Arrogant Politicians, Government Shutdowns, and our Underappreciated Public Servants: The Rangers and Staff of the National Park Service

I am appalled at what has transpired over the last two weeks, and I can only describe the behavior of certain individuals in government as reprehensible. In a nutshell, a political party decided that a law that was duly enacted by Congress, signed by the duly elected President, affirmed by the Supreme Court, and affirmed again by a presidential election, needed to be stopped by any means possible. They threw out the Constitution that they so dearly claim to love that describes the process for making laws, and instead held millions of government employees, veterans, children, and others hostage, claiming that they would even cause our nation to default on its bills if they didn't get their way.

For all of the horrific things that happened, the most symbolic was the exchange that took place between Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) and a ranger at a war memorial. He voted to shut the government down, and then had the audacity to berate her for doing the job she was ordered by him to do. As if it was all her fault. No one deserves a supervisor like that (see the sordid episode here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Du5FHBQ-w#t=16 . I'm glad people in the crowd stuck up for her).

I admire the people who have chosen to serve their country in the National Park Service. They are paid poorly and don't always have job security (when federal budget cuts come, the NPS gets cut first, even though they make up an infinitesimal part of the budget). And they are trained to take a whole bunch of crap from morons who think that the laws of society and civility don't apply in the parklands they are visiting. And they are marvelous role models for legions of children who are introduced to the outdoors in part due to their leadership. I know I was impressed with rangers when I was a child. It was one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up (I'm still wanting to be a ranger, just as soon as I grow up...).

I feel so bad for people who had planned for and traveled to national parks, but were prevented from doing so by the privileged members of Congress who barely seem aware of the damage they have done. I especially feel for the folks who couldn't start their river trips on the Colorado River, something that requires years of waiting for permits, and months of planning, and thousands of dollars. I wasn't able to introduce my students to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks last weekend. We had to go somewhere else.

I've been telling myself that the importance of closing down the parks was not as high a priority as caring for veterans or feeding kids in Head Start, but I'm not so sure now. Our National Parks and Monuments are the symbols of what is best about America, and we should be caring for them and promoting them to the world as our best ever idea. I don't care how big our missiles and planes and ships are. It says so much more about what we value as a people that we have set aside our most beautiful and precious places for future generations. Our parks should not be neglected; they should be cared for and improved, and staffed by sufficient numbers of rangers that they can protect the resources, and provide expert interpretation for all park visitors.

Take a look at this link at Anonymous Rangers (http://npexperience.com/blog/2013/10/15/anonymous-rangers ) and have a look at the beautiful video they provided. And let a ranger know you appreciate their hard work and sacrifice. They are the best of America! (including you, Gaelyn!)

This is as Un-American as it gets.

Yeah, it might be your park, but Republican leaders are throwing a tantrum. You shall not pass.

It's funny how the little things can be so irritating. Because of the government shutdown, I cannot take my students on a field studies class to one of the more stunning places in our country, Sequoia National Park. As a result, the communities near the park will not receive our business, and we will be traveling someplace else.

Irritating yes, but nothing like the uncertainty that our public servants, the park rangers, the FBI agents, the food inspectors, the diplomats, the people who are doing the necessary and important business of our country have to suffer at the hands of fools. So yes, this post is uncharacteristically angry, because I am very angry.

Congressional Republicans are a bunch of spoiled children conducting a public tantrum that is hurting millions of people. But don't expect them to ever understand that. They collectively seem incapable of empathy. And yes, in this description I am including my own representative, Jeff Denham.

I was taught civics and politics in high school. Elected representatives go to Washington and enact laws using specific processes that have served us well for more than 200 years. If political parties didn't like laws, they could be repealed. By a proper vote in both houses of Congress, and with the signature of the President. Usually we expect that our elected representatives understand how the political process works.

The Affordable Care Act will benefit millions of people. We've already let too many people die or go bankrupt because of health catastrophes in the absence of health insurance. We've been abused for years by health insurance companies acting as the dreaded "death panels" that Republicans keep trying to scare us with. The ACA will (and already has) provided coverage for millions without the caps and limits on pre-existing conditions. And millions will now pay less for health care. The law was passed by the duly elected members of Congress, and signed by the president. It was upheld by the Supreme Court, including the conservative Justice Roberts. It is the law of the land.

But because the spoiled children who pass as representatives of the Republican Party don't think that my children and my cousins and millions of others deserve health care, they've shut down the government, tossing hundreds of thousands out of work, and causing children and the elderly to go hungry. They've endangered all of us. All because they don't truly believe in democracy. The law was enacted. There was an election in which health care was a main issue. And they lost. Get over it, and get our country back to work. Extortion is ugly and morally wrong.

Comment if you wish, but this isn't a debate forum. Intelligent and well-considered objections only. If you decide to unthinkingly parrot Republican talking points, don't expect them last very long in the comments section.