Just came across an article posted on an Oregon news source related to outdoor camping … and immediately saw the similarities to the current political atmosphere.
According to reports by some Oregon Parks officials, the high demand for crowded campsites this past summer has led to arguments and fistfights as would-be campers quarreled over first-come, first-serve campsites. In fact, the common courtesy usually displayed among prospective campers seemed to have vanished, forcing many of the Park Rangers to serve as mediators.
The Parks officials further reported that many Reserved campsite tags had been torn off and replaced with someone else’s name, prompting the nickname “campsite pirates.” Naturally, the original parties ended up angry and confused when they arrived to find their campsite occupied. In the past, such an action was extremely rare, but it’s been happening more and more.
In fact, it’s become so disrupting that Park officials have proposed legislation to give rangers added protection due to the increasing level of assaults and harassments directed at them as they have attempted to enforce park regulations.
The article reported that in the past, only about 1% of visitors struggled with following park regulations. Now, more than 10% of the park population refuse to comply or adhere to the rules.
Am I the only one who sees “signs of the times” in these incidents?
Nan's Notebook 