cross-posted from: https://lemmy.today/post/42464557
The National Park Service said Tuesday it is going to start charging the millions of international tourists who visit U.S. parks each year an extra $100 to enter some of the most popular sites, while leaving them out of fee-free days that will be reserved for American residents.
The announcement declaring “America-first entry fee policies” comes as national parks deal with the strain of a major staff reduction and severe budget cuts, along with recovering from damage during the recent government shutdown and significant lost revenue due to fees not being collected during that time.
The fee change will impact 11 national parks, including the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior.
As part of the changes, which are set to take effect Jan. 1, foreign tourists will also see their annual parks pass price jump to $250, while U.S. residents will continue to be charged $80, according to the department’s statement.
I don’t think you’re wrong for noticing that trend, but I don’t think it should be a trend we follow. A country that prides itself on freedom and equality (under the law) should probably buck the trend that says “because of where you come from, you must be treated differently.”
It’s not that it’s not a reasonable thing to do, but that it conflicts with our stated ideals.
One thing I like about Americans is that wherever you go in the country, there’s usually not the same international trend of a “foreigner’s price” for things. Turks, Brits, and Yanks all pay the same for a New York hotdog, ya know?
The ideal is kinda dying in America though. Not just anti-immigration, but the notion of rejecting “impure” or disloyal outside influences, generational/class animosity, things like that.
I’m watching Ken Burns documentary on the Revolutionary War now, and I can feel someone else squirm every time it touches on the huge influences of enslaved Africans or the native Americans, like there’s this existential fear we’re somehow being taught to hate our country over “alien” presented facts or ugly quotes from George Washington. It’s baffling to me; the warts and atrocities, the struggle for generational self improvement makes it so much more romantic.
…What I’m getting at is the national attitude seems to be increasingly more defensive and protectionist.
Charging “outsiders” for parks makes perfect sense in that context. It protects them for “true” Americans, and snobby outsiders pay their fair share. That’s equality now.
There’s a bigger divide between anyone who steps foot here and those who are citizens.
Surely you must mean freedom to discriminate equally?