Signs of Decline

Sometimes I'm tempted to have a continuing series of posts with this title, but it might be too depressing even for me. It seems that in California the fraudulent use of handicapped parking spaces is so widespread as to constitute a serious problem. I expect something like that might be true in most places; I've certainly wondered about the number of handicapped-parking permits I see on other cars.

It seems a fairly small thing, but there are so many like it. I fear that the social fabric is coming apart, dooming any attempt to solve our political and economic problems. If we can't govern ourselves as individuals, government will be imposed upon us, as we see happening increasingly.

Can't you just hear that woman whining "It's not fair"?–the new voice of America.


4 responses to “Signs of Decline”

  1. Rob G

    Can’t you just hear that woman whining “It’s not fair”?
    Heh-heh. Like the nihilists at the end of The Big Lebowski.

  2. Hmm, I don’t even remember that. I’ll have to watch it again sometime.

  3. This American Life did a show a while ago that included a story about a disabled guy who’s made an entire career out of searching for businesses who aren’t completely up to ADA code and suing them. It’s kind of sad, actually, because apparently he first tried starting a consulting firm to help businesses make sure they were up to code, but got no interest.
    http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/415/crybabies

  4. Well, he certainly got his revenge, didn’t he? I’ll have to listen to that–I really like TAL when I hear it, which isn’t that often.
    ADA compliance can be pretty rough if you’re having to retrofit an old building. Or an old college campus. It sometimes seems a bit much though I’m sure it’s been a great help to a lot of disabled people.
    My very favorite instance of non-ADA-compliance ever was a sign by the first-floor entrance to a locked elevator directing you to go to the second floor to get the key.

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