Let's Eliminate Government-Mandated Handicapped Parking Spots.

[Mashmont]

Alot less women were at that time because of the immoral societal pressure to marry young and have kids, wash rinse repeat. Theres less of an emphasis for women to do that now so they are more free to pursue their own lives, not what any society tells them to. Id call that a major gain in freedom.

So you aren't speaking from experience, per the 1950s.

 

[Orangecat]

First world problems you ***** about, get a ******* hobby.

What if his hobby is bitching about first world problems?

 

[Mashmont]

First world problems you ***** about, get a ******* hobby.

I'm bitching about the leftwingers doing their best to make our first world country into one of their third-world countries.

 

[Godboy]

In 2025, America is faced with such an erosion of liberties that many of us are numb to it. It's just expected, and it's imbedded in so many subtle ways.

Today, I'm going to focus on one of my pet peeves that I am sure many of you will disagree with me on, conservatives included: Handicapped parking spaces.

Ten years ago this summer, I had a torn quadriceps tendon, had major surgery and was in a cast for six weeks. I borrowed a walker from a neighbor. There was a point when no one was home, and I had to go to Walmart to buy groceries. All the close by parking spots were taken, except for the 20 or so handicapped spots of which about five were occupied. As you know, handicapped spots are the premium locations always closest to the door. So I began my slow trek about 200 feet from the entrance. As I neared the empty handicapped spots, a van pulled into one of them and out waddled a 300-pound woman. I don't know what her disability was, but the main one appeared to be that she was morbidly obese. She was walking without assistance, so I would assume if she were to drop 150 or so pounds, she could walk normally and not need a special spot. The only requirement for getting approval for handicapped parking is for a health care professional to sign off. Doesn't have to be a doctor. A nurse practitioner will do. And there doesn't have to be a specific condition; only the determination that one has difficulty walking normally. So this could be most anybody who wants one. I am told these things are relatively easy to come by.

A business must have 2% of spaces solely for handicapped parking. For a small business, any number under 20, must be for the handicapped; again the prime spot. My beef is that this spot is usually available, and 98% of the population is inconvenienced at all times to accommodate the possibility that less than 2% might use a spot. For a business like Walmart or Lowe's that has upwards of 1000 parking spots, at least 20 front-and-center spots have to be available. Usually fewer than half are filled. This inconveniences everybody else. I sure could have used one of those spots that day I was in a cast with my walker.

This madness started in 1973 with the Rehabilition Act which guaranteed rights for the Disabled. While the act didn't mandate parking spaces, it set the table for the American Disabilities Act of 1990 which ushered in the familiar guy-in-a-wheelchair blue icon where the rules were standardized.

My thoughts? This is just another unfunded mandate that businesses are expected to eat. The decision should be left up to the business. If they think a spot should be left open, leave it open. If not, don't have a handicapped spot. If people complain, it's on the business to decide. It also depends on the type of business. Hospitals and doctors' offices could choose to have them. Athletic speed performance centers may decide they don't need them. Right now, no one is encouraged by our laws or government health care system to be healthy. America is increasingly obese, and we must not fat shame people. In fact, we are told by the left we must celebrate people's obesity. "It's who they are". There are no incentives for being fit. No incentives to walk. But if we were to mandate spots, let's restrict eligibility and make it tougher. Being a 40-year-old fatass should not be enough.

But if we must have mandated handicapped parking, let's do it more intelligently. Lowe's shouldn't have 15 open prime real estate spots on a crowded business day. Have 15-minute parking. Or open those spaces for everyone between, 6 pm and 8 am. Or if there are say, eight parking spots, let the end spot be for the handicapped; not the one right in front (which requires another adjacent space for loading and unloading).

It's all part of the softening of society. What did people do before 1974? They worked it out. They went when it wasn't busy. They got dropped off. Someone went in for them. They did what they could to become ambulatory again. Or businesses decided for themselves. Forced mandates are not compassion. True disabilities are unfortunate, but you don't make everyone else move heaven and earth to accommodate. Government needs to get the hell out. It's none of their business.

History of Handicapped Parking Tags

Discover the history of handicapped parking tags, how they originated & shaped accessibility laws to support drivers with disabilities.

wkfirm.com

US obesity rates have tripled over the last 60 years | USAFacts

Nationwide surveys show that 40% of Americans are obese, while 10% are severely obese.

usafacts.org

When i had spinal surgery, i could barely walk for a few weeks. Im telling you, it was really bad. I could only shuffle along with painful half steps. I did use the handicap spots during that time. Every time i did, i expected to be confronted by someone, maybe even a cop. It never happened, but i was prepared to light anyone on fire that questioned me parking there.

If youre legitimately injured, just use those handicap spots. If anyone confronts you, you should absolutely crush them and make it so ugly that they NEVER try that shit again. Thats my motto anyway.

 

[Foxfyre]

Actually, that's not the reason I oppose them. Even if we could achieve perfect compliance with the law, the question remains as to who gets the special perks and who doesn't. Government shouldn't be making that call.

When it happens to you. When you are dealing with a medical condition that can't be fixed. When it is difficult or painful to walk. When you have to use a cane or crutches or a wheelchair. When you are exhausted after walking for a short distance. When you are old and frail and your vitality is mostly gone.

Then you understand how kind and compassionate it is for the government to give you that additional bit of help with designated handicapped parking. And to do its best to restrict those spaces to those who really need them.

Yes there is abuse. And I hate that because somebody who doesn't need that space is taking up a space that somebody else actually needs.

But the young, the fit, the healthy people should count their blessings that they are instead of presuming to judge those who aren't. Again you often can't tell by looking how a person might be disabled. Even that grossly fat person. We just don't know.

And is it so big a deal to deny all the people who need those spaces the ability to have them just because you resent some fat person using them?

Sometimes we humans do things not because we have to. But because it is the right thing, the kind thing to do.

 

[braalian]

Yes, seeing people who are clearly just lazy getting a handicap permit is frustrating, but the benefits outweigh this.

Many people with wheelchair ramps literally need the spaces to have enough room to lower their ramps

 

[initforme]

So you aren't speaking from experience, per the 1950s.

I was a young kid during the 50s....unhappy people in general. You?

 

[initforme]

Smart companies would keep the things that are necessary like lunch time. Unions are a cancer, divisive by nature, and should be done away with. The left always pits one group against another. Conservatives see management and labor as part of the same team. Smart companies will treat workers that way. Wages are between the company and worker. Government, once again, should stay the hell out.

Unions are a way to give emoyees a voice. Employers should welcome them.

 

[Mashmont]

When it happens to you. When you are dealing with a medical condition that can't be fixed. When it is difficult or painful to walk. When you have to use a cane or crutches or a wheelchair. When you are exhausted after walking for a short distance. When you are old and frail and your vitality is mostly gone.

Then you understand how kind and compassionate it is for the government to give you that additional bit of help with designated handicapped parking. And to do its best to restrict those spaces to those who really need them.

Yes there is abuse. And I hate that because somebody who doesn't need that space is taking up a space that somebody else actually needs.

But the young, the fit, the healthy people should count their blessings that they are instead of presuming to judge those who aren't. Again you often can't tell by looking how a person might be disabled. Even that grossly fat person. We just don't know.

And is it so big a deal to deny all the people who need those spaces the ability to have them just because you resent some fat person using them?

Sometimes we humans do things not because we have to. But because it is the right thing, the kind thing to do.

This is what I mean. You people are so intent on making your point that you disregard everything the OP said. I said deserving people with true disabilities should have spaces, but government should not be involved. As you say, allow businesses to do the right and kind thing. But also allow them to protect the truly disabled by weeding out the imposters who make it hard for those in need. How can you possibly argue with that?

Let’s say I am a big box owner and get to make the rules. And let’s say my parking spaces were in high demand. I would have the spaces, but would have them be for the disabled during designated hours. To qualify, I would require a physician to certify a particular disability that is independent of obesity. Being 400 pounds is not a disability. I don’t care about the reason. Being that heavy is willful. We would require a BMI of less than 40. Same as doctors do for many operations.

 

[Foxfyre]

This is what I mean. You people are so intent on making your point that you disregard everything the OP said. I said deserving people with true disabilities should have spaces, but government should not be involved. As you say, allow businesses to do the right and kind thing. But also allow them to protect the truly disabled by weeding out the imposters who make it hard for those in need How can you possibly argue with that?

So who other than the government has authority to establish those spaces? To ensure they are appropriately there for the disabled? To enforce who gets to use them? To decide who is authorized to use them?

Would they exist in the vast majority of commercial enterprise if the government did not require them?

Did they exist anywhere before the government required them?

I don't recall ever seeing a space reserved for the handicapped before the ADA--very bipartisan legislation--became law in 1990?

Does the fact that some abuse the system justify taking government rules, regs, laws out of the equation?

 

[braalian]

This is what I mean. You people are so intent on making your point that you disregard everything the OP said. I said deserving people with true disabilities should have spaces, but government should not be involved. As you say, allow businesses to do the right and kind thing. But also allow them to protect the truly disabled by weeding out the imposters who make it hard for those in need How can you possibly argue with that?

1) how many business set aside spaces for handicapped people before it became a law? Zero?

2) I agree in theory with weeding out those taking advantage of the program. But there’s a limit to how much you could enforce that before it becomes more expensive than the program itself

 

[dblack]

Special rights for special people is bad government, even if it's for a good cause.

 

[Mashmont]

1) how many business set aside spaces for handicapped people before it exams a law? Zero?

2) I agree in theory with weeding out those taking advantage of the program. But there’s a limit to how much you could enforce that before it becomes more expensive than the program itself

No more expensive than it is now. You have security do checks from time to time. You have cameras. You have photo ID on the placard.

 

[Mashmont]

Special rights for special people is bad government, even if it's for a good cause.

Correct. Forming a new victim class is always a bad deal

 

[Mashmont]

So who other than the government has authority to establish those spaces? To ensure they are appropriately there for the disabled? To enforce who gets to use them? To decide who is authorized to use them?

Would they exist in the vast majority of commercial enterprise if the government did not require them?

Did they exist anywhere before the government required them?

I don't recall ever seeing a space reserved for the handicapped before that became a law I think in the early 1990's.

Does the fact that some abuse the system justify taking government rules, regs, laws out of the equation?

Businesses will decide if they are needed. Every big box currently has wheelchairs and motorized carts, though the ADA does not require either.

 

[Papageorgio]

Yeah, the loss of liberty is so endemic, it's easy to dismiss it as "Well, that's the way it's always been".
I'm old enough to remember when it wasn't that way.

How is Disability Parking a loss of liberty?

 

[Mashmont]

Went toLowe’s yesterday at 2 pm. Not a particularly busy Lowe’s. I counted 70 cars on the lot. 4 of the 12 handicapped spots were in use. Lowe’s does not need 2% of its spots for the handicapped and certainly not 24/7

 

[Mashmont]

How is Disability Parking a loss of liberty?

Screwing the business with an unfunded mandate

 

[Foxfyre]

Businesses will decide if they are needed. Every big box currently has wheelchairs and motorized carts, though the ADA does not require either.

They didn't decide before. Handicapped parking spaces didn't exist and wheelchair ramps and other accommodations for the handicapped pretty much didn't exist in the vast majority of America before the ADA.

I'm pretty sure those wheelchairs and motorized carts would not be provided as a convenience for their customers if there was no ADA. If we had not developed a culture that accommodates the unfortunate who are disabled. It most likely did take government action to accomplish that. Just as laws against littering were necessary to convince most Americans not to do that. The fact that many still litter does not reduce value of that law.

The point is there is an ADA that is the law of the land now. And it has been a godsend for millions of Americans who have disabilities that need the provisions that are required in the ADA.

I probably was less sympathetic to the disabled until I too developed disability through no fault of my own, before my husband did, before others who I know and love did. I don't need handicapped parking myself, but when driving one of my loved ones who do need that, I much appreciate having a space available. Because of a severe balance problem, I do greatly appreciate wheelchair ramps and such that keep me from having to step down from a high step or curb.

Okay yes. People do abuse the system. But since we have no way to know who is abusing it and who isn't. I think leave the system alone as it is. It is a true blessing and is truly compassionate for those who do need it.

Some laws are justified for no other reason than we care about the welfare of and blessings for others.

 

[Concerned American]

I'm a disabled veteran and I need Handicap Parking. For one thing, I need the wider space to get in and out my vehicle.

Now, somebody will say, "It's okay for Veterans but everybody else..." Then you'll get into a pissing match about why Granny should have Handicap parking, and the kid who got run over by a truck, and the woman suffering from a debilitating disease, then.......

Then you're right back where you started.

Maybe that fat woman that so irritated you looked like Miss America before she got sick or hurt. Maybe she didn't. Who knows? Who cares?

We can have handicap parking or we can have people taking up two spaces at once or parking in front of the entrance and blocking traffic. They will, too.

Fatass New Yawkers down here are known to just stop in front of a Store Entrance, let their FAT ol' ladies out, and sit there and wait for them to come out with a basket full of fatness. They'll also drive in circles for an hour waiting for that one spot they just have to have...... Then block traffic waiting for the idiot in the spot to back out.

You wanna ***** about something, ***** about that. Otherwise, try to be understanding for once in your life. Being handicapped sucks. Being a Disabled, Handicapped Veteran in a Country that doesn't care sucks even worse.

Didn't think about that, did you

I've got more problem with these "pick up" spots. Screw these lazy people who don't do their own shopping. They should either be relegated to parking in the farthest reaches of the lot or sent to the back door to pick up their purchases.