Cuts to the Senior discount coming?
RV Travel Magazine Looks like they want to cut the discount on upcharges to the camping fee. But the big problem is cutting the discount all together during peak season. Pay full charges all summe...
Forum Discussion
It is pretty easy to make the argument that eliminating the senior discount on campsite fees is a good idea. Even if you ignore the economic need of the Park Service for revenue, there are valid reasons those discounts should be eliminated. Camping space in most national parks is limited and demand exceeds supply. The government giving preferential treatment for one class of citizens over another for such scarce resources is problematic to many. Furthermore, many people distinguish a vast difference between entry to a national park and the amenities within those parks. Is renting a campsite really that different than renting a canoe, or eating a meal or buying a souvenir inside that same national park? Why a discount for one service and not all the others? Are campers somehow a special class that need special treatment?
I know there will be many who use the "I've paid taxes all my life, I deserve that break" argument. There is no requirement for the Senior Pass that includes proving you ever paid a dime in taxes. Even if you spent your entire life on welfare, the card and discount is available. And as far as I know, paying a certain amount in taxes doesn't get you additional government benefits. If that was the case, why doesn't the government keep a running total of what each individual paid in taxes and when you reach certain thresholds you get to ask the government for special treatment. Say, once you have paid a total of $100,000 over your lifetime, the highway department plows your driveway for $5.00. $500,000 gets you $25.00 plane tickets from the Air Force and on and on.
I know there will be many who use the "I've paid taxes all my life, I deserve that break" argument. There is no requirement for the Senior Pass that includes proving you ever paid a dime in taxes. Even if you spent your entire life on welfare, the card and discount is available. And as far as I know, paying a certain amount in taxes doesn't get you additional government benefits. If that was the case, why doesn't the government keep a running total of what each individual paid in taxes and when you reach certain thresholds you get to ask the government for special treatment. Say, once you have paid a total of $100,000 over your lifetime, the highway department plows your driveway for $5.00. $500,000 gets you $25.00 plane tickets from the Air Force and on and on.
