Coyote Blog

Actually, you fit the "voice" I read....look, demeanor, etc. Nice to put a face to a "voice".

As an aside, any way to maximize the screen size of that video? HuffPo does not seem to have the usual control button for that like there is for youtube videos.

Based on the cartoon, one expects you to be hairier and scrawnier

listening to the video.. I was struck by the characterization of "privatization" vs public-private partnership and the implications of contracting out rest room cleaning and gate tending as separate contracts vs All-in-one contract that includes collecting (and keeping) entrance fees.

We've toured a good part of the country and have stayed at hundred if not thousands of campgrounds ranging from very basic primitive sites ranging to full-blown resorts and more than anything else - I feel that campgrounds (as opposed to just entrance fees) - campgrounds and all they provide - need to be fully paid for by the people that want them and use them.

second, the most reliable commercial campgrounds are those that have standards - usually franchise standards.

the primary difference between commercial and public campgrounds is the venue. Commercial campgrounds are lean and mean on the landscape visuals.. many suck but they do provide the infrastructure necessary for most folks but more toward the big rigs and less towards tenters.

the public camprounds tend to have the landscape visuals and related and accommodate tenters and car campers better and the big rigs... sometimes... with 50 amp service but less so with onsite sewer - usually a dump station.

I don't think "privatizing" the parks is a good thing myself. Warren talked about infrastructure but that's the big conundrum between private and public parks. Few private campgrounds, for instance, can afford the extensive road networks you often see in public parks. Water/sewer is another area that is problematical for private campgrounds and public campgrounds to a certain extent as most public campgrounds are "powered" most often by "package" sewer treatment facilities which are a big ticket item for private campgrounds. Potable water that meets safety standards is another. Water from wells that is not treated is usually not considered safe by most govt campgrounds whereas it's a bit more murky with private campgrounds.

Well, I've already seen pix of you, so you looked pretty much as I expected. You did sound like you had a head cold, though.

I notice the silly argument that you missed was that "people have already paid for them through taxes". No, not really. People have paid for them to EXIST through their taxes. Actually USING them is an additional burden on their operation that the people who DON'T use them should not be expected to shoulder.

Some people like camping. Me, if I never camped another day in my life, I'd not feel I'd lost anything. I have no problem with my paying for the OPPORTUNITY to use them, but if I don't, then why should I pay *extra* taxes so others can make use of the parks themselves? Why should I, as a taxpayer, subsidize someone else's actual USE of the parks?