Legacies

Allow us to roll up our political sleeves for a moment and rant, because this one hits home:

We read in an article in the New York Times last night that apparently in an effort to leave some kind of respectable legacy, the Bush administration will be adding new teeth to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Oh well, if you can't leave your own legacy at least you can borrow your dad's (Bush 41 ushered in the ADA in 1989).

What's so awful about all this? Well, for one thing it spotlights some silly new requirements:

At least half of the holes on miniature golf courses must be accessible to people using wheelchairs.


And then there's the Justice Department's rationale for new regulation:

the need for an accessible environment is greater than ever because the Iraq war is “creating a new generation of young men and women with disabilities.”


It's with this last line that I thought Lisa's head was going to explode. "So, your lasting legacy will be as a great reformer protecting the rights of the thousands and thousands of newly disabled people your war created?!!!

Apparently, a new generation of disabled vets will return to find themselves honored, not with excellent mental and physical healthcare, and not with improved access to education. But at least they'll be able to play the back nine at the local putt-putt.

Comments

Knit Wit said…
I'm surprised they admitted that "their war" is causing any problems at all. Tell Lisa that I felt a little pressure building in my head as I read those lines too.

Knit Wit
Jimmy said…
It was NATO that wanted the US to go in and check for wepons that were supposed to have been destroyed because Hussein never proved that he did destroy them.

Congress authorized the war because a president can't.
Anonymous said…
Bush rather change other people golf courses than his own project war.
It's kind of like how drug conglomerates develop drugs to treat, but not cure, on purpose- so that purchases are guaranteed.
I actually don't have much to say on this topic that warrants a post, other than to register my solidarity with your disgust. Counting the days...
Edmund said…
NATO had nothing to do with starting the war in Iraq. It wanted civilians from the IAEA to go in and check, but Bush and Cheney were in too much of a hurry to start the war. The false information they provided made Congress authorize it.
Jimmy said…
OK Edmund I know for a fact that you are wrong but I'm not going to keep up an argument on this blog about it.
TaylorM said…
I am no surprised. I had not heard about this, because I try to consume only the political news I really need, so as to avoid major splitting headaches, but I wholeheartedly agree with you. And that reminds me - I need to register to vote in this state...

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