Their job is supposedly not to produce revenue. But I think they get a gold star if they do. I'm sure they get Brownie points for things like selling off the salt at Bonneville for decades. They've allowed the ruination of a national treasure.
And look at the proposed new National Park fees. To me, it looks like running the parks and government land now has to be profitable. I was so naive that I thought the money spent on them was to insure their endurance for years. I wonder how much it would cost to cut off Roosevelt's nose in the Dakotas.
As for El Mirage, have any of our colleagues ever been detained or suppressed for mid-week "tuning" runs? And is running out the back door at 10 or 20 mph comparable to blasting across the surface at 60+ MPH in an off-road vehicle. It's amazing how many off-roaders with scads of suspension travel spend their days speeding across the flat lake bed.
There have been numerous deaths at El Mirage the past years. Most (all?) have not involved the SCTA. Off-road vehicle, experimental aircraft, ultra-lights (the same thing?), etc. seem to be the culprit. And, unknown to most of our competitors, we have to pay and post insurance. How 'bout the rest?
All of the above statements will not change a thing. This year has been a year that we've seen the government move in many ways that many (often the majority) don't think is the will of the people. We have this silly representative form of government where we have been taught that our elected officials look out for us. Yet, it seems that money interests trump the people's desire. Anyone that thought that a coalition lobbying the government for saving Bonneville has got to see the handwriting sinking in the mud.
Oh well, it was fun.
