Disabled in America and Evil thoughts

[Liv]

What commie socialist brought a Metro to the parking lot?

I'm having bad thoughts. I'd like them removed...

Okay, I'm not certain why, but this just bugged me. A Hummer in a handicap spot with no special tags, at the grocery store tonight. I realize it's not rational to feel angry towards a disabled person who's vehicle choice is the size of Rhode Island. It's like America, in one picture. I kept waiting for a character from Wall-E to float out on a hover-lounge, but nope, a man of about thirty wearing trousers below his butt hopped in. Perhaps he is disabled, and I hate myself for my brain creating these thoughts....

Of course my thoughts go more evil.

If you're disabled, isn't a raised up truck, more difficult to get into? After all the buses I've been on stoop for the disabled. What job is it that you can work, that doesn't requiring the ability to walk ten feet that allows you to buy one. I know the answer, but my brain is evil. It really is, there's something wrong with me. Why can't I be kinder and nicer? Why do I think such evil, evil things.

Then of course there's the obvious answer, that the gentlemen was not disabled and simply parked in the spot despite the fact. I suppose if you can afford 20" dubs on your Hum-V, then you can afford a $300 parking ticket.

Maybe he's a rapper, and this is his gangsta attitude.

Dear God, I'm evil.

[SouthernFriedInfidel]

I saw that on like the 3rd season of Penn & Teller's Bullshit that there was an episode explaining why handicap parking is Bullshit. Maybe this guy agrees and is just following that judgement.

Myself, I rarely see those spaces used. When they ARE used, it's only sometimes that the person's handicap is obvious to the eye. Non-visible handicaps do exist, though as you say, someone who walks up to his hummer, vaults into the driver spot and heads off to his gangsta crib is not likely to have any such medical problem.

Makes me wonder if there's an official list of conditions that qualify for those placards...

[A Person]

Yes in most jurisdictions there are very specific criteria for getting a disabled sticker, requiring a medical examination and report signed by a doctor. I suppose there might be some venial doctors who would lie on the form, but the penalties are severe - as they are for a disabled person who lets someone else use their sticker.

As for whether disabled spots are needed, I disagree with Mr Jillette. My father was disabled, for much of his life he was able to walk quite well, despite his disability, but the polio took its toll fairly quickly so he couldn't walk far and spent his later years in an electric scooter.

Accompanying someone dependent on a wheelchair or scooter is an eye opening experience. I've had to stand by, helpless while my father crawled on his hands and knees in his best suit, on a bathroom floor, because they didn't provide a handicapped bathroom stall. I've had to carry him up steps, then go back and lift the scooter up the same steps because they didn't provide a ramp. I've been unable to get him or his scooter into his van because some yahoo ignored the signs and parked in the next handicapped stall - so close we couldn't get the lift out. We had to wait for the pissant to do his shopping and return and remove his vehicle before we could get out of the cold and leave. It was humiliating, dangerous and uncivilized.

I'm sure that Penn Jillette would change his views in a heartbeat if he ever becomes confined to a wheelchair. Libertarians usually do when things affect them directly.

[Liv]

See I realize there are situations like that which A Person, is talking about. I totally believe there should be handicap spots, for people who need them. Even in situations where it's not so obvious. I had sciatica for two years, but I never parked in a handicap spot, though I probably could have.

My problem is rarely do you see someone, my mind has deemed, handicap. How do you stop your mind from making judgements?

I guess I just must breath and override my evil mind.

[A Person]

Don't let it bother you. It really isn't your concern how disabled someone should be to get a sticker. Lots of people told my dad he didn't need a sticker "you're not really disabled" because he could walk quite well with his hand on someone's shoulder (when he was younger). They couldn't see the leg which was almost devoid of muscle and the muscles missing from his lower back. He could have managed then without the sticker in most cases - but it was very welcome when the car parks were full and he was carrying shopping.

I don't know why it bothers people so much. It certainly doesn't compensate for the pain and limited mobility - not to mention dying some 20 years before due.

If someone is abusing the sticker i.e. forging the sticker or borrowing one from someone else, it's like any other crime. My father wsa very careful with his. When we used his car we had to remove the tag and not abuse it - he valued it and didn't want to have it taken away