Hightower: By axing parks, politicians are stealing the people's property
Check out the robbery in my state of Texas. Things tend to be bigger here — bigger hair and hats, for example, bigger money and egos ... and bigger thievery by political con men.
Last year, the gang of GOP hucksters who control our state government pulled off a huge heist, covering it up with an equally huge boast: “We balanced our budget. Not by raising taxes but by setting priorities and cutting government spending,” bragged the gang leader, Gov. Rick “Oops” Perry. How’d they fill the $27 billion shortfall that they themselves had created by their previous budgetary mismanagement? By stealing money from already poorly funded programs — from education to parks — that ordinary Texans count on.
People here are justly proud of their 94 parks, but many of these treasures are now understaffed, open fewer hours and in disrepair because the system’s budget was whacked by 21.5 percent in order to spare the wealthiest families and corporations in this enormously rich state from paying a teensy bit more in taxes.
But that was only part of the robbery. A state sales tax on sporting goods, dedicated by law to help finance the people’s parks will generate about $236 million this year and next. But the governor and his legislative henchmen raided this pile of revenue, filching two-thirds of it for the state’s general fund so they could claim that they “balanced our budget (without) raising taxes.”
To replenish some of the tax money taken by The Perry Gang, the head of parks for the Great State of Texas is now engaged in a shocking spectacle: public begging.
http://lubbockonline.com/editorial-columnists/2012-01-28/hightower-axing-parks-politicians-are-stealing-peoples-property
I beleive the state is also losing federal matching money from Pittman-Roberts federal exicise tax Act
= new reply since forum marked as read
Public parks provide a public space where people can go enjoy the beauty of the outdoors without private ownership i.e. you don't have to maintain it yourself. We as the public own it collectively, to enjoy collectively and to contribute to the maintenance and upkeep collectively. All for the public good. It's good for people to get outdoors and have nice open spaces to enjoy - whether we're going on walks, hikes or bike rides, camping or having a family birthday party/picnic. Whatever keeps you sane in the rat race world. Enjoy the great outdoors - it's worth keeping more of our population sane. Mini vacations for those who can not really afford to travel and have the expense of hotels etc. The most human creature comforts we should expect would be a cabin. I would nix any possibility of TV. But running water and electricity don't bother me at parks. And plenty of people still opt for pitching a tent.
The monies provided by entrance/ use fees and dedicated budget support (taxes) help keep those spaces from being developed. And in some cases completely wild and protected. A lot of parks have areas that are totally off limits to humans. And the only way they can continue that protection is to charge sufficient money on the areas where humans are allowed to cover the protection of the undeveloped parts. Otherwise the legislative robber-barons would quickly sell off the asset to some scum bag developer to make gated communities for the really rich. They feel entitled to keep the scenic views and natural treasures of this land totally to themselves.
