Let's Eliminate Government-Mandated Handicapped Parking Spots.

[Mac-7]

You completely missed my point. I was responding to the poster who said obese people shouldn’t get the spaces because they “brought it on themselves”

I was pointing out that, by that logic, many handicapped people could be said to have brought it on themselves. My point was it’s an unkind train of thought

Obese people can still walk

But they are lazy

 

[braalian]

Obese people can still walk

But they are lazy

Yes, I get it

But instead of looking at it like fat people are lazy and don’t deserve a handicap space, maybe look at it as being glad you haven’t gotten yourself in the same situation and realize whatever reason they have mobility issues doesn’t affect your life one way or the other

Probably a much healthier mindset

 

[justoffal]

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

There is no question that the arrangement is greatly abused by many who should not have a handicapped status.

 

[Jarlaxle]

You completely missed my point. I was responding to the poster who said obese people shouldn’t get the spaces because they “brought it on themselves”

I was pointing out that, by that logic, many handicapped people could be said to have brought it on themselves. My point was it’s an unkind train of thought

No, I followed your point to its logical conclusion. I'm sorry that you never did that.

 

[Mac-7]

Yes, I get it

But instead of looking at it like fat people are lazy and don’t deserve a handicap space, maybe look at it as being glad you haven’t gotten yourself in the same situation and realize whatever reason they have mobility issues doesn’t affect your life one way or the other

Probably a much healthier mindset

Lazy people hogging the parking spaces do affect others

Elderly people who are not officially handicapped still have aches and pains of their own

Everyone deserves an opportunity to get lucky once in a while

 

[dblack]

Lazy people hogging the parking spaces do affect others

Elderly people who are not officially handicapped still have aches and pains of their own

Everyone deserves an opportunity to get lucky once in a while

In the brave new world of the statist, opportunity is decided by the government.

 

[Mac-7]

The culture war is tearing the nation apart, and the only solution is for both sides to concede; to acknowledge that society isn't theirs to mold.

I think only one side is trying to “mold” society into domething new that conforms to their own preferred image

And thats the libs who complain about whiteness and conservative white culture that has existed since the founding of our nation

 

[dblack]

I think only one side is trying to “mold” society into domething new that conforms to their own preferred image

Of course you do. So do they.

 

[Mac-7]

Of course you do. So do they.

Conservative white culture is the cornerstone that the nation is built on

Libs want to tear that diwn

Dont blame both sides ehen only one is causing the rift

 

[dblack]

Conservative white culture is the cornerstone that the nation is built on

Libs want to tear that diwn

Dont blame both sides ehen only one is causing the rift

The entire "sides" machine is destroying the country.

 

[Mac-7]

The entire "sides" machine is destroying the country.

You are not making any sense

Only one side is aggressively attacking the peaceful condition that should exist

And that is the libs

 

[dblack]

You are not making any sense

Only one side is aggressively attacking the peaceful condition that should exist

And that is the libs

Of course, of course. You fuckers are hopeless.

 

[Mac-7]

Of course, of course. You fuckers are hopeless.

We are not as hopeless as fake non partisans like you

 

[dblack]

We are not as hopeless as fake non partisans like you

Indeed. You're much worse. Partisan politics is killing the nation, and YOU are driving it.

 

[Mac-7]

Indeed. You're much worse. Partisan politics is killing the nation, and YOU are driving it.

Isnt thst fence post stuck up your ass uncomfortable?

To assign equal blame to both sides is simply letting the guilty side off scott free

 

[dblack]

Isnt thst fence post stuck up your ass uncomfortable?

Not nearly as much as watching you fuckers destroy the nation.

 

[Mac-7]

Not nearly as much as watching you fuckers destroy the nation.

You are entitled to your opinion even if it does strengthen the lib effort to erase English-speaking white conservative Christians as the dominant culture

 

[dblack]

You are entitled to your opinion even if it does strengthen the lib effort to erase English-speaking white conservative Christians as the dominant culture

Hopeless. Literally, mindless drones.

 

[Mac-7]

Hopeless. Literally, mindless drones.

Maybe we should just agree to disagree and move on

We are getting nowhere now

 

[Meister]

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

I have a hobby, fishing, and you fuckers just laugh at me.