Re: RC: Public land use

[Lynne Glazer <lynne@glazer.org>]

There's a lot of entitlements Congress-people get, and their staff 
doesn't even have the protection of labor law, unless that was 
recently changed.

But I have to disagree with you about the parks, Lif.  In my view, 
the Federal taxes we pay go for the establishmnt, existence and basic 
maintenance of the parks.  Enhancements come from USER FEES--those 
that use the parks and want things like day use areas at the 
trailheads should pay for them!

I'm a user fee fan in general.  I pay significant user fees to drive 
my one ton Dodge, for instance.

The parks are similar to schools, everybody pays a basic fee to have 
something that benefits society as a whole.  Those that want more, 
pay more.  Private school, horse campgrounds, seems the same to me.

Lynne


At 10:06 AM -0600 5/7/00, Lif Strand wrote:
>Someone sent me an email about the great retirement benefits that US 
>congresspeople get - without having to pay in to Social Security or 
>any other pension program.  They just get it.  For life.  Their 
>spouse, too.
>
>One wonders how different things would be in this country if
>1) congress had to pay into Social Security and into retirement 
>funds for their own pensions just like the rest of us
>2)  Their retirement benefits, which come out of the general fund 
>right now (or so the email said) instead went to our parks so we, 
>who OWN them, could use them without paying fees (Hi honey - did you 
>have a nice day at work?  I know this is your own house, but 
>there'll be a $3 fee to come in).
>
>You think that such a simple thing would make a difference? 
>Apparently Bradley qualifies for a sum of over $7 million (estimated 
>over the balance of his life span).  That's $7 million you and I (if 
>you live in the good ol' USA) are paying for.  Now just think about 
>how many hundreds of people we've got in congress and do some math. 
>We are paying for retirement plans and for parks when we shouldn't 
>have to pay for either!
>
>That's a lot of walks in a forest, friends - or park entry & camping 
>fees at a ride!  Lif
>