Wharton: Sorry, Scouts and seniors don’t need these perks By Tom Wharton Tribune Columnist Article Last Updated: 01/17/2007 06:52:48 PM MST
Criticizing senior-citizen discounts and the Boy Scouts of America is tantamount to spitting on the flag, kicking Mother and hating apple pie. That said, the Utah Legislature should not give seniors over age 65 free entrance to state parks, as Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful, is proposing. The bill was passed favorably out of a House committee Tuesday. And, though arguments for allowing Boy Scouts to fish without a license when participating in an official troop activity are more compelling, that potential action should be avoided as well. Let’s start with the seniors. As someone who already qualifies for some senior discounts, I’m not sure I deserve them. Seniors I know, including those on Social Security or fixed incomes, still have more discretionary income than many young couples. Seniors already receive a 50 percent discount on day-use fees at Utah state parks and, with a Golden Age passport, free entrance or discounts at most federal parks. If they can’t afford to pay a $4 day-use fee or a $35 annual fee to enter a state park, they probably shouldn’t be busting their budgets on gas money to drive to the park in the first place. To make up for the estimated $242,000 annual hit the Division of Parks and Recreation would take should senior day-use fees be eliminated, the agency would likely raise entrance fees at some parks. Advertisement
And that would discriminate against young families and the working poor, who deserve a break every bit as much as seniors. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need user fees to pay to maintain state and national parks. Most of us would like to see the Legislature and Congress eliminate or reduce all fees. But somebody has to pay for campgrounds, boat ramps and restrooms. Who better than those who use them? Another legislative proposal would allow Boy Scouts participating in an organized outing to fish without buying a license. Unlike the senior parks-fee exemption, at least a good argument can be made for this bad idea. If youngsters are introduced to fishing, they might become lifelong anglers and license buyers. That said, is it a good idea to give young Scouts the idea they can get something for nothing? Shouldn’t part of the scouting experience involve learning to give something back to the outdoors? If a new law changing fishing and hunting license fees passes the Legislature this year, 12- and 13-year-old Utahns will be required to pay $5 for a fishing license. Right now, 14-year-olds are required to spend $8 for a one-day license, $16 for a week or $26 for an annual license. Is it too much to ask Boy Scout troops to do fundraising work like painting, cutting lawns, holding a bake sale or a raffle to purchase fishing licenses for troop members who may not be able to afford $5? What 56 years has taught me is there are no free rides in life. If we want nice park facilities, we’re going to have to pay for them. If want fish habitat to be improved and trout to be planted in our waters, someone’s going to have to buy a license. For that reason alone, Utah legislators should resist the temptation to give seniors or Boy Scouts a free ride. — * TOM WHARTON can be contacted at wharton@sltrib.com or 801-257-8909. Send comments about this story to livingeditor@sltrib.com.