Updated! How does the government shutdown affect the parks?

[Bonny in CA]

This is just terrible timing for us. I really hope they resolve this sooner rather then later.

Me too! And good question about the ferries too! If they don't resolve things before we get there, this will be the strangest vacation ever!

Hope you're finding some beaches Mary Beth!

[mizarumonkey]

re: civil disobedience - GOOD! I'll be there on the weekend, and if moved off one beach, just go on to the next.

I feel that keeping the a-hole Rangers on as "essential employees" just for the sake of kicking people off the beaches is an insulting use of the funds they do have. If they really cared about safety (rather than just being disgruntled and taking it out on the people who have no say in when they come back to work), they'd leave the beaches "open" (not that they typically have much presence there anyway, again, aside from citation-writing), and prioritize by keeping the lifeguards, and some life-safety employees on the ready.

[Coconuts]

This is purely a technical observation, but don't they all wear nice, crisply ironed uniforms? It would be a shame to get them wet...

I am long overdue for an audiologist appointment. Rock and roll has surely taken its toll over the years.

[Edit] Don't you just HATE getting water in your ears while surface snorkeling?
http://www.amazon.com/Macks-Aquablock-E ... 75&sr=1-11

All the best,

Kevin

[mbw1024]

If you all know Slimman, he is a park employee and certainly not an a-hole. Our friends saw him today in a park vehicle near the Reef Bay Trail. There were 2 jeeps parked there. He was kind of just standing around and I am guessing thinking to himself "hell if I am walking that trail to find these folks!".

[Barb Y]

I love Slimman! Please tell him to hang in there! Good luck to you guys. I hope you still manage to have an amazing time

[toes in the sand]

This may be a bit off topic but it is my belief that if the federal government is shutdown then we should not have to pay federal tax today and everyday that they are off the job. I think that if it were so, there would never be another shutdown.
On another note, the federal gov't has shutdown, the Dow Jones is up 52 points at the moment,oil has dropped below $102/barrel and a group of WWII vetrans have stormed past armed guards and baracades at the open air WWII memorial. Perhaps we should have more of these.

[mizarumonkey]

re: Slimman - agreed. There are definitely some of the rangers in mind that could be very easily applied to, however.

Rather than shutting down, the government as a whole could save a TON of $$ just by installing some fingerprint - time clocks at every government office. It's astounding how many of the government employees somehow find time to have three side jobs beyond their full-time government job, yet have full voice mail box at ''work" and are never never ever in the office.

[jaybfloyd]

That's the common misconception of federal workers. I am one and have never worked harder in any job in my life than the one I have now because I believe in what I do. The media has brainwashed folks into thinking government workers just stand around the water cooler all day, take long lunches, and under perform. Granted, I am only speaking for the people in my organization but that couldn't be further from the truth. Another media darling is the fact that federal workers are overpaid. Totally false. I could be making 30% more in the private sector at my current job. I'm sure there will be other forumites jumping on here with their opinions of federal workers but don't classify us all as lazy just because Congress can't get their act together. Most federal employees are middle class citizens just trying to make ends meet. The real loss in this whole mess is that middle class worker who busted their ass all year to take one vacation only to find out the most beautiful beaches in the world are closed. I can only imagine.

[mizarumonkey]

MD may have a lot of government employees who "believe in what they do", but not true at all in the VI. I'd suggest here that the great majority don't even *know what* they're supposed to do.

It's not based on media brainwashing - don't even have TV. It's based on frequently stopping in government offices in the course of doing work in the territory. It's based on knowing and talking with the managers of the hordes of employees who don't come to work, don't have the skills anyway, and can't be fired due to the archaic labor laws here. It's based on walking in offices to see every single employee watching Netflix mid-day.

There are standouts who are good, and as a result have the burden of everyone else's work on their backs as well. But the majority - I'd rather see them furloughed permanently, where at least they can't do any negative work (see: DPNR officials using boats to traffic drugs, police chiefs using their power to corner the coke market, tax officials selling clearance letters on the side to businesses who owe taxes, etc etc etc...).

[jaybfloyd]

Didn't realize you were only referring to VI feds. Carry on.

[jimg20]

Didn't realize you were only referring to VI feds. Carry on.

In fact, it sounds like they are talking about Territory employees rather than Feds.

I worked in the public sector in a previous life. Did we have people who met the criteria noted above? Sure we did. Do I have them working around me now in the private sector? You bet I do, and I don't think the ratio of hard workers to non-workers is any different.

Just my point of view.

JIM

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

FYI, Congress will be voting on opening up the National Parks. Sounds very promising.

[Bonny in CA]

FYI, Congress voted to open up all National Parks.

Everyone can enjoy the beaches now.

Really? I haven't seen that in the news yet, but it's great news if it's true!!

[Marcia (Mrs. Pete)]

It's Huffington Post but still...here is where I found it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/0 ... 24562.html

[News of St. John]

FYI, Congress will be voting on opening up the National Parks. Sounds very promising.

As of 5 p.m., NPS on St. John has not received any indication of this.