Nat'l Park senior discount, too cheap?

[jolooote]

I am a senior, soon to be 68 years old. My opinion is that FREE is too cheap. On the other hand $25 entrance fee is too much. I'd like to see all Nat'l Pk. entrance fee set at $15 and senior discount set at 50%. The DW always calls me "CHEAP". She'll be proud of me. lol :B Whats U'r opinion?:h

[Bob_Landry]

How sad that youth is wasted on the young and wealth is wasted on the old..

[travelnutz]

"valhalla360" just has to learn that he has to/must PAY his dues for as long as us rich or poor old geezers have and then he too may get the discounts also.

However, not if he doesn't pay his dues until then to keep the parks in good shape as most would be closed or sold off!

The typical NOW NOW NOW and give it to me free still wet behind the ears generation just showing their immature age...

[Dog_Folks]

valhalla360 wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


The "I pay taxes" doesn't hold up. I'm in my 40's and I pay taxes also.

Keep on paying them then, until you catch up and earn your old age perks. I started paying income and other taxes around 15 years before you were born... :W

Whats the total dollar amount you paid so I know when I'm caught up and should be entitled the freebee?

Again, if they want it income based, I could buy it as the parks should be available to all citizens but to price poor young families out so we can give a discount to rich old folks makes no sense.

Excuse me! Not all us "old folks" are rich.

If we were we wouldn't care about the discount.

You may want to re-read. I'm OK with a low income discount.

But being old in no way implies you are automatically poor. Nor does being young automatically imply you have money.

I have reread your post, especially where you said: "....so we can give a discount to rich old folks makes no sense."

How did I go wrong in that statement?

[Lauren]

"Figure out a way I can be 40 again and I'll be happy to pay full price. Right now I need the price break to help pay for my slobber bibs and Depends. I'd use some for Viagra but forgot what it's for!! "

You gave me my biggest laugh for a long time on this Forum.

We just got back from visiting our daughter in London - can't tell you how long we saved for that and even had some miles.

Guess what, gang. Seniors get discounts like mad over there; we did not even think about it but I daughter knew about it for us. And she gets "resident" discounts.

[valhalla360]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


The "I pay taxes" doesn't hold up. I'm in my 40's and I pay taxes also.

Keep on paying them then, until you catch up and earn your old age perks. I started paying income and other taxes around 15 years before you were born... :W

Whats the total dollar amount you paid so I know when I'm caught up and should be entitled the freebee?

Again, if they want it income based, I could buy it as the parks should be available to all citizens but to price poor young families out so we can give a discount to rich old folks makes no sense.

The available senior discounts are no different than any other discount extended by retailers, regardless of whether they are government or private enterprises. Discounts are offered to bring in customers, increase business volume, and promote future business. When a senior citizen takes their kids, grandkids, etc, to a national park or monument for instance, they are encouraging future generations to also enjoy these treasures. Even if the seniors only talk about their experiences at these facilities, they are still hopefully creating an interest in them among the younger folks. How does using my ATB Senior Access Pass 50% discount at various public campgrounds differ from using my Passport America 50% discount at private campgrounds? Should that one be "income based" as well?

What private companies do for profit is entirely up to the owner and the owner doesn't have to explain it to anyone as long as it isn't illegal.

The govt is a public entity. As such they have a responsiblity to treat all citizens fairly and equally in so far as they reasonably can.

If it's such a great idea to encourage the next generation to cherish these parks (and I think it is), why shouldn't working parents enjoy the same discount when they directly encourage thier kids to cherish these parks?

[oldchief7155]

I think Trump, Romney, Magic Johnson and all the filthy rich should get the discount. They've paid enough taxes to buy some of these parks.

Figure out a way I can be 40 again and I'll be happy to pay full price. Right now I need the price break to help pay for my slobber bibs and Depends. I'd use some for Viagra but forgot what it's for!!

[valhalla360]

Dog Folks wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


The "I pay taxes" doesn't hold up. I'm in my 40's and I pay taxes also.

Keep on paying them then, until you catch up and earn your old age perks. I started paying income and other taxes around 15 years before you were born... :W

Whats the total dollar amount you paid so I know when I'm caught up and should be entitled the freebee?

Again, if they want it income based, I could buy it as the parks should be available to all citizens but to price poor young families out so we can give a discount to rich old folks makes no sense.

Excuse me! Not all us "old folks" are rich.

If we were we wouldn't care about the discount.

You may want to re-read. I'm OK with a low income discount.

But being old in no way implies you are automatically poor. Nor does being young automatically imply you have money.

[Lauren]

Yes, and I have known - not intimately and personally but from our home town area0 all three there - from Victor Erday (owned much of the land of original Naples) to the Norris family who built / re-built the pier) - to having an uncle who retired there on a very modest income. And those inbetween. And tourists like us who love beautiful Naples.

But I digressed. Well, maybe this whole thread has digressed!

Be safe - God bless.

[Dog_Folks]

Lauren wrote:
You got that right, Dog Folks! Even in Naples, not everyone is a millionaire, right!?

There are three types of people in Naples:

1. Tourists

2. The wealthy

3. The people that work for the wealthy.

Alas I was a number 3, but I did O.K. No regrets.

[Dutch_12078]

valhalla360 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


The "I pay taxes" doesn't hold up. I'm in my 40's and I pay taxes also.

Keep on paying them then, until you catch up and earn your old age perks. I started paying income and other taxes around 15 years before you were born... :W

Whats the total dollar amount you paid so I know when I'm caught up and should be entitled the freebee?

Again, if they want it income based, I could buy it as the parks should be available to all citizens but to price poor young families out so we can give a discount to rich old folks makes no sense.

The available senior discounts are no different than any other discount extended by retailers, regardless of whether they are government or private enterprises. Discounts are offered to bring in customers, increase business volume, and promote future business. When a senior citizen takes their kids, grandkids, etc, to a national park or monument for instance, they are encouraging future generations to also enjoy these treasures. Even if the seniors only talk about their experiences at these facilities, they are still hopefully creating an interest in them among the younger folks. How does using my ATB Senior Access Pass 50% discount at various public campgrounds differ from using my Passport America 50% discount at private campgrounds? Should that one be "income based" as well?

[Lauren]

You got that right, Dog Folks! Even in Naples, not everyone is a millionaire, right!?

We never paid the money and went it - had been in years before and got all the basic info at that time.

OK, there is some good news about all this for us.

The parking concessionaire had a contractor(s) for the parking lot. This included the gates / computers needed, etc.

Our son got the contract for that. Years ago.

[Dog_Folks]

valhalla360 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


The "I pay taxes" doesn't hold up. I'm in my 40's and I pay taxes also.

Keep on paying them then, until you catch up and earn your old age perks. I started paying income and other taxes around 15 years before you were born... :W

Whats the total dollar amount you paid so I know when I'm caught up and should be entitled the freebee?

Again, if they want it income based, I could buy it as the parks should be available to all citizens but to price poor young families out so we can give a discount to rich old folks makes no sense.

Excuse me! Not all us "old folks" are rich.

If we were we wouldn't care about the discount.

[Rollnhome]

Vahalla360, don't worry about how much in taxes us rich old gizzers paid. You just keep paying yours so our Social Security, Medicare, and National Park passes stay strong and our checks keep coming in monthly. Thank you. Now get back to work my friend.:)

[valhalla360]

Dutch_12078 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:


The "I pay taxes" doesn't hold up. I'm in my 40's and I pay taxes also.

Keep on paying them then, until you catch up and earn your old age perks. I started paying income and other taxes around 15 years before you were born... :W

Whats the total dollar amount you paid so I know when I'm caught up and should be entitled the freebee?

Again, if they want it income based, I could buy it as the parks should be available to all citizens but to price poor young families out so we can give a discount to rich old folks makes no sense.

[D___M]

I don't know what entitles seniors to any discounts. I am a "senior" and I did absolutely nothing to get here. It took no skill to get old. The only reason I can figure is that the benefactors of senior discounts are being benevolent, which is fine. But it really annoys me to hear old coughers complaining when someone chooses not to give a senior discount.