This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/03/parks-no-recreation-shutdown-monuments

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Parks but no recreation, as the shutdown closes US monuments Parks but no recreation, as the shutdown closes US monuments
(39 minutes later)
While Congress edged closer to the brink of a government shutdown earlier this week, Mary and Oliver Teebold of Awkland, New Zealand were trying to figure out if their plans to visit Yosemite were about to be scrubbed. They had non-refundable plane tickets, car arrangements, and longstanding reservations at the park's famous Ahwahnee Hotel. They also had very little time. Mary had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and they figured this was their last chance to return to the place they had honeymooned forty years before. "We don't know what to do," said Oliver.While Congress edged closer to the brink of a government shutdown earlier this week, Mary and Oliver Teebold of Awkland, New Zealand were trying to figure out if their plans to visit Yosemite were about to be scrubbed. They had non-refundable plane tickets, car arrangements, and longstanding reservations at the park's famous Ahwahnee Hotel. They also had very little time. Mary had been diagnosed with liver cancer, and they figured this was their last chance to return to the place they had honeymooned forty years before. "We don't know what to do," said Oliver.
That's what Katy Eyman of Bandon, Oregon said, as she sat watching C-Span. She, her husband Bill, and 12 other friends have been waiting for more than 15 years to get a permit to raft the Colorado through the Grand Canyon. This last year, they finally got a launch date: 12 October. They hired an outfitter, bought plane tickets, arranged for shuttles, food, equipment. Katy had been working out everyday to get ready to steer her raft through the biggest rapids in the country:That's what Katy Eyman of Bandon, Oregon said, as she sat watching C-Span. She, her husband Bill, and 12 other friends have been waiting for more than 15 years to get a permit to raft the Colorado through the Grand Canyon. This last year, they finally got a launch date: 12 October. They hired an outfitter, bought plane tickets, arranged for shuttles, food, equipment. Katy had been working out everyday to get ready to steer her raft through the biggest rapids in the country:
I just have to believe Congress will figure a way through their budget mess.I just have to believe Congress will figure a way through their budget mess.
But Congress wasn't able to figure a way through their budget mess, and on Tuesday morning – the 123rd birthday of Yosemite – all 401 of the United States' national parks and monuments, along with millions of acres managed by other federal agencies, furloughed their employees and closed their gates. End result: no visits to the World War II Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island. No walk throughs at the Golden Gate national recreation area, or hiking the trails in Yellowstone's 2m-acre wilderness. It means no rafting the Grand Canyon, or boating the Everglades.But Congress wasn't able to figure a way through their budget mess, and on Tuesday morning – the 123rd birthday of Yosemite – all 401 of the United States' national parks and monuments, along with millions of acres managed by other federal agencies, furloughed their employees and closed their gates. End result: no visits to the World War II Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island. No walk throughs at the Golden Gate national recreation area, or hiking the trails in Yellowstone's 2m-acre wilderness. It means no rafting the Grand Canyon, or boating the Everglades.
The Park Service estimates that on a typical October day, more than 700,000 visitors come through its parks and monuments, many of them after planning their trip for years. Janice had planned to get married on the rim of Crater Lake ever since she was 15. Thirty-seven now, she and her fiancé just moved their wedding to their backyard, afraid the parks will still be closed by mid October – "We just couldn't take the chance."The Park Service estimates that on a typical October day, more than 700,000 visitors come through its parks and monuments, many of them after planning their trip for years. Janice had planned to get married on the rim of Crater Lake ever since she was 15. Thirty-seven now, she and her fiancé just moved their wedding to their backyard, afraid the parks will still be closed by mid October – "We just couldn't take the chance."
And as the visitors vanish, so does their money. By some estimates, local towns surrounding the gates and monuments stand to lose over $30m for each day the parks remain closed. That's a huge hit to the outfitters, tourist guides, mechanics, gas station attendants, ice cream vendors, teeshirt printers, artists, hotel owners, maids, booksellers, caterers, and waitresses. On and on the ripples go, and where it stops … And as the visitors vanish, so does their money. By some estimates, local towns surrounding the parks and monuments stand to lose over $30m for each day the parks remain closed. That's a huge hit to the outfitters, tourist guides, mechanics, gas station attendants, ice cream vendors, teeshirt printers, artists, hotel owners, maids, booksellers, caterers, and waitresses. On and on the ripples go, and where it stops …
Another large ripple of this government shutdown are the 20,000 furloughed Park Service employees. Another still, the concession staff who check you in at the lodges, clean your room, cook your meals, lead your mule down the narrow paths to the Colorado river, and all manner of other work. These are generally lower-paying, private-sector jobs, and not many of the employees will be able to hang around waiting for work.Another large ripple of this government shutdown are the 20,000 furloughed Park Service employees. Another still, the concession staff who check you in at the lodges, clean your room, cook your meals, lead your mule down the narrow paths to the Colorado river, and all manner of other work. These are generally lower-paying, private-sector jobs, and not many of the employees will be able to hang around waiting for work.
Which leads me to conclude one thing. The people who say, "It's no big deal if the government closes for a while" – or, as Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann candidly claimed, "We are just giddy about it" – need to understand government is not just some rotten tooth that needs extraction. Government is sinew and fiber, intertwined with our country's body. Extracting it has repercussions. Big ones.Which leads me to conclude one thing. The people who say, "It's no big deal if the government closes for a while" – or, as Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann candidly claimed, "We are just giddy about it" – need to understand government is not just some rotten tooth that needs extraction. Government is sinew and fiber, intertwined with our country's body. Extracting it has repercussions. Big ones.
The good news is that when parks close, people notice. In 1995, a huge hew-and-cry broke out when people realized they no longer had access to "their parks". Governor Fyfe Simington of Arizona even sent the Arizona national guard out to try to keep the Grand Canyon open.The good news is that when parks close, people notice. In 1995, a huge hew-and-cry broke out when people realized they no longer had access to "their parks". Governor Fyfe Simington of Arizona even sent the Arizona national guard out to try to keep the Grand Canyon open.
And now, a cry is erupting over the closure of the World War II memorial. Perhaps, once Bachmann and her ilk get done being all giddy about the government closure, they will remember they were elected to make this country better, not worse.And now, a cry is erupting over the closure of the World War II memorial. Perhaps, once Bachmann and her ilk get done being all giddy about the government closure, they will remember they were elected to make this country better, not worse.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.