What Benefits Zion National Park should Benefit Bears Ears

   It strikes me as odd that the same state leaders who oppose the designation of Bear Ears as a national monument shout praises to the five national parks in Utah. They speak of the economic benefits of the five parks, but when it comes to new monuments (a status that could lead to those areas becoming national parks), they suddenly only see bad economic consequences.
   I don't know. I rather wonder if, instead of opposing the Bear Ears National Monument and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, we ought not embrace them, and start pitching them as national tourist attractions. I would imagine if the areas are to be properly protected, tourism should not be encouraged in all places, but in those spots that do warrant tourism, bring it.
   It seems the same type of economic benefit that comes from Zion having national park status should be available to Bears Ears with it having national monument status.