National Parks Money Essay, Research Paper
Money Mongers
Keep Them Away From Our Parks
The presidency of Ronald Reagan might have only lasted two terms, but it appears that it will be a long time before its impact is no longer felt. Since the Reagan Era there is a political trend of shifting responsibility away from the government to so-called “private interests.” Adopting this position today is literally politically correct for a politician, whether or not the politician is a democrat or republican. This notion of “private interests” is a little skewed though. These “private interests” which are accepting the responsibility of the government are corporations, in essence creatures of legal fiction which lack any value system except their own profits. Unlike the government, corporations represent only their stockholders. By contrast, the government represents the people as individuals in a republic. Thus the private interests will not act unilaterally to protect the environment, nor will they treat national parks decently under the scrutiny of the federal government given their track record so far.
A corporation is a conglomerate of thousands of stockholders, with stock traded on the public market every day. They grant it the same legal rights as an individual in the eye of the law in this country. However, individuals do not command the economic resources and labor a corporation wields. Therefore, a corporation can exploit the environment far more than anyone individual in this country and manipulate the law to suit its needs. Some of these national corporations these days are whores in a political prostitution ring unparalleled in our nation’s history. Simply put, the lobbyists and party organizations are pimping for the corporations (”private interests”) and the politicians to insure the responsibility for anyone’s behavior falls nowhere that we the people can truly discern. Thus, the responsibility of our national parks is currently in limbo.
Federal funding for the parks has dropped by more than two hundred million dollars since the early nineteen-eighties (Meadows 178). However, the number of visitors to the parks has increased by 30 percent over the same period leaving the parks in a state of decay and deterioration (178). The glory and splendor of our national parks are dwindling from years of blatant overuse and neglect. Currently a push is on in our government to reverse the decline of the parks with the passing of the National Parks Commercialization Act.
It was the practice of the government in the past to use private money from corporations to refurbish and maintain monuments and historic sites. Just recently the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island went under a three-hundred million-dollar renovation funded by private corporations (Meadows 178). They outraged many when the companies involved in the project marketed their “charity,” and claimed credit for doing their part to rejuvenate the national legacy (178). We will see similar advertisements again if they pass the National Parks Commercialization Act and private funding of public operations is a regular practice.
Soon the litter of advertisements will only surpass the litter that pollutes our national parks promoting the products of corporate America within the national park system. The current design of the NPCA restricts corporate logos within the boundaries of the national parks and limits the corporate promotion to a symbol displayed in their advertisements, much like the sponsors of the Olympics (Meadows 178). It would only require the crafty use of eager lobbyists, though, for corporations to capitalize on the potential of the national parks and strike the restricting clause from the act. Corporations possess no compassion for the living environment and will rape the nature preserves of America of everything that offers the potential of profit.
The national park system was founded to protect our lands from the savage and insatiable money mongers of the late nineteenth century. In a sense we are simply opening the door Theodore Roosevelt so tightly shut. The corporations of today are no different from the Robber Barons of the past century. Each played their tricks and push their buttons in Washington to slip through the cracks of social justice. However, there is no Theodore Roosevelt on the horizon to whip them from the bully pulpit. Corporations stand just as much a threat to our national parks’ preservation as the tycoons of the industrial revolution.
The Ketchikan Pulp Company, a subsidiary of Louisiana-Pacific, keeps the congressional delegation from Alaska tightly tucked in its pocket to gain control of rights to deforestation of the Tongass National Forest(Meadows GC). The Interior Appropriations Bill, which is currently in the Senate, bears a rider from the delegation which would halt a plan for continuous management of the Tongass National Forest in Alaska by the federal government(Meadows GC). The delegation from Alaska attaches this rider to almost every bill that passes through congress (Meadows GC). If Congress ratifies a bill with the Tongass rider, they will give the Ketchikan Company a free rein to clear cut as many acres of this rainforest they desire. This “privatization” bodes ill for the future of our National Parks. Congress fails to see the alternatives to the NPCA.
Perhaps it time for the government to put the practices of the capitalistic economy it so proudly protects and preserves to some positive use. Private companies granted rights run park concessions within the national parks. They operate with earnings of about seven hundred million dollars a year while paying only nineteen million dollars in monopoly licenses which are automatically reissued (Meadows 179). The parks could open the bidding of licenses to the competitive market forcing the companies to pay more for operating within the parks (179). Let the government take this one step farther.
The National Parks Service should appropriate control of the concessions. The National Park Service could then use the money to restore and maintain the environmental integrity of our national parks. This suggestion should not be denounced as creating more “big government.” The National Park Service is even more benign than the Post Office. How could this possibly be perceived as an encroachment on our individual rights and autonomy? It is every citizen’s responsibility to protect their national treasures. We should demand the government protect them, not sell them!
Legally, the government does not differentiate between the private citizen and the corporation. However, our government was created in order to represent and protect the ideas and beliefs of every citizen. But of late, more often than not Congress is concerned with the interests of private corporations over that of their citizens. There is a balance to be struck between the two. Corporate America has never been too interested in the preservation and integrity of our natural environment. Similarly, our government has not done a much lately to protect the nature preserves of this country either. There are those in Congress, though, that represent the concerned Americans. Our national parks are some of the greatest gifts we have inherited from the past generations of our nation. Yet with every gift comes sacrifice, and we must be accept that small sacrifice so that the generations to come may receive the gifts of our nation’s legacy. Works Cited
Meadows, Donella H. “Don’t Swamp Parks with Ad Money.” Effective Argument. Ed. J. Karl Nicholas and James R. Nicholl. 2nd ed. Neddham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. 1998. 177-179.
Meadows, Donell H. “They’re Still at It.” Global Citizen a bi-weekly column. URL: iisdl.iisd.ca/pcdf/meadows/congress.htm (22 Aug. 1996)
Другие работы по теме:
Money Makes The World Go Round Essay
, Research Paper ” Money makes the world go round ” is a popular saying in today’s society because its true. If you have money, you can get anything imaginable.
Breakeven Point Essay Research Paper Breakeven is
Breakeven Point Essay, Research Paper Breakeven is the point at which a business is neither making money nor losing money, and managing to cover their costs exactly. This is a businesses main objective from
The American Dream Essay Research Paper Americans
The American Dream Essay, Research Paper Americans have always had a universal dream ranging from marriage to freedom, and of course, money. Some Americans pursue them more diligently than others, while the others just sit and dream.
Ovid Essay Research Paper OVID
Ovid Essay, Research Paper OVID ‘n KAFKA:METAMORPH Nature controls people’s emotions and causes tragic disruptions in nature. Money and emotions control each individual. Besides the fact all the great pleasures of life money, nature and emotions can bring in people, they can also expose callowness greed and extirpate all common good on the face of the earth.
Business Money Flows Essay Research Paper
This is the flow of all money, both into and out of the business. When bills are paid or stocks are bought, the money flows out, but when the products are purchased the money flows in. Bills cannot be paid if there isn?t enough money
Space Program Essay Research Paper Should Money
Space Program Essay, Research Paper Should Money be spent on the Space Program? I think that tax dollars as well as government money should go to the space program. I feel this way because the more we learn about space in general, the more technological advancements we will acquire in the years to come. If you think about everything we have learned as a result of space travel in the past 40 years alone, than just to think of what we could learn in the next 40 years to come.
Theme In A Raison In The Sun
Essay, Research Paper Theme in the A Raisin in the Sun There are many themes in A Raisin in the Sun. The this play was written by, an African American, Lorraine Hansberry. The three themes
Goals Essay Research Paper Jonathan drlasEssay 4This
Goals Essay, Research Paper Jonathan drlas Essay 4 This is my first work on this paper. My goal that I?am going to incorporate in my paper is a money goal. I want to save up 3,000 dollars before I leave for school. I leave on the 15 of august so there is a little over two months that I have to achieve this goal.
Charity Essay Research Paper Use Of Charity
Charity Essay, Research Paper Use Of Charity in the Wrong Way When you send a check to a company to help people that are starving or homeless, do you really know where your money is going? The company may be keeping the money for their own profit or they may send a small amount and keep the large part. Giving to charity may make you feel like your helping, but you might be just making a false company more profit.
Huckleberry Finn Essay Research Paper Huck and
Huckleberry Finn Essay, Research Paper Huck and Jim both have seen money differently because Huck is white and has a chance in like and can make it. Jim was a slave and really couldn?t make money. Huck had a lot of money but didn?t spend it that easily ?Oher a hundred and fifty dollars. Quite a fortune for you?(p.12). huck and Tom were in a cave and found six thousand dollars that robbers left there.
Time Is Money How Far Do You
Agree? Essay, Research Paper In my opinion, there cannot exist any statement that is undoubtedly true. And in this way, we are not able to say whether time is money or not. Some people will always believe that time is only money but nothing else; others will defend the opposite thesis. As far as I am concerned, all of us should realize that the material world around us makes time money.
Richard Corey Essay Research Paper Money can
Richard Corey Essay, Research Paper Money can t buy happiness and “You can’t judge a book by its cover” are two old adages that echo through time; however, they seem to echo so softly that they are quite often disregarded. For men, in their search for contentment and fulfillment, only see money as the main vehicle.
Big Money Essay Research Paper The Chicago
Big Money Essay, Research Paper The Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan set the pace, signing a one-year contract for $30 million, making him the highest-paid player for one season in the history of team sports. Then, in a pair of seven-year deals, the Miami Heat retained their Alonzo Mourning for $105 million and picked off the Washington Bullets’ Juwan Howard for more than $100 million.
American Dream The Great Gatsby Essay Research
Paper The American Dream as portrayed in The Great Gatsby is the reality of the love of money. The characters in the novel dwell on the fact that they have money. The novel is about the power of money.
If I Made A Social Movement
… Essay, Research Paper SOCIAL MOVEMENT The type of social movement I would organize would be abolition of money and the return of bartering. It would erase 90% of world hunger, greed, and homicide.
European Union Essay Research Paper EUROPE ESSAYThe
European Union Essay, Research Paper EUROPE ESSAY The European Union is a movement that will let Europe trade easier. Europeans are removing the borders to let it be easier to enter into a different country. They figured that the U.S. had few problems with it, they are going to try.
Social Security Essay Research Paper Social securityThe
Social Security Essay, Research Paper Social security The issue I am addressing today is what to do about social security. There is going to be a large problem with our social security in years to come. Both Al Gore and Bush
Accounting Essay Research Paper People with money
Accounting Essay, Research Paper People with money need to be extremely careful whom they build relationships with. There are always slime balls out there looking for the easiest way to make a living. Whether it s their friends, spouse, banker, accountant, or broker they need to know and trust these people.
Money Laundering
–The Process And Its Affects Essay, Research Paper MONEY LAUNDERING THE PROCESS AND IT S AFFECTS Money laundering is a process that many people do not understand. In fact, when I chose money laundering for my report, I thought that I chose counterfeiting. Money laundering and counterfeiting is not the same.
Civil Disobedience Essay Research Paper Thoreau was
Civil Disobedience Essay, Research Paper Thoreau was once sent to jail for refusing to pay his taxes and I support this episode of civil disobedience as justified. Thoreau did not pay his taxes because he objected the use of the revenue to finance the Mexican War and enforcement of slavery laws. He did not request for his money to be used for the enforcement of slavery laws, therefore felt he had the right to protest and act out civil disobedience.
Raising In The Sun Walter Younger Essay
, Research Paper Raising In The Sun: Walter Younger From day one Walter had one thing on his mind and one thing only; himself. But things started to change once many variables started coming into effect. Walter
Rosa Parks Essay Research Paper On December
Rosa Parks Essay, Research Paper On December l, 1955, Rosa Parks got on the bus because she was feeling tired after a long day at work. She was sitting in the middle of the bus, which she wasn’t allowed to do. After a while a white man got on the bus and told her that her and some other people to get up because the white part of the bus was full.
Wealth Essay Research Paper Dan NeffPeriod 43697WealthThere
Wealth Essay, Research Paper Dan Neff Period 4 3-6-97 Wealth There are differences between those who are born wealthy and those who earn money. Wealth, especially monetary wealth, means the person can meet all of their needs and wants with great luxury and still have money left to use, waste, save, or share.
Federal Government Essay Research Paper How does
Federal Government Essay, Research Paper How does the constitution divide power between the national government and the states? The constitution did not give the national government or the states total supremacy. Instead, power was distributed. The national government was given certain express powers, while some powers were reserved to the states.
Campaign Finance Reform Essay Research Paper Campaign
Campaign Finance Reform Essay, Research Paper Campaign Finance Reform: Soft Money One of the key issues facing this year?s Presidential Campaign is campaign finance reform. More specifically, whether or not to ban soft
Defense Spending Essay Research Paper Defense SpendingDefense
Defense Spending Essay, Research Paper Defense Spending Defense spending is how much money the government uses to for our national defense. This year President Clinton?s budget includes 267 billion dollars for defense or around 15% of the budget. The budget only includes 18 billion dollars for foreign assistance, which accounts for about 1% of the budget.
Was The Articles Of Confederation An Efficent
Form Of Government? Essay, Research Paper The articles of confederation were a somewhat effective form of governmnt for the newly founded united states. It was ineffective in many
MoneyThe Root Of All Evil Essay Research
Paper Money has screwed up society a lot. The times long ago were not focused around a green piece of paper that we have labeled as money. This piece of paper got an amount and then finally you have to have it. True, money buys you things. Things that you want. Things that you need. To me, money is just that; a thing.
Fdr Essay Research Paper Erik Fries 102799US
Fdr Essay, Research Paper Erik Fries 10-27-99 U.S. History III FDR essay I feel that FDR did meet the goals that he set up in his inaugural address. By creating new acts he established new jobs for people who have been jobless up until that point. This was very important because without a job people can’t earn money, and they also tend to be more depressed.
Rosa Parks Essay Research Paper Rosa ParksRosa
Rosa Parks Essay, Research Paper Rosa Parks Rosa Parks is an extraordinary person because she stood up against racism and stood up for herself. It was even harder for her because she is a woman, and in
Money Money Money
… Essay, Research Paper Money is something that not all people are blessed with. For many it is a rare commodity. For years people have always sought to get money. It has been their driving force in life, it is why they do