Hell, the national parks are the best part of this country and yet their considered "nonessential"? I think many things are nonessential in the government and society. Endless wars, pharma dominance, NSA spying...
Really the political groups are acting like a bunch of fighting toddlers who just have to get their way all the time. But I also don't doubt their planning and coherence about the whole thing as this isn't simply the work of "nutcase snake-handlers." As some progressive sites have dismissed them as.
Seriously open the national parks at least!