The Wheels On The Bus Go Round And Round...

[eileen]

thanks irene. one can advertise the benefits of vitamin d but ultimately the first client it was publicly known to help as far as i have researched are those with MS. . the only person i know personally with ms has been in a wheel chair for 30 years.

[Robbie S]

Eileen...advertising tip 101...spend your dollars where they will have the most effect..that is, at your target demographic.

If you are running as business that caters to the handicapped, then advertise to them.

[Robbie S]

Belvy…I am an American citizen BY CHOICE…not accidentally born here like you.

Accordingly, it appears I am far better versed in the political philosophy of this country than you, as you, like Irene, seem to have no conception of this country’s founding principle- the principle of Individual Rights, which is NOT the “authority of government to ensure people do the "right thing" with their property”.

The “right thing”???

I seem to have missed this in our founding documents.

I guess by the “right thing”, you mean the “right thing” for the handicapped even though it requires property owners to sacrifice their property for the handicaps of others.

“by law, your commercial businesses must be accessible to everyone - including Americans with disabilities”.

This is the abhorrent ADA law, enact by Bush, in direct opposition to the principle of individual rights.

Tell me why I shouldn’t be allowed to discriminate against this group, or any other group for that matter.

In a free country why should anyone be forced to do business with someone they choose not to?

[Robbie S]

“Now that is ironic... come to this country reap the rewards then complain about the government and discriminate our citizens.”

Here we go.

I guess I’m just ungrateful and shouldn’t complain when the government violates its own founding principles.

I need to “find tolerance and compassion” before my “children become pregnant and deliver a child with a birth defect”, so I too, like Irene, can talk out the side of my mouth with no clue as to what I am saying.

“tolerance and compassion” are Bush’s Christian principles that he used to undermine the political philosophy of this country. ADA law is the natural extension of this ideology that has businessmen sacrificing for the handicapped, just like Bush's foreign policy that has and our soldiers sacrificing for Iraq’s “right for democratic elections".

If I did have a handicapped child, the last thing I would do is ask, or worse, expect others to make sacrifices for him.

The cannibalistic morality of sacrifice, expected by Belvy and Irene, is anathema to freedom and the principle of Individual liberty.

[irene]

Agree to disagree, makes the world a more pleasant place...

[mr belvedere]

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." -Thomas Jefferson

Your argument that it is unconstitutional for the government to to require you to make your business accessible to handicapped persons is false. Furthermore, they don't require you to do business with anybody at all. You still have the right to refuse service to anybody you don't like. As for doing "the right thing", I believe I know where you're coming from. I think you're all about doing "the Robbie thing", and that you don't really care about anything else. And that's ok.

[Robbie S]

“the Robbie thing” I must confess is not original to me.

It started with Locke and was immortalized by Jefferson in the quote you posted.

What happened to my inalienable right to my life, and the product thereof- my property?

How is it inalienable if the government demand I build handicapped bars in my bathroom?

It’s obvious where you’re coming from. Why don’t you dust off your bible so you can better advocate Christ’s political philosophy.

[mr belvedere]

No, it's not original to you, but you're a devoted disciple. You need to explain how Locke's philosophies support your mindset. Jefferson's quote, at the time he wrote it, only included white men (not women, not blacks, not the handicapped ...) and their rights to life, liberty, and property without molestation by any government or monarchy. It is only through the evolution of this notion over the decades that it has come to include "everybody" - regardless of where they were accidentally born, like say, British prison colonies. It was never a manifesto supporting your right to be a selfish ***.

Your inalienable rights to life, liberty and property are not threatened in any way by the ADA. For instance, the constitution protects you from the government taking away your property and turning it into convalescent homes.

I take it you're not a Christian? Not that it matters to me really, just curious. My philosophies are not "Christian" specifically, but they do have some winners.

[mr belvedere]

Happy Father's Day to you, and all the rest of the dads out there. I have to leave for work. Take care.

[MR. MAX]

Those who are Christains live by 2 commandments:
1. Love God
2. Love one another

For those of you who are non-believers... Don't you think the world would be a better place if everyone at least lived by the 2nd principle?

If your answer is "yes", then a few parking spaces and some bathroom rails just don't seem to be such a big deal.

Robbie:
Out of curiousity, what are your thoughts regarding a government that will take upwards of 60% of your money for their tax base? I'm not really trying to make a point. But, if you had to choose between those taxes and the cost related to ADA requirements... which would you choose? Or, have you already made that choice?

Let's all remember that the greatness of this country is based on the appreciation of everyone's opinions. Although we may not see "eye to eye" on this particular subject, we are still a democracy and majority rules.