Feds attempting to reduce the discounts for Golden Eagle

[okieboater]

http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/ ... 6480a60f36" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


This is under the radar.

For many of us seniors and the people who are in the same car with us when we visit and camp at forest service camp grounds - the 50 percent discount we get is going to be revised.

For more information, go to the URL above and contact your Congress members.

Cut off for input is Feb 1 2010 so please get your feed back in to the website and Congress.

[GN YAKN]

Alright Brother Dave, I thought you were the White (or Silver) Ghost. When did you change your Cherokee name to Golden Eagle? Did you check with the elders first? I'll bet that name is already taken

Your friend, Floats Like Rock (Dave)

[okieboater]

I think this deal even got by the elders.

I know you young pups might be annoyed by us old geezers hanging out on federal lands and waterways
but
on the other hand
take us along in your vehicle and you can participate in the good discount
plus
it will not be that many moons before many of you young warriors reach the magic age.

I hope we can continue the current discount, but the bureaucrats up in Washington DC continue to take away promises ...........

[Roger]

Dave and Dave, forget all the names we take as we journey through the experience we try to call everything but what it is! Growing old.

OkieDave, I would never begrudge the fact or presence of our elders in the areas we speak of since they bring wisdom, knowledge and insight far beyond that of those pups who aspire to be like you.

FortDave, I have seen you float. It is more like a butterfly with concrete shoes!

BTW, OkieDave, I'm getting closer this month to being one of the buzzards that soar with the GOLDEN EAGLEs!

To keep this thread on topic, damn those feds!

[Richard]

I really have mixed emotions about this. I see people in huge campers and motor homes taking advantage of this who obviously would have no problem paying. And I remember all too well how a camping fee for my family was almost out of the question.

I use it now but I would gladly give up my privilege if there was some way a vehicle with children could get in for free or half price like I am able to.


I agree with this statement and therefore I am ready for the special privilege to go away:

"(4) application of the 50 percent discount to holders of Senior and Access Passes is unreasonable in view of the growing number of senior citizens in the United States; and (5) the 50 percent discount requires concessioners to raise camping fees to compensate for the loss in revenue, thus increasing prices for non-seniors and discouraging a future generation of campers."

I have been there. It was not fun.

[knu2xs]

If you are basing the fee structure on ability to pay with the motivation of making recreation activities available to the most people possible, young families should be getting this discount.

[cyberpapa]

It didn't take long reading this proposal to see the word "concessionaire" pop up. I'm sure it's the lobbying effort of the various private concerns that have taken control of OUR campgrounds. It can be pretty much guaranteed that when they reduce the senior discount from 50% to 10% that the extra money will not be distributed to family campers, but will rather go into the pockets of folks running OUR campgrounds for profit. I was visiting with forest service personnel in CO and was told the concessionaires have managed to put forth regulations that will not allow the forest service to take back management of the national forest campgrounds unless there are no bidders in the private sector. Everyone pays more when the private concessionaires take over. It was refreshing to camp in the Sante Fe National Forest this fall and find $10 camp fees in the campgrounds still managed by the forest service. Public campgrounds out west managed by a private enterprise are more in the $20 range. Not only that, but as soon as the peak tourist season ends they start shutting down campgrounds as they fail to make a profit. That means going out after the crowded season and finding locked gates at campgrounds instead of the great feeling of "having it all to yourself". We are really fortunate here in AR to have the forest service still running the campgrounds and having reasonable fees. I totally hate the concept of private concessionaires profiting from public campgrounds. I guess I should have known this was coming...I'll qualify for a senior pass in a year or so. Cal

[suckhole]

As a disabled war vet I got two real benefits. I get my medical through VA and a damn Golden Access card. My mom and dad were gate attendants at Lake Nimrod for years. The vandalism and theft goes up when attendance is down. Our seniors are a big key in helping to prevent this. Besides, didn't they pay enough in taxes through the years to cover their camp fees? We need to lobby for more money for our parks, as they are being drastically underfunded. We have learned through the years that building lakes and parks was very smart when it happened. We shouldn't forget that lesson. We need to make sure our paid representatives don't forget it either!! Thanks for the post. And either way you stand, please go to the link and be heard.