The floggings will continue until morale improves.........

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-09/national-parks-america-reaching-breaking-point/105515284

 

 

12 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

The floggings will continue until morale improves.........

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-09/national-parks-america-reaching-breaking-point/105515284

 

 

Used to have that on a bumper sticker on my truck!lol thanks for the chuckle!

Interesting ... not the OP, but the number of Nat. Parks in USA ... 63.   So if I spent a week at each, includes travel time to, as some won't need more than a day or 3, then I'll need 63 weeks of holiday playing nomadic tourist.   As a senior, get free admission, and discounted stays.   

 

Only real expense would be petrol, and purchase/resale of some type of RV van.

 

About the only thing I'd return to USA for.  For comparison, Thailand has 133 Nat. Parks ... hmm.

 

On topic, (as always) ... the cuts are probably needed, as anything govt is involved in, is usually overstaffed  by over paid, non producing employees ... IMHO   Just look at the 535 idiots in Congress ... nuff said.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Interesting ... not the OP, but the number of Nat. Parks in USA ... 63.   So if I spent a week at each, includes travel time to, as some won't need more than a day or 3, then I'll need 63 weeks of holiday playing nomadic tourist.   As a senior, get free admission, and discounted stays.   

 

Only real expense would be petrol, and purchase/resale of some type of RV van.

 

About the only thing I'd return to USA for.  For comparison, Thailand has 133 Nat. Parks ... hmm.

 

On topic, (as always) ... the cuts are probably needed, as anything govt is involved in, is usually overstaffed  by over paid, non producing employees ... IMHO   Just look at the 535 idiots in Congress ... nuff said.

In my experience, staff cuts are usually the most extensive at the lowest pecking order in an organisation.

 

That means the useful staff, who are picking up rubbish visitors inevitably leave, would probably be first for the chop. The administrators would be less vulnerable.

 

What's in the national parks IMO is more significant than numbers. Yellowstone, Yosemite, Valley Forge and the Grand Canyon take some beating.

 

Apparently a $200 million ballroom for the rich and powerful has greater priority than maintaining national parks for the average family.

 

 

Big Beautiful Bill......please let that be the name of Trump's cellmate.

12 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Apparently a $200 million ballroom for the rich and powerful has greater priority than maintaining national parks for the average family.

The ballroom is NOT being funded by tax dollars, so a bit irrelevant to govt waste, or priority of spending.

 

 

 

There is no hard evidence that tax dollars will be used for the 'core construction'......and there are no laws in place that require donors to be identified....but as this is an administration built on transparency I guess a full list of donors will be forthcoming.

5 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

The ballroom is NOT being funded by tax dollars, so a bit irrelevant to govt waste, or priority of spending.

 

Nonsense! Trump never pays for anything he can steal.

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

The ballroom is NOT being funded by tax dollars, so a bit irrelevant to govt waste, or priority of spending.

 

True. However, I would assume the donors to the project are financing their donations out of the tax cuts being given to them, so not quite irrelevant.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, are not those donations tax deductible?

 

Of course, the job losses in National Parks are rigged along with every other job statistic. Trump has said so, it must be true.

 

George Orwell would be right at home with the amount of doublethink that gets posted here.

 

 

5 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Nonsense! Trump never pays for anything he can steal.

I am wondering who would be foolish enough to tender for the construction work.

6 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

True. However, I would assume the donors to the project are financing their donations out of the tax cuts being given to them, so not quite irrelevant.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, are not those donations tax deductible?

 

Of course, the job losses in National Parks are rigged along with every other job statistic. Trump has said so, it must be true.

 

George Orwell would be right at home with the amount of doublethink that gets posted here.

Everyone is entitled to the exact same tax cuts, and taxation rules.   I've used many myself, and they are there for a reason, to help build jobs and stimulate the economy, which adds taxes to the IRS coffers.

 

Every new job adds income taxes, provides income for spending, adding more taxes (excise, sales), creating more jobs with the spending to the workers in farming & manufacturing.   Rinse & repeat.

 

Don't like the tax system, tell your govt rep (if you even know who he/she/it is), and tell them.   Next time you vote, keep them in, or vote them out, depending on their voting record, which most idiots haven't a clue what that even was.   But vote for the best commercial.

 

som nam na

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Interesting ... not the OP, but the number of Nat. Parks in USA ... 63.   So if I spent a week at each, includes travel time to, as some won't need more than a day or 3, then I'll need 63 weeks of holiday playing nomadic tourist.   As a senior, get free admission, and discounted stays.   

 

Only real expense would be petrol, and purchase/resale of some type of RV van.

 

About the only thing I'd return to USA for.  For comparison, Thailand has 133 Nat. Parks ... hmm.

 

On topic, (as always) ... the cuts are probably needed, as anything govt is involved in, is usually overstaffed  by over paid, non producing employees ... IMHO   Just look at the 535 idiots in Congress ... nuff said.

Senior access to National Parks is not free but the lifetime pass at $80 or the yearly pass at $20 is a great deal. 

 

There are 63 National Parks but there are 433 National Park Sites run by the National Park Service so you will not run out of places to visit. Also the National Park Pass gives you access to sites run by the National service and I think the camping is also discounted for Seniors with the pass. The senior camping discount in National  Parks was 50% back when I was traveling around in the US but I was not a senior at the time. 

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I am wondering who would be foolish enough to tender for the construction work.

I worked for a construction contractor in the Northeast in the 80s. Anything from trump was strictly No Bid. He was famous for defrauding contractors.

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Everyone is entitled to the exact same tax cuts, and taxation rules.   I've used many myself, and they are there for a reason, to help build jobs and stimulate the economy, which adds taxes to the IRS coffers.

 

Every new job adds income taxes, provides income for spending, adding more taxes (excise, sales), creating more jobs with the spending to the workers in farming & manufacturing.   Rinse & repeat.

 

Don't like the tax system, tell your govt rep (if you even know who he/she/it is), and tell them.   Next time you vote, keep them in, or vote them out, depending on their voting record, which most idiots haven't a clue what that even was.   But vote for the best commercial.

 

som nam na

Trickle down nonsense. Wealth does not create jobs.

31 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Nonsense! Trump never pays for anything he can steal.

He donates 100% of his salary to good causes. Did your man Biden do that?😅

7 minutes ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

He donates 100% of his salary to good causes. Did your man Biden do that?😅

He has 34 fraud convictions an had his charity shut down for fraud. Trump is a career criminal.

59 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Nonsense! Trump never pays for anything he can steal.

And stealing is all the animal knows how to do.

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Trickle down nonsense. Wealth does not create jobs.

Really ... and that's about he dumbest statement I've read in a long time.   

 

I guess those 50% off low end income earners, paying 2.3% income tax are not working jobs provided by people considered wealthy, that own the businesses they are employed at.

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Trickle down nonsense. Wealth does not create jobs.

 

15 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Really ... and that's about he dumbest statement I've read in a long time.

…& it’s getting worse by the day as the anti Trump gyrations continue to spiral down into the abyss, no recovery in sight.

1 hour ago, biervoormij said:

Senior access to National Parks is not free but the lifetime pass at $80 or the yearly pass at $20 is a great deal. 

 

There are 63 National Parks but there are 433 National Park Sites run by the National Park Service so you will not run out of places to visit. Also the National Park Pass gives you access to sites run by the National service and I think the camping is also discounted for Seniors with the pass. The senior camping discount in National  Parks was 50% back when I was traveling around in the US but I was not a senior at the time. 

Yea, I was aware of the $80 & $20 pass, and that's free enough for me.  The most expensive part of visiting the US, is getting the wife a visa.   Although it is good for 10 yrs, I think, but we'd only use it once, for 1 yr or earlier if bored with the parks, and what ever else I could think of to show her.  One year would be more than enough time.

 

 Along with average of $15 night when camping at parks (that's the average 50% rate), if even staying in the park vs just outside somewhere.

 

Figure 10k miles, 3k coast to coast X 2, and 4k for in between.

10,000 / 20 mpGallon @ $4 per gal = $2000. 

$15 X 365 = $7000 (round up from $5475)

 

So $10k for transport & camping.

Only unknown ... Just the cost of a van, minus 50% on quick resale,... hmm

 

As everything else wouldn't be much more expensive than Thailand.  Turning into an expensive per day expense, compared to O&A in TH.   But a lot less than playing normal tourist and staying in hotels.

23 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Really ... and that's about he dumbest statement I've read in a long time.   

 

I guess those 50% off low end income earners, paying 2.3% income tax are not working jobs provided by people considered wealthy, that own the businesses they are employed at.

No, the idea that the wealthy create jobs is. Demand creates jobs, If the market did not demand it, the wealthy would not hire anyone. 

1 minute ago, cjinchiangrai said:

No, the idea that the wealthy create jobs is. Demand creates jobs, If the market did not demand it, the wealthy would not hire anyone. 

Amazing people like you walk among us, and actually survive ... 

 

BYE BYE

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

Amazing people like you walk among us, and actually survive ... 

 

BYE BYE

Amazing that the economically illiterate like you survive. No wonder you are so subservient to a criminal.

1 hour ago, SunnyinBangrak said:

He donates 100% of his salary to good causes. Did your man Biden do that?😅

Trump has said anything he makes from his crypto, any gifts, any money he and his family makes due to his role as president will be returned to the people. Tee Hee

26 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Amazing that the economically illiterate like you survive. No wonder you are so subservient to a criminal.

Survive quite well, thank you.   Retired at 45 yrs old, and never was, or will ever be, subservient to anyone.

 

Live with your choices ... 

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Survive quite well, thank you.   Retired at 45 yrs old, and never was, or will ever be, subservient to anyone.

 

Live with your choices ... 

Better choices than delusions.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Everyone is entitled to the exact same tax cuts, and taxation rules.   I've used many myself, and they are there for a reason, to help build jobs and stimulate the economy, which adds taxes to the IRS coffers.

 

Every new job adds income taxes, provides income for spending, adding more taxes (excise, sales), creating more jobs with the spending to the workers in farming & manufacturing.   Rinse & repeat.

 

Don't like the tax system, tell your govt rep (if you even know who he/she/it is), and tell them.   Next time you vote, keep them in, or vote them out, depending on their voting record, which most idiots haven't a clue what that even was.   But vote for the best commercial.

 

som nam na

I am not an American. Given the state your country is in, I am grateful I am not.

8 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Survive quite well, thank you.   Retired at 45 yrs old, and never was, or will ever be, subservient to anyone.

 

Live with your choices ... 

Do you throw your weight around when doing your annual extension at Immigration?

3 hours ago, biervoormij said:

Senior access to National Parks is not free but the lifetime pass at $80 or the yearly pass at $20 is a great deal. 

 

There are 63 National Parks but there are 433 National Park Sites run by the National Park Service so you will not run out of places to visit. Also the National Park Pass gives you access to sites run by the National service and I think the camping is also discounted for Seniors with the pass. The senior camping discount in National  Parks was 50% back when I was traveling around in the US but I was not a senior at the time. 

Also each state has their own State Park system, and some are rather spectacular, especially in the west.  New Mexico has a great deal for campers too- a one year camping pass for all parks for $300, or $600 for out of state people. 

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Do you throw your weight around when doing your annual extension at Immigration?

Whoa, that came out of left field.   What does that have to do with my reply to ... that person?