I can tell you as a government employee all my life I understand what you are saying, but bashing the government is not the way to go. Everyone likes to drive on the interstate highways, state and local roads (all government projects) which are available 24/7. You like to have facilities you can use like national, state, and local parks, boat ramps, libraries (all government projects), pick up the phone and call 911 and you get a response 100% of the time. Fire, police, ambulances (all government services). Your children and/or grandchildren need an education so they go to school right? (a government service). You are fortunate and appreciate what you get for your dollar. Just check out other areas like my birth state of Connecticut. You can't even go to any beach or ramp unless you are a resident of the town or city in which the beach or ramp exists. You will be refused entry. So if that happened here those of us who live in an interior city or county could not even go to a NSB ramp and use it. You would be limited to a commercial ramp at a commercial marina to get your boat in at $5-10.00 a launch. Has anyone launched at Lopezs' ramp? I have. 5 bucks per launch and the ramp stinks! And remember Lopezs' is a private venture. Now compare that with Riverbreeze Park. I also don't remember the government giving multi million dollar bonuses like the financial companies did to the same people who ran the company into the ground in the first place. These park and boating facilities we enjoy cost a lot of money to build and maintain and the residents of NSB pay for us to use the ramp. (BTW, Thank you NSB.) I am always amazed that people balk at paying their own way. Everyone bashes the government because it's easy but look at what we have in our country and think about the fairness of coastal residents shouldering an unfair burden by paying their property taxes for non city residents. Is the government perfect no but it is a far sight better than anywhere else in the world. I think that I would not mind chipping in to keep access to one of my favorite fishing and boating areas. I do whole heartily agree with Saltykayak about being pro active. That is the only way we can hope to fix government problems we do have. But I do think we only have the Obama relief plans in place because of the Bush League former residents at 1600 Pensylvannia Ave. My family was 50.00 a month away from food stamps as a result of Reaganomics and I was a full time firefighter. I can go on and on but my fingers are getting tired. I also love the discussions we have on our community site. Thanks Lee.