unique contribution to democracy: discuss . . .

There is a form of pseudo exam question that states something then commands: "Discuss."  This bit from Ansel Adams' essay "The Meaning of the National Parks" seems a good candidate for that treatment.

"James Bryce once said that the concept of the National Parks was America's unique contribution to the democratic idea."  Discuss.

notes toward the discussion

• What is the concept of the National Parks?  
• Is it actualized in the parks we have?
• What does it contribute to the democratic idea?
• Why idea and not to the practice of democracy?
• Is this really unique?  Does any other nation have something similar?  If so, is their derivative?
• Is this a restatement of the 19th century nationalist position that offered up our landscape in competition with European cultural artifacts?