Budget talk in the North Fork

National news doesn’t normally have more than conversational impact on the North Fork. We follow events and vote even though we know there will be little change here, at least in the short term.

Sequestration may be different. (How did they come up with that name — I thought it only applied to juries?) I’ve been asking folks about it, and most North Forkers and others feel it’s high time that federal spending is curtailed. That being said, most folks are also concerned the feds will cut the wrong things.

We all recall that when the Forest Service cut budgets, the regional office was spared and on-the-ground workers were cut. GS-10s stayed in the office, and it took several seasonal workers being cut to preserve one GS-10 or above. As a result, trails were not maintained, nor campgrounds, Timber sales could not be prepared, but higher ups were able to continue creating paperwork.

Perhaps sequestration will be the same. We already know that Glacier National Park will open campgrounds later and close them earlier than normal. Also, a new superintendent will not be hired immediately. Locals Oliver Meister and Pat Cole, who work at the Polebridge entrance station, have been informed that their jobs will be renewed but will not be called until later than usual.

Federal Resource Advisory Committee grants awarded last fall for work to be done in the summer will also be affected. Depending on how the cuts are made, RAC grants may be cut by only 5 percent or maybe by as much as 50 percent.

Five percent cuts could probably be absorbed, but 50 percent could make some projects impossible. Once the method is determined, the local RAC committee will meet to reallocate whatever remains.

From a personal point of view, I have no problem with curtailing campground openings or government giveaways. I do feel cuts should be made in the upper levels, including Congressional salaries.

I oppose closing on-base schools, where the children of service men and women, mostly enlisted and poorly paid, attend. I oppose the perks enjoyed by high-ranking officials, including overseas junkets as well as the use of Air Force One for the president and/or his family to make political or recreational trips.

My own opinion is that the president, his cabinet and all congressional salaries be stopped until they pass a realistic budget. What do you think?