If you like the national parks...

[Jeffshadows]

...You may want to get out and hike there before Friday due to the imbicillic nature of those we have sent to Washington. Saguaro is poised to lock its gates and send law enforcement to the other trail heads to keep people out during the shutdown. What a shame.

[rally_toad]

The law enforcement rangers left behind to guard the parks after all "non-essential" personnel are sent home will be making mega overtime.

[-X

Not true. Many workers will continue to work for free, they don't know how long this shutdown will last and if they will ever get paid for that time.

[azbackpackr]

I will ask my friend again about that. He definitely could have been wrong, but he said his supervisor, a Law Enforcement Ranger for Grand Canyon, will be paid overtime.

[rally_toad]

They're only paid overtime if they actually work overtime. Now you may be right about them working overtime for a few days to try and close the park down, since it does take alot of work to close down a park, especially one like Grand Canyon where there are thousands of visitors there at one time.

But from my experience theres going to be a whole lot of "non-essential" personnel who are going to continue to work even though they may or may not get paid for it, I know my friend will not be able to leave the canyon in the event of a shutdown, and will help LE's close the park even though he is "non-essential".

I just do not like people perpetuating myths like public servants are leeching off the system or that they're lazy, or that they get overtime pay for working regular hours, or that they make outrageous wages, when it just isn't true. Most public servants are doing what they do because they love it or they want to make a real difference, the NPS is a great example, as are teachers, as are most public servants. Obviously there are exceptions to this, but I hate when people make generalizations and attack hard working people. I haven't met a frontline ranger yet who doesn't give 110% and care deeply about what they are doing. If they went in to the NPS for the money they made a wrong choice.

[Sredfield]

. . . I just do not like people perpetuating myths like public servants are leeching off the system or that they're lazy, or that they get overtime pay for working regular hours, or that they make outrageous wages, when it just isn't true. Most public servants are doing what they do because they love it or they want to make a real difference, the NPS is a great example, as are teachers, as are most public servants. Obviously there are exceptions to this, but I hate when people make generalizations and attack hard working people. I haven't met a frontline ranger yet who doesn't give 110% and care deeply about what they are doing. If they went in to the NPS for the money they made a wrong choice.

Amen!

[azbackpackr]

Well, I actually didn't mean it that way. My friend wants to stay behind and help his supervisor, but higher-ups said no, he has to leave on Sat. He said his supervisor is going to be working very hard and will probably have to do everything by himself, he's been told will be no one at that particular location to help him.

[azbackpackr]

[maxpower]

LOL....well they had sufficient funds to make signs anyway!

[azbackpackr]

Exactly what I was thinking!

Let's hope they never have to use them.

[big_load]

Unfortunately, a lot of hard-working folks had to put in extra time preparing for something that should have been taken care of sooner.

[azbackpackr]

Yes, they were really stressed and worried. It wasn't fair to them.

[chumley]

And last time I checked, they still have to keep the sign at hand since the "deal" struck last week was a temporary 1-week extension. And now the extremes on both sides are balking at supporting their leadership, which might end up in the closure again! Doh!

[azbackpackr]

To quote Charlie Brown: Aaaaaargh!

[Thoreau]

And last time I checked, they still have to keep the sign at hand since the "deal" struck last week was a temporary 1-week extension. And now the extremes on both sides are balking at supporting their leadership, which might end up in the closure again! Doh!

God I hope so... I've already decided that every jack*** that voted in favor of the current extension is losing my vote when their terms are up. NEITHER side is even CLOSE to supporting the level of cuts needed to pull us from bankruptcy. That said, neither side ever WILL have the balls to go as far as is needed at this point...