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Since the government shutdown began, we've seen the National Park Service do a few eyebrow-raising things. It's attempted to close a World War II memorial and even parking lots for a privately funded historical site, along with other questionable actions.
Now the NPS says it's been forced to close...scenic overlooks.
(Credit: WJLA-TV via YouTube)
In other words, if you feel the nudge to stop on the George Washington Parkway and pull into one of those small cutouts with a handful of spaces so you can admire the natural beauty around you and rest for a spell, you're out of luck.
(Credit: WJLA-TV via YouTube)
Here's the NPS justification:
(Credit: WJLA-TV via YouTube)
But as PJ Media points out, "it does cost money — pay, fuel, the cost of the obstacles — to send National Park Service personnel out" to block off spots like scenic overlooks.
“It’s a cheap way to deal with the situation,” an angry Park Service ranger in D.C. tells the Washington Times. “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It’s disgusting.”
Here's a report on the closure from WJLA-TV:
Some have pointed out that these kinds of reactions are meant to punish citizens and turn public opinion against the GOP for the federal government shutdown. Glenn Beck has told his audience as much.
"They are teaching you a lesson,” Beck noted Thursday on TheBlaze TV, adding that the government preventing veterans from accessing their memorial – paid for by taxpayers and private citizens – also reflects a “you didn’t build that” mentality.
“This is beyond not wise. You don’t do that unless you’re building a thugocracy,” Beck said. “You come in with your stormtroopers and you say ‘shut it down,’ and you have to. They don’t care if they bully vets, shut down parks that don’t need to be shut down — they are showing you they’re in control.”
(Image source: Judicial Watch via PJ Media)
"We’re dealing with a whole new breed of people,” Beck said. “They are setting up [that] these are the bad guys…Because when things start to fall apart, they’re going to need somebody to say, ‘get em!‘”
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