When the Obama-Reid government shutdown commenced Oct. 1, 2013, the president directed the secretary of the interior to close all public government sites, including the Washington Mall. Newscasts showed park rangers putting up barricades in front of veteran memorials and denying access to World War II vets. In addition, all U.S. Forest Service campgrounds (including those here in La Plata County) were closed to the public.
Was that really necessary or a way for Obama to shift the blame to Republicans? Now it turns out an organization of USFS campground operators – calling themselves the National Forest Recreation Association – filed suit in federal court claiming the campgrounds did not rely on federal funds and should not have been closed. Campground operators lost considerable money during the 16-day shutdown, even though all Forest Service employees received back pay.
The number of people who had to change plans because of the campground closings probably runs into the thousands. Needless to say, these are the same middle-class people whom the president professes to champion. I’m surprised he didn’t say something like, “If you like your campground reservation, you can keep it. Period.”
Dennis Pierce
Durango
