Pumping Iron on Capitol Hill

Yosemite Falls - photo by JoAnn Sturman

Scott Sturman

In 2012 my wife JoAnn and I traveled to Tibet to participate in the “World’s Highest Trek,” which takes the non technical climber to 21,500 feet on the the Tibetan side of Mt. Everest.  After our acclimatization hike on Mt. Shishapangma, our group was informed that the Chinese government had summarily closed Mt. Everest to all foreigners, ostensibly due to civil unrest within the Tibetan Buddhist community.  No official reasons were given or right of appeal available–just capricious punishment of the Tibetan people and all foreign tourists.  What a helpless feeling to be subjected to the caprice of the Chinese Communists.  “We’re fortunate to live in America,” I thought, “where autocrats would never be so audacious, much less tolerated.” 

On March 1, 1872, the federal government established the first national park, Yellowstone Park, under the following condition: “as a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.”  Now Yosemite Park, a frequent destination of ours, is closed, while Senators and Congressmen pump iron at the Congressional Gymnasium, which is subsidized by the same ordinary citizens who are barred from entering their national parks.  Closing my eyes, I envision Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi clad in Spandex and gyrating at their Zumba class, while school buses are turned back by barricades and armed rangers at the entrances to our national parks.

Guilt is probably the rarest emotion to well up from a Congressmen’s hippocampus.  Feelings of hypocrisy?  Never!  Why would anyone be surprised the Congressional Gym is open for business during these times as austerity?  Their favored status is a self administered reward for giving us Obama Care, which ironically, the masses are compelled to use, while Senators, Representatives, their families, and political allies are free to opt out.

National parks provide sanctuary for those of us who want to escape politicians and detest listening to their incessant drivel.  From the looks of them, the outdoors, other than a golf course or alfresco cocktail party, is a place seldom ventured.

Washington, having lost its ability to govern, should pass control of the national parks to their respective states.  Congress's seniority system gives extraordinary and insulated power to a few personalities who are in essence national politicians.  Detached from the electorate, Congressional leaders are too easily influenced by lobbyists, money, and the national media.  This makes ill conceived decisions like closing the national parks not all that uncommon.  Devolution of power to state governments makes politicians more accountable and responsive to regional priorities.  The Founders realized the importance of government being as close to the people as possible and a healthy balance between states rights and federalism.  It would be difficult to imagine Jefferson, Madison, and Washington keen on wiling the hours away at the gym, while those who elected them were forbidden to appreciate the beauties of nature. 

       Bridalveil Falls - photo by JoAnn Sturman