senior pass

[F450]

I was reading in the AARP magazine that the us government is talking about limiting the use of the senior passes at high use times. Has anyone heard about that?

[Airdaile]

jdb7566 wrote:
Thank You for your service. I too am a Veteran. IMO, the only Vets who "deserve a break" are the draftees, the rest of us "volunteered".

Interesting logic. So people who would not have joined the service unless they were forced to are superior to those who voluntarily entered out of patriotism or a desire to serve their country?

[jdb7566]

RGar974417 wrote:
I'm a veteran. I never took anything from our government. Didn't use the GI Bill or a VA loan. I couldn't get into the VA. So now I get a discount on camping and free entrance into National Parks. How about our government stop spending billions on illegals. How about congress cut their own pay and benefits? How about cutting back on welfare? Those of us who worked our butts off,stayed out of troubleand served our country deserve a break.

Thank You for your service. I too am a Veteran. IMO, the only Vets who "deserve a break" are the draftees, the rest of us "volunteered".

[jdb7566]

mockturtle wrote:
I would be OK with using my pass only on weekdays in very high-use parks. In fact, I usually avoid public campgrounds on weekends anyway.

I'm retired and I play golf. I play during the week. Prior to retirement, my golf was limited to week-ends, and it drove me crazy to get behind a foursome of retired duffers holding up play who could have easily played during the week. I'm also a "senior citizen" and I get embarrassed when I'm in a group and someone demands a discount they think they "paid for".

[wa8yxm]

Western. I can answer your questions. but not here Look me up on facebook if you want to know about illegal aliens and social security... YOu may be surprised by the facts.

[westernrvparkow]

RGar974417 wrote:
I'm a veteran. I never took anything from our government. Didn't use the GI Bill or a VA loan. I couldn't get into the VA. So now I get a discount on camping and free entrance into National Parks. How about our government stop spending billions on illegals. How about congress cut their own pay and benefits? How about cutting back on welfare? Those of us who worked our butts off,stayed out of troubleand served our country deserve a break.

What do you propose to do about those illegal aliens and welfare recipients you somehow feel are taking from you? Don't you want to shoot them? Imprison them? Just deny them benefits and if they or their children go hungry or homeless so be it? But hey, you will still get your senior discount you earned because you didn't take government benefits (though driving on roads, having national parks, having that national defense that keeps this country free sure appear to be benefits to me).

[monkey44]

ScottG wrote:
Seems like most are in favor of this kind of thing as long as it doesn't affect themselves.

Just curious Scott, how do you know whom it affects, and doesn't??

[RGar974417]

I'm a veteran. I never took anything from our government. Didn't use the GI Bill or a VA loan. I couldn't get into the VA. So now I get a discount on camping and free entrance into National Parks. How about our government stop spending billions on illegals. How about congress cut their own pay and benefits? How about cutting back on welfare? Those of us who worked our butts off,stayed out of troubleand served our country deserve a break.

[BarabooBob]

The price went up in 2017. That was the first increase since 1994. I think that it is still a good deal. As for restricting discounts on weekends, I agree with it. My wife and I donate to the parks that we stay at to bring our camping cost up to what a young family would pay. We can afford it more now than when our kids were young.
Just because you are a senior citizen does not mean that you are not taking up a camping spot. After all, the parks cost just as much to operate when full of half price customers.

[westernrvparkow]

Lynnmor wrote:

aftermath wrote:


The new administration, yes this one, upped the fee from $10 to $80 and I agree it still is a bargain if you use it. We are heading toward a place where the wealthy can afford it so the rest of us will be staying home. It used to be camping and seeing the national parks was something everyone could do. Tents are being replaced by motor homes just like housing tracts are being replaced by gated communities. I suppose when you run a trillion dollar dept you have to look for places to cut back. Setting up a fair system of taxation is pretty tough to do, no doubt, but squeezing the little guy has always been easy.

The fee increase was mandated by Congress as part of December 2016 legislation to raise money to pay for park projects and visitor services. That legislation requires the price of the lifetime Senior Pass to be the same as the Interagency Annual Pass, which is currently $80 for one year, according to a NPS press release.

Since the 2016 congressional session ended before the current executive branch of government went into office it appears the vitriol directed at the current administration is in error. What it does point out is one of the broken points of our current political system, voting in laws where the potentially negative impacts only come into effect after the politicians that approved them have left office.
And for what it is worth, what I have heard is the effects will only be on things like discounted camping. Admission to the parks will still be at no charge for owners of lifetime passes.

[Jim2007]

Well I got my senior pass about 2005 in Montana at no charge. I have used it a number of times. Seem to me it is a good perk for seniors . .. jim2007

[wa8yxm]

Bobbo wrote:

wa8yxm wrote:
I can not say nice things about our current government. I've not heard that purposeful but I do not doubt it.

Don't restrict this to "our current government." When the previous administration had a shut-down, the President directed that all parks be closed, even those without gates or rangers. They actually roped off portions of DC on NPS land. There is video of that instruction. He said he wanted to make it hurt to make a point.

I wish not to get in a highly political discussion here so I won't.. The most political I will get is what I said above.

The only reason for restricting to our "Current" administration is because it IS our current administration. Past events are history and I do not know what will happen once the current administration is out of power. So I commenting on past.. waste of time and future is unknown.
I do agree with several add-on suggestions to my post however. (Nuff said there, nothing to discuss when you all agree)

Are we getting ripped off YES.

[ScottG]

Seems like most are in favor of this kind of thing as long as it doesn't affect themselves.

[monkey44]

This has been discussed hundreds of times, but the reasoning never changes.

Senior pass allows fixed-budget retirees to camp more often, especially in the off-seasons when the parks are not full. Due to that financial fact, seniors spend more money annually in the parks and in the out-of-park local service areas, like shopping, fuel, other stuff. I'd bet most seniors do not enter or camp during the summers or busy seasons, and least we don't because of the crowds and traffic - and because we can go other times.

That's beside the fact seniors paid taxes for fifty years or more building the parks and protecting the wilderness. Seniors have earned a little respect, and the discount. Same issue with veterans.

If you disagree with the discount policy, don't use it. BUT, leave the discount in place for those seniors less fortunate.

[Lynnmor]

aftermath wrote:


The new administration, yes this one, upped the fee from $10 to $80 and I agree it still is a bargain if you use it. We are heading toward a place where the wealthy can afford it so the rest of us will be staying home. It used to be camping and seeing the national parks was something everyone could do. Tents are being replaced by motor homes just like housing tracts are being replaced by gated communities. I suppose when you run a trillion dollar dept you have to look for places to cut back. Setting up a fair system of taxation is pretty tough to do, no doubt, but squeezing the little guy has always been easy.

The fee increase was mandated by Congress as part of December 2016 legislation to raise money to pay for park projects and visitor services. That legislation requires the price of the lifetime Senior Pass to be the same as the Interagency Annual Pass, which is currently $80 for one year, according to a NPS press release.

[aftermath]

I paid $10 for mine and have used it a few times. A senior pass is the same as senior pricing at some movies and restaurants. I think it is an effort to give back a little to a generation who has paid into many programs over the years.

The new administration, yes this one, upped the fee from $10 to $80 and I agree it still is a bargain if you use it. We are heading toward a place where the wealthy can afford it so the rest of us will be staying home. It used to be camping and seeing the national parks was something everyone could do. Tents are being replaced by motor homes just like housing tracts are being replaced by gated communities. I suppose when you run a trillion dollar dept you have to look for places to cut back. Setting up a fair system of taxation is pretty tough to do, no doubt, but squeezing the little guy has always been easy.