NY Times op/ed on secret Bush plan: “DESTROYING THE NATIONAL PARKS”

[Nothing Without Hope]

NOTHING is safe from the greed of the Bush administration’s continuing program of getting all the cash and political capital out of every aspect of OUR country. Now a secret draft revision of the basic rules for managing our country’s national parks – previously kept secret not only from the public but also from Park Service employees – has revealed the scope of destruction and commercialization that the Administration plans for OUR national parks. Note too the explicit allowance of religious merchandise and the exclusion of all mention of evolution. Needless to say, this draft management plan was written (by a political appointee with no Park Service experience, a former congressional aide of Dick Cheney) without any consultation of scientists or experts in park management, and it was carefully kept secret from Park Service employees.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/29/opinion/29mon1.html
New York Times oo/ed

Destroying the National Parks

Published: August 29, 2005
Recently, a secret draft revision of the national park system's basic management policy document has been circulating within the Interior Department. It was prepared, without consultation within the National Park Service, by Paul Hoffman, a deputy assistant secretary at Interior who once ran the Chamber of Commerce in Cody, Wyo., was a Congressional aide to Dick Cheney and has no park service experience.

(snip)

Mr. Hoffman's rewrite would open up nearly every park in the nation to off-road vehicles, snowmobiles and Jet Skis. According to his revision, the use of such vehicles would become one of the parks' purposes. To accommodate such activities, he redefines impairment to mean an irreversible impact. To prove that an activity is impairing the parks, under Mr. Hoffman's rules, you would have to prove that it is doing so irreversibly - a very high standard of proof. This would have a genuinely erosive effect on the standards used to protect the national parks.

The pattern prevails throughout this 194-page document - easing the rules that limit how visitors use the parks and toughening the standard of proof needed to block those uses. Behind this pattern, too, there is a fundamental shift in how the parks are regarded. If the laws establishing the national park system were fundamentally forward-looking - if their mission, first and foremost, was protecting the parks for the future - Mr. Hoffman's revisions place a new, unwelcome and unnecessary emphasis on the present, on what he calls "opportunities for visitors to use and enjoy their parks."

(snip)

There are other issues too. Mr. Hoffman would explicitly allow the sale of religious merchandise, and he removes from the policy document any reference to evolution or evolutionary processes. He does everything possible to strip away a scientific basis for park management. His rules would essentially require park superintendents to subordinate the management of their parks to local and state agendas. He also envisions a much wider range of commercial activity within the parks.

(snip)

As the author points out, many things, like the Bush administration’s efforts to force snowmobiles into Yellowstone, become easier to understand because they fit within a comprehensive plan to change from a policy of protection of the national parks to a short-sighted policy focused only on commercialization, subordination to local and stage agendas, and “full use.”

As the author says, “this is not a policy for protecting the parks. It is a policy for destroying them.”

According to this op/ed, the Department of the Interior “has begun to distance itself” from this draft, which was written by a political appointee, a former congressional aide to Dick Cheney, with no park experience. The plan was clearly to change all these rules as secretly as possible. But now we know about their plans, and we know they are lying when they deny them. This must be publicized and fought, or the preserved natural beauty of our country will be gone forever, sacrificed to short-sighted greed.

[raysr]

1. That's pandering to

the gun nuts and nascar dads, the 30+% that still support this stupid motherfucker!

[Nothing Without Hope]

4. It also explicitly allows religious merchandise and gives power over the

national parks to local and state governments. Who will too often sell to the highest bidder. This is more than just commercialization, it is destruction. And once destroyed, they will be gone forever.

[Chocolatebison]

9. I bet local politicos off all stripes would love to get their hands on NPs

Sad.

[Nothing Without Hope]

18. Of course they would - and in return they would support the Bush agenda

And so would the corporate interests to which they would sell "rights" to do whatever they wanted in OUR national parks. It's an invitation to corruption. No wonder that making the national parks vulerable to local and state poliical agents is part of the plan.

How predictable these neocon monsters are. So ironic that they pretend to piety when they demonstrate every day that NOTHING is sacred to them except their own greed.

[RaleighNCDUer]

29. No, only politicos of the extraction industry stripe --

There are people in this country who value the environment and also hold office - though Bushco would have us believe they also have a hidden agenda.

[alfredo]

40. That's what Gale Norton wanted. She figured the states couldn't

afford the parks and would have to sell to private enterprise. Fighting forest fires would bankrupt a state.

[Nothing Without Hope]

44. They're NATIONAL Parks - they belong to ALL of us. Huge parks like

Yellowstone and Yosemite shouldn't and can't be a financial burden to only the state they are in. It's a really evil-minded ploy.

The National Parks belong not only to ALL of us - they also belong to FUTURE GENERATIONS. The Bush cabal is trying to steal THEM from our children as they are stealing so many other things.

[alfredo]

48. National anything smacks of socialism. To the neo cons

they are evil and un American.

[Nothing Without Hope]

64. National anything smacks of LOOT and SPOILS to these monsters. n/t

[fooj]

2. Hope the rat bastards enjoyed a nice, long vacation...

Have a feeling they are going to be experiencing a little piece of hell upon their return!

peace.

[yewberry]

3. Excellent find. Recommended.

"...explicitly allow the sale of religious merchandise, and he removes from the policy document any reference to evolution or evolutionary processes."

That's amazing.

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. It's a cheap (to the GOP) way to pander to the RW Fristian extremists

They haven't yet completely destroyed reproductive rights or separation of church and state - they have to find tidbits to satisfy the ravening horde of the hard-core extemists that are so important to their popular vote base.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Wasn't it this guy who also put out the pamphlet saying that the

Grand Canyon was created by the Flood? No only is he against biology and evolution, but he doesn't believe in geology either. Pamphlet was made available at the park stations along the Grand Canyon, as if it was the officially approved consensus of scientists.

[Chocolatebison]

10. Well

A lot of people do believe a flood created the Grand Canyon.

So what is wrong with catering to them?

[Raster]

38. because it is scientifically incorrect. It is a lie. Not the truth.

If they want to believe that crap in the privacy of their own homes, fine. But it shouldn't be shoved down everyone else's throat.

[RaleighNCDUer]

74. And government imprimature should not be given to lies. nt

[Nothing Without Hope]

14. All 6 Grand Canyon bookstores carry in their "inspirational" (?!) section

a book on how Noah's Flood created the Grand Canyon. It was the subject of a NYT article. I found this in a correction to the article:

SCIENCE DESK | October 26, 2004, Tuesday

Creationism and Science Clash at Grand Canyon Bookstores

By CORNELIA DEAN (NYT) 958 words
Late Edition - Final , Section F , Page 4 , Column 2

Correction Appended

ABSTRACT - Book Grand Canyon: A Different View presents creationist idea of how Grand Canyon was formed by God during flood to wipe out wickedness of man; is currently sold at all six Grand Canyon National Park bookstores despite concerns that contents contradict scientific view of how canyon was formed; Brad Wallis, Grand Canyon Assn executive director, says book is marketed in inspirational section of store not as scientific book; critics say just carrying book infers that park endorses contents; sale of book is under review.

Don't know about the pamphlet, or whether Hoffman was involved in it, but it's all of a piece with the policies of this Administration.

[raysr]

20. I like to walk up to

the clerk where that was selling and ask "What the fuck is this shit?"

[Nothing Without Hope]

26. The clerk might well agree with you- this is official National Park POLICY

forced on them by the Bush Administration to placate its Fristian extremist supporters. That's why we have to fight it at the national political level. The clerk would be helpless to remove those books without being fired for it.

[G_j]

7. nominated, these things never get enough attention

Glad to see they used the most accurate description: destruction.

[Lorien]

36. If this were a thread about gas prices

it would have a hundred posts by now. Many people don't see the intrinsic worth of natural places. They figure that if they are not planning to visit them then they simply don't matter. This is our National Heritage; it DOES NOT belong to us alone; it belongs to our children and their children, and to all the other living things that call America home.

How DOES the GOP "love America"? they obviously have complete contempt for the land itself in it's natural state ("as God created it"). They hate most of America's citizens; the poor, minorities, women, democrats, greens and anyone else who disagrees with them. They hate our constitution and bill of rights, otherwise they would not have passed the Patriot act. They hate personal freedom; they believe that they should decide what religion everyone should practice, who should be allowed to be married, and will attempt to snuff out all speech that opposes them. Repugs have no love for America; they only care for their party, power, and profit.

[G_j]

45. beyond comprehension

One must almost come to the conclusion that they actually hate the beauty in this world. It is surreal to watch something akin to Tolkien's Orcs gleefully destroying the environment.

:scared:

[earth mom]

50. Well said! The rethugs love money over all else.

:puke:

And why are there not more posts on this thread? Maybe there are more freepers around here than we dems might suspect. UGH. :grr:

[Chocolatebison]

8. Nevermind

[BlueJac]

11. Bush's Republican Party wants to detroy is great land

Time and time again these Republican's lead by Bush try to pick this country apart and ruin it.

[undergroundpanther]

13. Fundies think

when the last tree is cut Jesus will come.

I wish we could weedwhack them away like overgrown weeds choking out the fruits and flowers(like Cindy Sheehan)of our democracy.

[CityZen-X]

12. The Battle Of Evermore

I can see myself ready, willing and able, in Yosemite for example, armed, experienced and willing to defend my environment to the max! Planting a 50-cal. in the woods for large targets, an a arsenal of serious attitude.

[raysr]

16. Reagan did the same thing

I my area in NW WA State the closed campgrounds are all grown up with brush. There was no reason for them being shutdown. Somebody has got to do something. But who? We don't have anybody representing us, pink tu-tu dems as bartcop says. No guts, no balls centrists.

[CityZen-X]

21. It's All About You & Me!

If you ever read the works of Huxley, "Brave New World" you will know who those are " The "Savages", yours truly and many others out there who understand what time it is!

[raysr]

19. Should be able to

blow the engine right off a snowmobile with a 50!

[CityZen-X]

24. Better Yet A Helo!

My brother and I took to the task of jamming Steele bars into the spokes of dirt bikes that violated the environment here in the Sierra's.

[bvar22]

41. self-delete

*

[applegrove]

15. Fact is that national parks compete with the corporate way of thinking.

They are too slow and meaningful. They get in the way of marketing. So - off with their heads..like anything else that gets in the way of marketing.

In fact - Parks are the enemy. They provide an 'alternative theory' to the greatness of a country.

No surpirse.

[Nothing Without Hope]

17. More on this story in an excellent LA Times article. VOTE IT UP at Yahoo!

This long article from the LA Times was picked up by Yahoo News. It adds additional information and is well worth reading.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/latimests/20050826/ts_latimes/controversyoverplansforchangesinusparks
Controversy Over Plans for Changes in U.S. Parks
By Julie Cart Times Staff Writer
Fri Aug 26, 7:55 AM ET

A series of proposed revisions of National Park policy has created a furor among present and former park officials who believe the changes would weaken protections of natural resources and wildlife while allowing an increase in commercial activity, snowmobiles and off-road vehicles.

(snip)

"They are changing the whole nature of who we are and what we have been," said J.T. Reynolds, superintendent of Death Valley National Park. "I hope the public understands that this is a threat to their heritage. It threatens the past, the present and the future. It's painful to see this."

The potential changes would allow cellphone towers and low-flying tour planes and would liberalize rules that prohibited mining, according to Bill Wade, former superintendent at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

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.

(snip)

RW groups have long fought the protection of the National Parks from their greed. As cited in this LA Times article, the executive director of the American Land Rights Association, Chuck Cushman, said about the proposed new park management plans,

"The Park Service has been arrogant for a very, very long time. They are a cloistered, almost cult-like society. .. The Park Service doesn't believe it needs to listen to what Congress is telling them. They think, 'We know better how to define the law.' They have a whole history of using parks as a tool to lock up land."

The Bush administration knows it can buy a great deal of support by destroying the Park Service’s history and central policies. By “unlocking the land” they will sell out the ountry’s heritage for their short-term political goals. Their benefit would be short-term, but the destruction of the National Parks would be permanent.

[bleedingheart]

22. This just disgust me beyond all belief...

what a bunch of morons.

[derby378]

23. As Jon Stewart said recently...

...now that we also know the earth's core spins faster than the surface, it's important for schools to also teach that it doesn't.

[Nothing Without Hope]

25. Yeah, "intelligent design" seems to intrude everywhere. Here's 2 cartoons

about it that I especially like:

[Bridget Burke]

69. Here's a cartoon with an alternate version of Creationism.

The print is small, but the basic idea comes across.

(Lalo Alcaraz always has something worthwhile to add.)

[LSK]

27. completely revolting

But no surprise with these criminals in office.

[edhopper]

28. Quote

"this draft, which was written by a political appointee, a former congressional aide to Dick Cheney, with no park experience."

Like every one else this WH appoints. A RW political hack with no experience in the area he works in.

[Greylyn58]

30. I Hate These People!! I Hate These People!!

They have no respect for anything! If they can hang a price tag on it then they want to sell it, abuse it, or suck the life from it until they have wrung every last drop of money.

These neo-cons are vampires!! Ghouls of the first order--every last one of them. They have no respect for life--be it animal, vegetable or mineral!!

We need to sharpen our political stakes and rid the country of all of them before there's nothing left.

[earth mom]

51. Great Rant! :) nt

[understandinglife]

31. Bookmarked and recommended! Thank you.

Peace.

[paineinthearse]

32. Forwarded to my local circle of Dems

To be used in the 2005 voter registration drives and 2006 campaigns.

Nominated.

[Nothing Without Hope]

35. thanks - I recommend sending them this one too: billions in small busines

money has been siphoned off for Fortune 500 corporations. Here's the thread, which is also in GD, so frequent kicking is good:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4494191
Thread title: BushInc caught giving BILLIONS of SBA small biz dollars to Big Business
Posted by blm GD Forum Mon Aug-29-05 09:40 AM

Typically, as the poster of that thread points out, "Plus, the jerk has the SBA report LIE to cover up their shell game."

[Eric J in MN]

33. Nominated (nt)

nt

[BootinUp]

34. If Bush voters had half a brain and listened to the Bush/Gore debates

None of this would surprise them. But, I predict this will piss a few more off.

[Nothing Without Hope]

37. Kick- taking a break now, willl post on any related articlesI find later

I encrouage you to find such articles and post on them here yourselves. I like to have threads packed with as much information and discussion as possible, so that they become resources in themselves.

[BrightKnight]

39. Destroy everything beautiful...

and you can be as ugly as you want. Nobody will notice.

[Nothing Without Hope]

42. So true, and an interesting way to look at it. I tend to it as their not

giving any value for beauty and the land except for what they can get for it by selling it for cash and political capital. It's one more demonstration, after so many, that greed trumps EVERYTHING with them.

[Nothing Without Hope]

43. kick n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

46. kick n/t

[Turn CO Blue]

47. BushCo won't stop until every last vestige of the Roosevelts is gone nt

[slay]

49. All the money in the world will not buy back our environment

Although I'm sure these fuckers sure would try to sell it back to us just to make a buck. When will these people learn? And when will the citizens of this country learn to quit electing these assholes? Watching Republicans run the government is like watching a train wreck in progress. :mad:

[Rodger Dodger]

52. So what's new?

They are not good stewards of this country's natural resource's. That is laissez faire Capitalism.

[lovuian]

53. This guys are stealing land from the American people

They are taking the government lands and selling it on the cheap!!!

thats stealing!!!

The Republicans have just opened up the cookie jar to the rich and powerful!!!

[Rodger Dodger]

54. Right on

I bet you'll fine what they squandered in one of the RED states:kick::bounce:

[Nothing Without Hope]

57. Yes, welcome to DU!!!

:hi:

[lovuian]

55. Welcome Rodger Dodger

:bounce: Always glad to see a new face!!! :kick:

[H2O Man]

56. This article shows

the importance of our fighting not on any one front, but in a coordinated effort on many fronts. And the messages that are on this thread indicate that we are capable of doing just that! Thank you for posting this important information.

[Nothing Without Hope]

58. This needs to be one of the talking points in talking to Bush supporters

and educating and energizing Dem supporters. If we wait for the inept, overcautious, and - I believe - at least partially corrupt DNC to do this, we will wait in vain.

Here are three more issues that should be talking points, just out of current threads, and there are many more. We need to collect and organize them into a clear and devassting portrait of the the GOP REALLY stands for behind their screen of propaganda:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4494191
Thread title: BushInc caught giving BILLIONS of SBA small biz dollars to Big Business
Posted by blm GD Forum Mon Aug-29-05 09:40 AM

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1735413
Thread title: ACLU: FBI labeled peace, affirmative action group 'terrorist'
Posted by rawstory LBN Forum Mon Aug-29-05 04:18 PM

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4482567
Thread title: Bush has slashed Clinton's Disaster Mitigation Program. (unbelievable)
Posted by barbaraann GD Forum Sun Aug-28-05 12:23 PM

[Lorien]

59. This line is very telling:

"...would open up nearly every park in the nation to off-road vehicles, snowmobiles and Jet Skis. According to his revision, the use of such vehicles would become one of the parks' purposes."

Use More Energy-THAT'S always part of any GOP strategy!

[Nothing Without Hope]

60. kick n/t

[nicknameless]

61. Kicked and recommended.

Divinity is palpable in nature. No wonder the rw hates it.
... and, of course, they can rake in more piles of cash by allowing its destruction.

[Nothing Without Hope]

62. They also play to buy the "loyalty" of others who would profit from this

destruction. And of course, they'll also expect sizable campaign and PAC contributions to their preferred neocon candidates - that's if they continue to bother with a legislative branch at all...

[Nothing Without Hope]

63. kick - GD is moving even faster than usual tonight. n/t

[nicknameless]

65. Another kick for our National Parks

“This is not a policy for protecting the parks. It is a policy for destroying them.”

All of *'s policies are about destruction.

[Nothing Without Hope]

67. Yes, you're right. There are several important stories today besides the

overwhelming one of the hurricane. I hope they aren't lost in the crowd of threads - we need to take action on this and publicize it very thoroughly indeed.

[Nothing Without Hope]

66. kick n/t

[Karenina]

68. Kick!

:kick:

[Patiod]

70. Kick

:kick:

[LeftHander]

71. "Dominion" over the land...

Christian attitude right from the bible mankind is to have dominion over the earth. Thus it is god's will to usurp natural resources for personal hedonistic pleasure rather then to take stewardship.

[Nothing Without Hope]

73. Yes, that's all it's good for if you are one of the heartless, greedy Bush

supporters. They can't imagine anything else but feeding their greed and dominating everyone and everything. If I were a Christian, I'd need no further indication to know where Satan was, but they prefer to see the devil in anything they want to push out of their way. Guess they never read the biblical story of Satan's temptation of Jesus with all the power and riches of the world. Or maybe, like some of the inconvenient Commandments and the central message of love, generosity and compassion, they've just blacked out the parts they want to ignore.

[Nothing Without Hope]

72. kick - there is still neocon horror going on n/t

[G_j]

75. kick

[Nothing Without Hope]

76. I hope this thread won't just disappear when it falls off the Greatest

page, but I fear that is what will happen. I can't begrudge the many important threads on the hurricane devastation, but there are other stories that also need attention now.

[nicknameless]

77. Another kick to the top

:kick:

[Nothing Without Hope]

78. Even with all the horrible things happening, we can't let this slide. n/t