National Parks-Did The Government Actually Do Something Right?

Like much of America, I am riveted to the Ken Burns multi-part PBS series on our National Parks. It is excellent!

Today is actually the “birthday” of Yosemite National Park, which was established by an act of Congress on this date in 1890. I knew that environmental pioneer John Muir was largely responsible for paving the way—I just never knew what a fascinating character this Muir fellow was until Ken Burns came along.

Here’s a guy whose intelligence was unquestioned-and whose ability to make a living (and a fortune) in business was all but assured. Muir wanted none this “success”or its trappings. Off to the woods he went—walking thousands of miles and “communing” with nature in a way that had perhaps never been done before. Literally sitting in front of a plant or insect for hours on end, observing—and listening.

No wonder many people thought he was off his rocker. “Eccentric” was one of the kinder terms used to describe behavior that just seemed strange to those without his insight. Muir saw the beautiful Yosemite Valley being commercialized and ruined by greedy entrepreneurs—and fearing that the great spaces out west would end up looking like the industrial east, he set upon a campaign that became a life-long quest. Namely, to set aside, protect and nurture these natural American treasures.

Thankfully for us, he and other visionaries were successful!

In an era when governmental involvement in ANYTHING is seen as a “takeover”, an “infringement on our rights” and at best-a costly and inefficient way to run anything, we need to look no farther than the National Park System as a model of what good things can happen when the greed motive of capitalism (an indisputable force for good and prosperity) is selectively “curbed” for the greater good.

Since we perhaps have taken the National Parks for granted, it is an interesting exercise to imagine what they would look like today if Uncle Sam had NOT stepped in.

Vast beauty—built up with resorts and strip malls, large tracts of private lands inaccessible to the public—and no doubt a disturbing level of pollution and overdevelopment. We know this is likely the scenario because it was already starting to happen back when Yosemite became overrun following the Gold Rush.

I have no idea how many National Parks I have visited-since some are designated as such due to their historical significance (Gettysburg)—I do know that I haven’t been to Yosemite or Yellowstone National Park. This leaves as MY favorite-the one National Park I am most familiar with-and closest to: Acadia National Park here in Maine. Here is a short video of this beautiful place:






I’m looking forward to seeing how Ken Burns tells the story of Acadia. If it's half as good as the segments I have seen so far (and I have missed some—did he DO Acadia yet??), it will be a thrill to see anew the breathtaking spaces where my family and I have spent so many magical hours.

So, while we may all be critical of our Federal government-and our politics today, let’s all at least concede that the Feds got this one right---and since some have stated that such an endeavor would NEVER get through a partisan Congress today, perhaps there is a lesson to be learned about cooperation and the greater good.

Take note, politicians! Working together makes sense-for our destinies are bound together as one.

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