I have read a number of posts, both here and on other forums and I can't believe the feelings of a lot of people about Park Rangers. There are some forums that people want to spit on, beat up, or even shoot Park Rangers.There are many things that never get old, but this is not one of them.Yes, there is frustration over the closing of National Parks. But the lowly Park Ranger didn't cause it. Most of these jobs are seasonal. They are out there right now, doing what they have been instructed to do, without receiving any of the crappie pay that they earn. They don't take these jobs to be millionaires. Even the full timers don't make a great wage. Anyone want a job?And none of them are happy about the shutdown. They take these jobs because they enjoy the outdoors and want to protect our parks. They are people persons that want to be able to show them off, by giving tours and demonstrations to the visitors.Are some badge heavy and jerky, sure. Not unlike some people that work with. But most of the guys and girls just want to get through the day without hassling with irate visitors. A lot of them are trying to turn a blind eye to the "insurgents" that go around the barricades.So, go to the parks and enjoy them the best you can, if you feel so inclined. But if you get approached by a Ranger, cut them some slack. If you have to complain, take it down to the White House. He gets good pay. My rant is over. If this post gets closed or disappears because it's too political, so be it. Govern yourself accordingly.

I agree.Way too many people who have misplaced their anger over the situation. Some of the ones who are complain about the Rangers are the first ones to say you should report bad behavior to them while in the campgrounds.

When I was in Junior High School, I had a similar attitude toward my teacher, and pretty much, all teachers in general. The my sister decided she wanted to become a teacher. She ended up doing her "student teaching" class at the same school I attended. It was THEN I realized teachers are nothing but real people, not inanimate objects to be angry and hateful toward.Then came my attitude about military people, think they were, well ... just somebody else, so who cared. Until one day "I" found myself driving a jeep and carrying live ammunition going from bunker to bunker along the 38th parallel in Korea. It was only THEN that I realize ... soldiers are REAL people and I could be shot just as easy.So yea. Be reminded folks, those park rangers are REAL people with real families just trying to make a living.Thanks for your rant OP! I appreciate your concerns!

Wonderful!!! We volunteer in national parks and we see first hand what they go through. Thank you for the post...hope it gets some folks thinking on how to treat others.

Amen!And it's bad enough to hear about the abuse by frustrated tourists- but that wacko U.S. Congressman yelling at the Park Ranger that was trying to guard that D.C. monument is beyond outrageous.As if he wasn't directly responsible for the closure! Surreal...

Park Rangers | Good Sam Community

FunnyCamper
Explorer II
Oct 10, 2013
I've met many rangers, we do mainly state/fed parks. They are good people. Most have been stellar in their fairness/duty/friendliness and more!

let them do their jobs. sure there are small runins but the majority of the rangers are good people, not out 'to get ya!'
Pangaea_Ron
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
jdog wrote:
bigred1cav wrote:
If you have to complain, take it down to the White House

Better take it to House of Representatives they refused to pass the CR without riders.

D & M wrote:
I have read a number of posts, both here and on other forums and I can't believe the feelings of a lot of people about Park Rangers. There are some forums that people want to spit on, beat up, or even shoot Park Rangers.

There are many things that never get old, but this is not one of them.

Yes, there is frustration over the closing of National Parks. But the lowly Park Ranger didn't cause it. Most of these jobs are seasonal. They are out there right now, doing what they have been instructed to do, without receiving any of the crappie pay that they earn. They don't take these jobs to be millionaires. Even the full timers don't make a great wage.

Anyone want a job?

And none of them are happy about the shutdown. They take these jobs because they enjoy the outdoors and want to protect our parks. They are people persons that want to be able to show them off, by giving tours and demonstrations to the visitors.

Are some badge heavy and jerky, sure. Not unlike some people that work with. But most of the guys and girls just want to get through the day without hassling with irate visitors. A lot of them are trying to turn a blind eye to the "insurgents" that go around the barricades.

So, go to the parks and enjoy them the best you can, if you feel so inclined. But if you get approached by a Ranger, cut them some slack. If you have to complain, take it down to the White House. He gets good pay.

My rant is over. If this post gets closed or disappears because it's too political, so be it.

Govern yourself accordingly.

A Texas Congressman(BULLY) has taken it to a Washington DC female Ranger whom was only doing as she was told! What JERK congressman does a stupid thing like that, bulling a ranger because she did as ordered from her boss whom was directed by CONGRESS and a JERK from Texas!

It seemed like the congressman went there for a photo op/sound bite in roughing up the park ranger, and then a nearby federal employee handed it back to him. It was nicely done.
jdog
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
bigred1cav wrote:
If you have to complain, take it down to the White House

Better take it to House of Representatives they refused to pass the CR without riders.

D & M wrote:
I have read a number of posts, both here and on other forums and I can't believe the feelings of a lot of people about Park Rangers. There are some forums that people want to spit on, beat up, or even shoot Park Rangers.

There are many things that never get old, but this is not one of them.

Yes, there is frustration over the closing of National Parks. But the lowly Park Ranger didn't cause it. Most of these jobs are seasonal. They are out there right now, doing what they have been instructed to do, without receiving any of the crappie pay that they earn. They don't take these jobs to be millionaires. Even the full timers don't make a great wage.

Anyone want a job?

And none of them are happy about the shutdown. They take these jobs because they enjoy the outdoors and want to protect our parks. They are people persons that want to be able to show them off, by giving tours and demonstrations to the visitors.

Are some badge heavy and jerky, sure. Not unlike some people that work with. But most of the guys and girls just want to get through the day without hassling with irate visitors. A lot of them are trying to turn a blind eye to the "insurgents" that go around the barricades.

So, go to the parks and enjoy them the best you can, if you feel so inclined. But if you get approached by a Ranger, cut them some slack. If you have to complain, take it down to the White House. He gets good pay.

My rant is over. If this post gets closed or disappears because it's too political, so be it.

Govern yourself accordingly.

A Texas Congressman(BULLY) has taken it to a Washington DC female Ranger whom was only doing as she was told! What JERK congressman does a stupid thing like that, bulling a ranger because she did as ordered from her boss whom was directed by CONGRESS and a JERK from Texas!
NCWriter
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
1L243 wrote:

NC, The Washington Times a Conservative News Paper! Youre kidding right?

No. Two newspapers in DC: the Post and the Times. (No connection to the NYTimes or the LA Times.)

The Washington Post is the newspaper that uncovered the Watergate scandal resulting the resignation of Nixon.

The Washington Times was created and subsidized with literally billions of dollars by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon because he did not like the Post's editorial positions. TheTimes' editorial position has tended to be similar to Fox News.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Oct 10, 2013
bigred1cav wrote:
Francesca Knowles wrote:
Ranger Kris Fairbanks, NFS, Olympic National Forest:

Shot and killed in action Sept. 20th 2008 . I went to her funeral

Ranger Margaret Anderson, NPS, Mount Rainier National Park:

Shot and killed in action Jan.1 2012

RIP Officer

Chris Egley is another killed in Organ Pipe Cactus N.P. We knew this fine young man when we were volunteers.

Don't blame the rangers for today's problems - they are just doing what the 'above' high and almighty told them to do....blame who you voted for and think carefully who you'll vote for next time.
mike_mck
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
bigred1cav wrote:
If you have to complain, take it down to the White House

Better take it to House of Representatives they refused to pass the CR without riders.

D & M wrote:
I have read a number of posts, both here and on other forums and I can't believe the feelings of a lot of people about Park Rangers. There are some forums that people want to spit on, beat up, or even shoot Park Rangers.

There are many things that never get old, but this is not one of them.

Yes, there is frustration over the closing of National Parks. But the lowly Park Ranger didn't cause it. Most of these jobs are seasonal. They are out there right now, doing what they have been instructed to do, without receiving any of the crappie pay that they earn. They don't take these jobs to be millionaires. Even the full timers don't make a great wage.

Anyone want a job?

And none of them are happy about the shutdown. They take these jobs because they enjoy the outdoors and want to protect our parks. They are people persons that want to be able to show them off, by giving tours and demonstrations to the visitors.

Are some badge heavy and jerky, sure. Not unlike some people that work with. But most of the guys and girls just want to get through the day without hassling with irate visitors. A lot of them are trying to turn a blind eye to the "insurgents" that go around the barricades.

So, go to the parks and enjoy them the best you can, if you feel so inclined. But if you get approached by a Ranger, cut them some slack. If you have to complain, take it down to the White House. He gets good pay.

My rant is over. If this post gets closed or disappears because it's too political, so be it.

Govern yourself accordingly.

BigRed
Not entirely true. The house has passed multiple bills to fund portions of the Govt. with no riders that the Senate has refused to vote on.
mike_mck
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
shakyjay wrote:
As I asked WHO told him to do this?

And what program of Michelle's.

Only thing I have seen on the Ranger is "A washington Ranger" and the quote.

Michelles Program
http://www.letsmove.gov/
Issue was Amber Alert site was down with a message it was due to the Govt shut down while Michelles letsmove site was still up.
Is this something you were unaware of?

I might point out as an example of the closure of open air memorials like the 24/7 WWII veteran memorial being closed. It took more workers to close it off than leave it alone and open. One story after another of similar situations. I am not try to help you form your opinion as you can do your own research and form them yourself as I have.
In my opinion this is no different than the sky is falling crys when the sequester began.

Having said that I respect Park Rangers and have never had a bad experince when dealing with one. I don't camp in campgrounds but disperesed camping areas.

I remember a conversation I had with a ranger from the Tonto National Forrest office in Phoenix right after I had moved to Az. I was asking the rules of camping. I was amazed at how few rules there were. The conversation ended when the ranger told me it was a notional forest and I owned it and should go enjoy it.
bigred1cav
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
If you have to complain, take it down to the White House

Better take it to House of Representatives they refused to pass the CR without riders.

D & M wrote:
I have read a number of posts, both here and on other forums and I can't believe the feelings of a lot of people about Park Rangers. There are some forums that people want to spit on, beat up, or even shoot Park Rangers.

There are many things that never get old, but this is not one of them.

Yes, there is frustration over the closing of National Parks. But the lowly Park Ranger didn't cause it. Most of these jobs are seasonal. They are out there right now, doing what they have been instructed to do, without receiving any of the crappie pay that they earn. They don't take these jobs to be millionaires. Even the full timers don't make a great wage.

Anyone want a job?

And none of them are happy about the shutdown. They take these jobs because they enjoy the outdoors and want to protect our parks. They are people persons that want to be able to show them off, by giving tours and demonstrations to the visitors.

Are some badge heavy and jerky, sure. Not unlike some people that work with. But most of the guys and girls just want to get through the day without hassling with irate visitors. A lot of them are trying to turn a blind eye to the "insurgents" that go around the barricades.

So, go to the parks and enjoy them the best you can, if you feel so inclined. But if you get approached by a Ranger, cut them some slack. If you have to complain, take it down to the White House. He gets good pay.

My rant is over. If this post gets closed or disappears because it's too political, so be it.

Govern yourself accordingly.
bigred1cav
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
Francesca Knowles wrote:
Ranger Kris Fairbanks, NFS, Olympic National Forest:

Shot and killed in action Sept. 20th 2008 . I went to her funeral

Ranger Margaret Anderson, NPS, Mount Rainier National Park:

Shot and killed in action Jan.1 2012

RIP Officer
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Oct 10, 2013
Ranger Kris Fairbanks, NFS, Olympic National Forest:

Shot and killed in action Sept. 20th 2008 . I went to her funeral

Ranger Margaret Anderson, NPS, Mount Rainier National Park:

Shot and killed in action Jan.1 2012

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