The National Parks Compromised : Pork Barrel Politics and America's Treasures - Softcover

Ridenour, James M.

9781570340031: The National Parks Compromised : Pork Barrel Politics and America's Treasures

Softcover

ISBN 10: 157034003X ISBN 13: 9781570340031

Publisher: UNKNO, 1994

The National Parks Compromised is James Ridinour's personal account of his four years at the helm of the National park Service and is consistent with his management style during those tough times. It's packed with candor, deliberation, common sense, and a good dose of humor. As director he sood clearly on the side of resource protection and fought against the congresssional creation of new park sites with little or no significance. He coined the term, "the thinning of the blood of our national parks" which referred to the congressional habit of creating pork barrel projects in the national parks budget while failing to take care of the minimal needs of our already established great American treasures. He predicts a slide to mediocrity for the Yellowstones and Yosemites of the system unless this habit is curtailed. In his book, Ridinour places the blame for the deterioration of the National Park System squarely where it belongs: in the U.S. Congress. None of his predecessors or, indeed, his bosses, took on the pork barrel politicians. He did, and every professional park ranger and clear-thinking citizen is better off because of his persistence.

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Review:

"Jim Ridenour is owned a heavy debt of gratitude by all Americans who care about the integrity of the environment and our cultural heritage." George Berklacy, Chief of Public Affairs for the National Park Service, May 1980-April 1993. -- George Berklacy, Chief of Public Affairs for the National Park Service, May 1980-April 1993

From April 1989 to January 1993, James Ridenour set policy as Director of the National Parks Service and administered and managed the National Park Service of the United States. The National Park Service employs approximately 18,000 full and part time employees and has an annual budget in excess of one billion dollars. Ridenour's The National Parks Crisis: The Compromise of America's Treasures tells of the thrills, the highs, the lows, and the pettiness within the decision-making body of the service. He attacks Congress while commending those individuals and organizations who give generously of time and money. The National Parks Crisis outlines the greatest threat to the parks and points a finger toward the halls of congress. Ridenour warns that the congress continues to compromise the entire forest for a few trees by adding parks with little national significance for personal gain. He warns that the quality of the National Park System is sliding toward mediocrity by spreading the money and people to support the 1. 4 billion dollar budget too thinly. -- Midwest Book Review

From Publishers Weekly:

In a straightforward style, Ridenour, director of the National Park Service from 1989 to '93, chronicles his dealings with Congress, the executive branch and his own staff, and discusses the issues facing our national parks. He warns that the National Park system is sliding toward mediocrity, because Congress keeps adding parks that he believes have little national significance, thus spreading the Park Service too thinly. The book is organized into 27 relatively short chapters that range from describing the internal workings of the National Park Service to the threatened ecology of parks such as Yellowstone, the Everglades and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Especially interesting are Ridenour's adventures outside his office, such as his trek to Angel Falls in Venezuela and a visit to a leper colony on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. Outdoor enthusiasts and professionals in the fields of land conservation and environmental management will enjoy the discussions of the issues that face our parks and the inside look at how the National Park Service operates within our political system.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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