I've just stumbled upon a most interesting and informative document which appears to describe yet another component of the privatization of the 'Yosemite experience'.

The document is titled: "Yosemite Regional Transportation Strategy - A Regional Approach to a National Problem " and comes from the web site of a San Francisco design firm.

Scott

Below is the text of yesterday's feature article from ENN.COM, titled: "Land Privatization Sets Off Alarms".

In that article, George W. Bush's public lands advisor Terry L. Anderson gets to eat a triple helping of crow!

When you read this, please remember that Anderson and his organization are amongst the chief proponents of the Recreation Fee Demo Program!

Scott

The private Gateway Development proposed for the entrance of the Grand Canyon South Rim has always been at the top of our "Smoking Gun" industrial-tourism list. And so it is with unusual pleasure that I share with you the following article announcing that the Sierra Club has filed suit to halt the proposed Canyon Forest Village.

Better still, they are doing so for all the right reasons with the local Sierra Club spokesperson being quoted as saying:

"This development is about making money for the developers, not about protecting the Grand Canyon."

Scott 

Below is a perfect example of how the misadventures into the realm of industrial tourism will lead to privatization of our nation's public lands. The article which appears below was abstracted from The Olympian - March 2.

The elements of the story are as follows.

1) Tax dollars are used to build an unprofitable and unsustainable tourism attraction on public lands. In this particular example, it happens to be a visitor center at Mt. St. Helens.

2) Congress then cuts the operating budget of the managing agency so as to ENSURE that the expensive new facility can not be adequately operated or maintained.

3) The Federal Mangers are then instructed to start charging entrance or user fees as a way to make up for these deliberate Congressional funding cuts.

4) But, even with these user fees, the Federal Manager is incapable of operating the facility at a profit.

5) So, there is simply no option other than to turn the facility over to the private sector to operate.

But, of course, the new private operator can not run the EXISTING facility at a profit any more than could the Federal Manager because there is no real inherent efficiently in private ownership as compared to public ownership.

However, no private operator can be expected to run the facility at a loss. So, the private operator will be permitted to add a restaurant, a gift shop, an IMAX theater and whatever else it takes to turn the facility into a full-service profitable business.

Meanwhile, the USFS will be thrilled to accept a small cut of the gross for allowing this tourist trap to be operated on the forest. Some people may even call this a "win-win." I've been calling it: "The Corporate Takeover of Nature."

Scott 

Below I have appended the executive summary from another article from the Cato Policy Analysis Series. It was written after "Inside our Oudoor Policy" and before "How and Why to Privatize Federal Lands."

"Inside our Oudoor Policy" presented the case for introducing the recreation fee demonstration program and for privatizing the 'management control' of America's public lands. "How and Why to Privatize Federal Lands" explains why to transfer public lands to private ownership.

The report referenced below is titled - "The Case for Privatizing the Highways" and, I draw your attention to it because it does such a perfect job of bridging the two related issues of privatization of management control.... followed by privatization of ownership.   As you read this summary, the similarities to fee-demo will be obviously. It is the very SAME story .... and, more importantly, it is a story that is bound to be often retold with only minor word substitutions.

First the charge is $3 to take a hike on public lands. And then it will be PAY WHATEVER THE NEW OWNERS DEMAND once ownership has been transferred to private interests.

In the Case for Privatizing the Highways you can see not only the starting and end points, but you can also see the middle points such as "Value Pricing" --- something that is ALREADY being discussed for the recreation fee-demonstration program (the FS and ARC are calling it "off-peak pricing")!!

Scott 

PLEASE READ how George W. Bush would sell off every scrap of America's public lands within the next 20 - 40 years.

PLEASE make the connection that Bush' Public Lands Advisor (Terry Anderson of the free-market think tank "PERC") is amongst the most active and vocal promoters of Recreation User Fees.

    Commercialize    -     Privatize     -       Motorize
   
That is where public lands policy is clearly headed.....

Scott

The Texas State Park System is the model Free-Market Think Tanks (such as PERC) have been using to promote recreation user-fees on public lands. "Commercialization and Privatization" are the EXPRESSED objectives of these organizations.

And, there is no Presidential Candidate so deeply committed to this privatization agenda as George W. Bush. Below is a message from PEER, warning of Bush's immediate plans for Industrial Strength Recreation and Industrial Tourism in his home state of Texas. Let this serve as an indication of what we will see on all public lands if Bush is elected President.  Understand also, that Al Gore has much the SAME VISION.

The organized assault on "Wildness" has kicked into hyperdrive. The USFS's PR campaign to promote their own brands of wreckreation was launched three days ago. The American Recreation Coalition's own PR/Media campaign has been building over the past few months. And Congress is being asked by all interested parties (both commercial and federal) to make the Corporate Takeover of Nature happen within this current legislative session.

I can not stress enough the urgency of this situation. The BLITZ has begun. The missiles are in the air. Those who intend to commercialize, privatize and motorize recreational opportunities on America's public lands are out of their trenches an rushing for their objective.

.... we can not possibly hold back this charge without your help.

Scott

Will the South Rim of the Grand Canyon really come out the winner if, in two day's time, approval is given to built a massive private development to serve as the gateway for the area's six million annual visitors?

Surprisingly, many environmental groups say "YES" and actively endorse this grandest of examples of the privatization and commercialization of America's public lands. Of the national organizations, the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club stands alone in opposing this development.

It is commonly accepted that the sort of Gateway development that has been proposed for the Grand Canyon will become the model used for redeveloping many other parks. Personally, I call it - "The Malling of Our National Parks" and can hardly imagine a more egregious sell-out of the commons.

But in today's political climate, this is commended as being a "win-win". The National Park Service gets hundreds of millions of dollars worth of shiny new improvements at no (financial) cost to the government. And, the private developer gets exclusive use of the world's most spectacular vista plus, by his own estimation, billions of dollars in profit.

But what about the visitor's experience? How will it be altered when the Grand Canyon is turned into little more an attraction to draw in the shoppers? The "REAL" attraction of a Grand Canyon visit will become the manmade artifices - the restaurants, the museums, visitor centers, the mini-golf and, of course, the shopping.

Why do the environmental organizations approve of this development. Is it because the developer has promised to recycle soda pop cans and to use some very sexy environmental technology?  Or, are these organizations, like the NPS, simply looking for the easy "win-win."

Saving our "Crown Jewels" without resorting to private investment will not be easy ... but trading the "Family Jewels" for pieces of silver is definitely not the right solution.

Scott

PS... To learn more of the long history of the efforts to privatize and commercial our National Parks, please read Michael Frome's essay "Protecting the Golden Goose" (1987).

The battles to prevent the "Malling of Our National Parks" are being fought by underfunded grassroots organizations and by individual activists. Opposing these activists are monster corporations who seek to commercialize and privatize America's crown jewels for their own financial gain. Chief amongst these corporate powerhouses are Delaware North Parks Services, Amfac Parks and Resorts, and Aramark Corporations Sports and Entertainment, Inc.

Sitting on the sideline is the only national organization that is supposed to be minding the store: National Parks Conservation Association.

Please read what Delaware North is saying about plans to Disneyfy the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. And, when you read this, appreciate that Delaware North (along with Georgia Pacific and ADM) are listed as "Corporate Partners" on NPCA's web site.

As much as I admire and respect the work grassroots activists are doing to fight specific battles against specific local challenges, I fear we are losing the war to save the Park System.

How much longer will it be until our National Parks are converted into Scenic Theme Parks and Outdoor Shopping Malls? And, what more should we be doing to prevent this from happening?

Scott

The following was sent to me by a well-wisher from Ohio. While he may live
far away from large expanses of public lands, he's not far from the truth in
what he has written.

Scott

Just Imagine the Possibilities....

Scott

Yesterday I sent a message about a new CATO report that recommends the privatization of all public lands in America. In that message, I indicated that the report's author  (Terry Anderson ) is serving as George W. Bush's public lands policy advisor. I suggested that if Bush became president, this privatization policy is what he would probably pursue.

Several folks responded to that posting. They thought this issue was extremely important and wanted to know how I had established the Bush/Anderson connection. The answer is simple: I read it in my local newspaper.

Below is another source of confirmation.

Scott

PS.... the Cato privatization report by Terry Anderson is available here.

Below is the Executive Summary of a new report from the Cato Institute titled: "How and Why to Privatize Federal Lands."  This report recommends the complete privatization of ALL public lands in America. ALL lands, means all National Forests, all National Parks, all Military lands, all Wilderness, all everything !!!!

One could dismiss this report as a fantasy of the reactionary right-wing, except for one important point. Its principle author, Terry L. Anderson, has been hired by Presidential candidate George W. Bush to serve as his public lands policy advisor.

If Bush is elected President, this privatization scheme will be more than just a bad dream. It will become a very real nightmare.

Scott

PS.... Terry Anderson's Political Economy Research Center recently published a second report --- that one titled: "Paying to Play: The Fee Demonstration Program." Needless to say, that report touts recreation user fees as an important component of the privatization agenda.  

In shifting from extractive forest uses to "Pay-to-Play Wreckreation" as the primary commercial enterprise of the US Forest Service, the agency has been required to develop a recreation Master Plan.

This Master Plan, called: "A Strategy for Recreation" is an evolving document, currently in it's fifth revision. Remarkably, virtually no one from the non-motorized recreation or conservation community is familiar with this document.

Below is a greatly condensed version of the Master Plan and a link to the complete document. Please spend a few moments to read this condensed plan. Perhaps after doing so, you will take another few moments to inform the US Forest Service that you'd like to actively participate in this ongoing planning process.

To do so, please contact:

 Denny Bschor, Director USDA Forest Service
 Recreation, Heritage & Wilderness Resources
 P.O. Box 96090
 Washington, D.C. 20090-6090
   (202) 205-1240

The future of recreation on our National Forests is too important an issue to be decided behind closed doors by commercial moneyed, and special interest,  groups.  We're talking about OUR public lands.... not some supposedly under-utilized resource that federal bureaucrats hope to convert into it a cash cow for themselves and their business partners.

Scott 

Here's an interesting statistic straight from the USFS Fee-Demo web site.

"Of every $1 in the federal budget, only .00018 of a penny goes towards the entire Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources budget for the Forest Service."

In a companion USFS flier titled: "Your Fees at Work" the Forest Service explains the significance of the above quoted statistic... "This means that a person with an annual income of $40,000 pays less than $.03 per year in taxes to recreate on Forest Service lands, nationwide."

Here's one additional important statistic. Between 1993 and 1998, Congress slashed the Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources budget for the Forest Service by 26%.  This mean that a person with an annual income of $40,000 now saves ALMOST ONE CENT in taxes every year as a result of Congress intentionally starving the USFS recreation budget.

I do not know how you feel, but I'd gladly pay that additional one penny in taxes, especially if it were to save me having to purchase a $3.00  Fee-Demo pass each time I want to set foot on public lands.

And if  I choose to splurge and purchase an annual pass for $30.00, I will be paying the USFS 100,000% as much to fund recreation than I was paying prior to Fee-Demo. (and remember, I'm still paying those taxes... less ONE cent !!!)

I suggest we restore the USFS 1993 budget and I, for one, will gladly pay the required four cents a year in taxes. Heck, I'd be willing to give the USFS a nickel (or a dime or a dollar)  and tell them to: "keep the change."

Fee-Demo is an extraordinarily regressive tax. Worse than this, it is the beginning of  the commercialization and commodification of recreation on America's public lands.

Scott

PS.... Personally I think the ".00018 of a penny" number quoted by the USFS is inaccurate. But, that's what the USFS claims and so, I guess, we must believe them. It wouldn't surprise me if they made a mistake with the numbers. They generally do! 

Slade Gorton and the American Recreation Coalition have struck again!!! Together, they have just introduced proposed legislation called:  "Take Pride in America Volunteer Recognition Act of 1999."

According to ARC: "Senator Gorton was urged to introduce the legislation earlier this year by several organizations representing large numbers of recreationists and conservationists, led by the Good Sam Club, the world's largest organization of RV owners."

The full text can be read HERE , but the following short quote should give you an idea what this is all about.

 "DUTIES- The Program shall (1) establish and maintain a public awareness campaign in cooperation with public and private organizations and individuals"

This initiative is just one more of ARC's attempts to give private organizations a greater say in public lands recreation management. Specifically, it is the Good Sam Club's attempt to gain favor with the USFS so that the US Forest Service will provide enhanced access to primitive campgrounds poorly suited to RVs.

From all indication, the USFS has been eager to oblige the RV lobby. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that RV lobbyists say their member will happily pay $25-35 a night as compared to the much lower amount tent campers have traditionally paid to use those primitive facilities. (see also - http://www.wildwilderness.org/docs/bray.htm )

This volunteer initiative is just another part of ARC's efforts to privatize, commercialize and motorize America's public lands and should be vigorously opposed.

Scott

It just became more convenient to visit your public lands.

No matter which agency is responsible for managing the land, you can now make your reservations at the same convenient web site. Just be sure to have your credit card number ready.

Oh, one other thing. The federal agencies and private recreation interests are already working to create an even more user friendly recreation reservation system. You may soon be able to reserve your recreational services on either PRIVATE LANDS or PUBIC LANDS with just one convenient phone call.

The same companies will, however, be operating all of the facilities and the differences between facilities will be little more than the difference between a McDonalds and a Burger King ....
     ...  or should I say: a KOA and a KOA.

Scott

You've heard Wild Wilderness say that fee-demo is but the thin edge of a very thick wedge. You've heard our fears that the American Recreation Coalition seeks to "commercialize, privatize and motorize" recreational opportunities on America's public lands.

The following has been excerpted from: "Public Lands Policies and Predictions: ARC president reviews progress and discusses the future of our national parks, forest and scenic byways." This article was written by Bob Ashley and in May 1998 was published in Motor Home (MH) Magazine, the journal of The Good Sam Club.

Susan Bray, Executive Director of the Good Sam Club, is on the Board of Directors of the American Recreation Coaltion. The Good Sam Clubs itself, is a sustaining member of the American Recreation Coalition.

What you are about to read is not conjecture. It is the voice of ARC President, Derrick Crandall, speaking to a friendly audience. It is ARC's own predictions for the future of America's Public Lands.

Perhaps they didn't expect the public would be listening! Perhaps they didn't even think you'd care.

Scott