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

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

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.