas to be messed with.
is a great organization to support if you want to help fight these changes. For more information, you can visit their their website.
Thanks for the link! I just joined their mailing list.