Utah and Colorado to Pay Federal Government to Reopen Parks During ShutdownMelissa Melton Utah has agreed to pay the federal government $1.7 million to open up eight national parks during the government shutdown, and Colorado will pony up $362,700 to open Rocky Mountain National Park. But Arizona officials said the Obama administration is still dragging their feet in reaching an agreement over the Grand Canyon. After being battered for its decision-making during the shutdown, the park service is trying to regain its footing, including opening up monuments in Washington and Philadelphia to First Amendment activities, which in essence makes them open to anyone who knows the policy. (source) The U.S. National Parks Services has a budget of $2.86 billion which seems rather trivial in comparison to the fact that the U.S. government spent $3.54 trillion in 2012 alone and has raked up a total national debt of nearly $17 trillion overall. Even if every single last park in the country was closed tomorrow forever, it would do little to solve any actual problems this nation faces. In fact, just the first week of the government being shutdown actually cost taxpayers an average of $12.5 million an hour. Melissa Melton is a writer, researcher, and analyst for The Daily Sheeple and a co-creator of Truthstream Media. Wake the flock up! 