Regardless of party preference, one element was consistent during last week’s historical midterm election. We were all stunned and impressed at the power of democracy. The 2026 midterms reminded us that the people have a voice in what we want for our lives and nation. Whether it’s healthcare, foreign policy, the environment, fuel prices, reproductive rights, gun control or something else, each of us is impacted differently by political issues. Election night demonstrated that the majority of the country is ready for significant change.
When watching one state after another turn blue, a thought entered my mind: “Maybe this will save our public lands.” I don’t know why that was one of the first musings I had as the country flipped both chambers of Congress, but it was. It’s often the subconscious whispers that help us know which issues matter on a personal level, so it seems our public lands mean a lot to me.
Since the current administration has been at the helm, public lands have been slaughtered from every angle. In classic bully fashion, the big loud mean guy has used a fat fist and corrupt dollars for selfish means. At least a quarter of national park workers have been cut, leaving our country’s most visited landmarks highly understaffed. According to an article in the New York Times, between $67 million and $90 million from park entrance fees have been diverted away from park maintenance and safety upgrades and funneled toward construction in Washington, D.C., and the president’s vanity projects.
Executive Order 14314 states that entrance fees were changed so that non-U.S. residents must pay $250 for an America the Beautiful Pass with an additional $100 per person at the 11 most popular parks, while U.S. residents pay a flat $80. Don’t we want an influx of international tourists to visit our country to bolster our economy and aid in global relations and perception?
Additionally, the current administration has bulldozed its way onto public lands to construct border walls, demonstrating total disregard for environmental and historic preservation laws, creating self-serving waivers as work arounds. The current occupant of the White House is also aggressively pushing to overtake numerous public lands for fossil fuel development and attempting a propaganda-like campaign titled “Unleashing American Energy.”
In my opinion, the destruction and misuse of public lands is the most dystopian thing that can happen to America. Without natural beauty and open spaces, we’re left with metal, steel, machinery and holes in the ground. And what kind of pathetic, sad world would that be?
Every Democrat and Republican has been spellbound by public lands. Glaciers, mountains, canyons, rock formations, rivers, streams and ancient trees transcend time and trivialities. They are the landscape of our country’s indigenous people and eons of wildlife and vegetation. They hold an unparalleled magic no man-made structure could ever hope to mirror.
Several years ago, my husband and I traveled to Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, to see a concert. It wasn’t the music on stage that captivated me the most. As the sun set, it cast an ethereal glow on the surrounding red rocks, and I felt overwhelmed with awe. The following day we visited Rocky Mountain National Park and were humbled by the magnitude of the mountains. This past summer a group of us traveled to Arizona where we visited the Grand Canyon, Humphreys Peak and Sedona, and I felt a similar indescribable feeling. To bring it closer to home, each morning when I pull into Tuscola’s parking lot to drop off my son, the clouds are often weaving in and out of our breathtaking mountains. It always makes me think, “We are beyond lucky to live in such a beautiful place.” I could go on about various experiences and outdoor excursions, both near and far, that have shaped who I am as a person and citizen.
It’s hard to say what changes will come as a result of the most recent election, but I hope that the new regime will work to repair, nurture and save our public lands from greed and corruption. If a government is unwilling to protect precious lands that exist merely to delight us, what are they willing to protect?
(Susanna Shetley is a writer and editor who lives in Waynesville. susanna.b@smokymountainnews.com.)