August 23, 2011 3:02PM 

# Paternalism and Parks 

By [David Boaz](https://www.cato.org/people/david-boaz) 

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Or, as Timothy Egan titles it at the *New York Times*: “[Nature Without the Nanny State](http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/nature-without-the-nanny-state/).” After reporting on a higher level of deaths this year at Yosemite, and an increased level of warnings and lawsuits, Egan notes:

> My experience, purely anecdotal, is that the more rangers try to bring the nanny state to public lands, the more careless, and dependent, people become.

That point might have broader application than national parks.

##### Related Tags 

[Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Regulation](https://www.cato.org/regulatory-studies) 

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