Iowa laws mandate that restrooms and parking be handicap accessible. In front of Muscatine High school, half of the parking lot is devoted to those with special needs. Equal opportunity is an unalienable right given by our constitution like the freedom of speech our the right to a speedy trial. So why is the law selective in their application of the law?
On Second Street, where parking is "free" for three hours, there is not one handicap parking space. The nearest parking space for those who need special accommodations, is behind Ace Hardware store. Individuals using these spaces are far removed from the downtown area. So why are there no handicap parking places in downtown Muscatine. I offer a couple of explanations.
(1) Businesses have special interests. To have a handicap parking place in front of the pawn shop would be inefficient. In my observations, the parking spots reserved for those who need accommodations, are seldom used. To dedicate this space in front a downtown business would divert business away from the pawn shop. (2) The parking spaces have to be bigger, but Second Street is a narrow street. To have handicapped parking might actually make parking downtown a hazard to those with special needs. (3) The city only can do what's important now. So snow removal is important now. Repairing potholes are important now. So parking takes a back burner.
A fallacy of logic has to do with consistantcy. If something isn't consistant, then it's illogical. Most citizens want a law uniformly enforced. When a law isn't enforced equally, people wonder about the motivation for the law. Does the parking law in question contribute more benefits to society than costs? If so, then it's a good law.
On Second Street, where parking is "free" for three hours, there is not one handicap parking space. The nearest parking space for those who need special accommodations, is behind Ace Hardware store. Individuals using these spaces are far removed from the downtown area. So why are there no handicap parking places in downtown Muscatine. I offer a couple of explanations.
(1) Businesses have special interests. To have a handicap parking place in front of the pawn shop would be inefficient. In my observations, the parking spots reserved for those who need accommodations, are seldom used. To dedicate this space in front a downtown business would divert business away from the pawn shop. (2) The parking spaces have to be bigger, but Second Street is a narrow street. To have handicapped parking might actually make parking downtown a hazard to those with special needs. (3) The city only can do what's important now. So snow removal is important now. Repairing potholes are important now. So parking takes a back burner.
A fallacy of logic has to do with consistantcy. If something isn't consistant, then it's illogical. Most citizens want a law uniformly enforced. When a law isn't enforced equally, people wonder about the motivation for the law. Does the parking law in question contribute more benefits to society than costs? If so, then it's a good law.
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