After finding a sympathetic panel of appellate court judges, the National Park Service was successful in the overturning of Price vs Barr. This allowed the NPS to implement a permit scheme in an attempt to increase revenue by targeting filmmakers who upload to sites like YouTube and TikTok. In other words, when your twelve-year-old daughter visits a national park during her summer vacation, then uploads to Instagram, regardless if her channel is monetized, she is in fact in violation of park service law and is subject to a fine and potential jail time. Think I’m joking? Not even close. And to make matters more in line with the US Government in general, the permitting process itself is broken.
I’ve spoken about this several times before, but I think this film does a good job of lining out the points, not to mention the lunacy that is the permitting process itself. The kicker for me was when this person asked a park ranger about filming and the guy says “Well, you can come in and film and we PROBABLY won’t get you but……” If that doesn’t sum up the lack of planning, the lack of thought and the absolute detachment from reality that government organizations have I’m not sure what does. What this speaks to is selective enforcement, which is precisely what I knew would happen. Are you of value to the park service? Can you pay a sizable fine? If so, well sure, we’ll go ahead and enforce this. I can’t wait for the NPS to fine the child of a person of influence who is going to blow their stack while suing anyone that moves. And what do you guess will happen when this happens? Of course, it will magically disappear. The fact the park service can’t quite define who they are in fact fining is a major red flag.
Again, this could have been an opportunity for the NPS to be forward facing while using filmmakers to assist in the future of the parks. But no, why do that when you can fine people or take their money for permits they may or may not even acquire.
My wife and I often speak about where we will live if and when we ever get to retire. (Not likely)
All I know is, when I see and feel overreach like this, it solidifies my opinion that we won’t stay here. I know the rest of the world has their issues as well, but what I see here in the United States now could be best described not as “The Land of the Free,” but more as ‘The Land of the Scam,” and our government is leading the way. You can write to your representative, but in my experience in doing so, it won’t do much good. What does work is making sure you don’t give a penny to these places or organizations. Speak with your wallet. In modern America it’s about the only thing that works. 28% of our entire country is now off limits without opening your wallet for the park service, at least if you are a documentarian. Does this mean better facilities, better hours, better access, improved offerings? Well, time will tell, but based on my fifty-four years as an American, I’m doubtful.
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Meh, Government are a farce when it comes to anything online. Canada’s no better, they’ve opened the door with bill C-11 to legally enforce streaming services algorithms like Youtube, Netflix and such to display “canadian content” (CanCon the traditional rating system used for TV) which by the way rates movies like “Gotta Love Trump” as Canadian and “All or Nothing Toronto Maple Leaf” as non-canadian. This could have big negative impacts on all canadian creators and viewers, again gorvernment acting without thinking about impact on individals. And maybe no more Dan Q&A videos in my Youtube feed. It’s a big mess everywhere governments tries to mingle in online policies. At least we’ll be able to film in Canadian parks and monetize these in the States lol
Author
Look, if a government sees control, power or money they will do whatever it takes to get it. They want us as dumb as possible. Most of the people in government are too old to understand tech. Remember Zuckerberg grinning as he was testifying in congress. Our 100-year-old her unable to even understand what Facebook was.
That was my plan. Look for an exit. I know that American nomad workers and expats are upending economies elsewhere. I would have tried to do it as responsibly as possible. I generally leave a small footprint, and I would have tried to offset my move in the event my salary was out of whack with the local economy. But those plans are on hold. Haven’t quite figured out an untethered work option, and I want to be close to aging parents.
Author
Most foreign countries now don’t want Americans, and I get why. These nomads didn’t help the situation. Portugal just revoked their Golden Passport, New Zealand said “no more,” and Mexico did as well. We are like locust. And our country teeters on the brink of all out stupidity.
Trouble for you Americans, if I’m right on this one, is that you can leave, but never, ever become free of paying US taxes. That could crucify all of you but the millionaires. Can you be sure your adopted country doesn’t enforce double taxation, meaning you pay it in the US as well as in the new place?
Then, be sure you can get medical cover too.
Europe probably offers you the best deal – at least there are some vague commonalities of mores etc. missing in exotic lands but hey, those off-radar joints can compensate with equally exotic diseases.
Unfortunately, successive US governments have done much to make themselves, and by extension, their personally blameless citizens not all that popular in many countries. Fact of life: it was never suppose to be fair; that’s just a socialist construct of wishful thinking.
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Yes, I would have to denounce my citizenship and plant my flag elsewhere. But at some point soon, they won’t be able to enforce the tax code as the country will be too far gone. People will just stop paying, en masse, and nobody will be able to do anything about it. If the highest court is corrupt, and the highest office is corrupt and all three branches are corrupt people are going to stop paying.
Come and live in WA. The Australian government has screwed up the economy, but all you’ll need as a retiree is a camera, a shed and some timtams!!
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My bow and arrow, a backpack full of timtams and a wagon filled with stubbies!
My granddaughter, famously a Boomerang Brit, has had two stints working as a doctor (medical) in Oz, and though the financial rewards are higher, like for like, than in Britain, there’s the unfortunate fact that the cost of living is also higher.
That said, I think she enjoyed her time there, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if she eventually decides that her future truly is outwith the grim realities of the current UK. I was only a freelance snapper, but I took off for Spain forty-two years ago and never felt I was missing anything. Of course, those were the golden years when you could earn a good living from photography, sadly yet another financial escape route cut off. Of course, Brexit would have shackled most of us to the UK prison rail even had photography still enjoyed its former prestige and glory. It seems to me that ultra nationalism only appeals to those with no horizons.
You know what’s one of the most amazingly great things here in Finland: everyman’s rights / right to roam. Free access in national parks and everywhere, as long as you respect the environment (don’t litter or put on an open fire, favor established trails etc.), shoot as many photos and videos as you want… You do need a permit for fishing and hunting, though.
Author
Yes, same here. Hunting, fishing both require license. And there are certain fees and stamps that do a ton of good. The Ducks Unlimited Stamp, created for hunters, actually helps with preserving bird habitat.
I learned long ago, when it comes to “laws,” do as the politicians/lawmakers do.
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Ignore them. (the laws) Clarence Thomas doesn’t seem to have much time for them.
To do that, Tad, and get away with it, usually requires that you be one of them first. If you’re not, you don’t have the protection around you. Of course great wealth can, in some jurisdictions, purchase immunity for one.
Author
Yep, wealth comes with privilege in many cases.
Here are a few tips on equipment from Markus Rothkranz: https://youtu.be/YSIqJnQ5QfY