A country that prides itself on freedom and equality (under the law)

The ideal is kinda dying in America though. Not just anti-immigration, but the notion of rejecting “impure” or disloyal outside influences, generational/class animosity, things like that.

I’m watching Ken Burns documentary on the Revolutionary War now, and I can feel someone else squirm every time it touches on the huge influences of enslaved Africans or the native Americans, like there's this existential fear we're somehow being taught to hate our country over “alien” presented facts or ugly quotes from George Washington. It’s baffling to me; the warts and atrocities, the struggle for generational self improvement makes it so much more romantic.

…What I’m getting at is the national attitude seems to be increasingly more defensive and protectionist.

Charging “outsiders” for parks makes perfect sense in that context. It protects them for “true” Americans, and snobby outsiders pay their fair share. That’s equality now.

There's a bigger divide between anyone who steps foot here and those who are citizens.

freedom and equality

Surely you must mean freedom to discriminate equally?

Yeah those poor poor international tourists. Just getting by on economy international flights.

No poor people are affected here.

It is said from the point of view of an average American, so it's accurate. 😉

In Thailand I paid 20x the amount of a citizen to enter a national park. Camping was free for citizens, but cost money for foreigners (I forget how much).

A resident hunting license in California costs $62.90 and non-resident is $219.81.

In Washington state a non-resident elk tag costs 10x what a resident pays.

In all cases, it's pretty similar.

I'm deeply deeply sorry for those poor international tourists. Coming over here in the hull of a boat sharing bunks. They'll have to tack on $200 and maybe stay one less night. The horror! 🤣