07167c84   
   From: dahoov2@cox.net   
      
   >Only if the person is in dire straits and has an urgent need for the   
   >money.   
      
   Therein lies the problem. I think I am strapped for cash when I see   
   others with no homes. I think I am overweight when I see people   
   massively obese.  I think I sick when I see others dying.  People   
   always think they are in dire straights.  What makes the guy stealing   
   from the Salvation army more in urgent need than the other hundreds   
   that go there for help.  That is why you cannot be like this.  It's   
   called selfishness. But then again, to speak up for you, we are ALL   
   selfish to some extent (even us moral high ground takers). Daily we   
   all do selfish things.  Still though, on things like this, there are   
   laws for a reason.   
      
   >I only park in them if they are empty and there aren't any crippled   
   >drivers in sight.  Handicapped spaces are seldom used and there are   
   >usually way too many of them to warrant their creation.   
      
   1) just for future reference; to say crippled isn't any longer   
   politically correct.   
   2) at night, most stores are closed so you shouldn't be there either.   
   If the stores are not closed, then I would imagine the opportunity for   
   a handicapped person to be there is same as it is in the afternoon.   
   Granted many are not used; there's still a law in effect.   
      
   My husband worked for the military most of his life.  At his last   
   place of employment, it was a buying center for the military and they   
   have a lot of rules to employ handicapped people.  Actually, you'd be   
   AMAZED at how many they employ there.  He told me he literally had to   
   park like a half to a football field length down because the first   
   four rows of about 50-100 spaces per row were all handicapped.  About   
   half were used at a given time to 2/3.  The others were out doing   
   errands, sick or on vacation or for visitors but it didn't mean they   
   weren't needed as they could come back any time!  Same goes for every   
   spot on the street.   
      
   Though I will say I am a bit annoyed a couple weeks ago when I went   
   grocery shopping and circled the base parking lot like 4 times. I saw   
   a woman get in a van with a handicapped plaque and plate and there was   
   NOTHING wrong with her; she had like three bags on her arms and her   
   purse and she sort of jogged across the drive there to get to the van!   
   I guess this is what you are more advocating than anything; using   
   someone else's disability to benefit. I guess this is a way we more   
   selfish people MIGHT be inclined to go.  I have not done it personally   
   but I will admit my father's wife (his step mother) parks there every   
   time; with or without him in the car.  She doesn't consider it   
   cheating.  I think though I might do it too if I was in a hurry or   
   perhaps I was older. NOW I would not.  But I cannot say I'd be miss   
   goody two shoes later.  It's not good though; we shouldn't do it.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)