What is sad about the whole proposition is that many of these parks are self reliant, that is they could operate on the fees they bring in from entry, camping permits and the concession leases..

There was a talk about Yosemite this week on the local NPR radio station and how much the privately owned company that leases and runs the concessions, hotels, etc... could easily fund the federal potion of the park's operating budget (rangers, maintenance etc...) and still operate in the black..