Government Gone Mad: Miniature Golf Version
There are federal regulations mandating how high the grass can be. Ryan Young writes at Open Market:
Course owners aren't too happy about the new Americans with Disabilities Act requirements that came into effect on March 15, though construction firms must be delighted at the windfall Washington just sent them.The federal government regulates the slopes of miniature golf courses. The new standard "permits a slope of 1:4 maximum for a 4 inch rise where the accessible route is located on the playing surface of a hole."
If a course uses artificial turf instead of grass, it also regulates length for the fibers. The height of the "grass" shall not exceed half an inch.
The so-called "start of play" areas must be at least 48" x 60", and shall not have a slope steeper than 1:48.
I have friends who get around in motorized wheelchairs. I'm not some disabled person-hater. But, should we really have government forcing every business to make itself accessible to all?
Are you harmed if you're a disabled person who can't go to miniature golf because the grass is too high? Am I harmed if I'm a crowd-hating person who can't go to concerts because I get upset at being jostled around in close quarters? Would I be considered harmed if I could find some doctor to call that feeling a psychiatric condition?
I suspect that a good bit of regulations like this is about people in government having a woody for wielding power over people who have had the much harder task of becoming successful in the marketplace.
via @WalterOlson
Well, you know, miniature golf is an electrocution hazard. I had just read that story when I encountered this on your blog. It's far too recent an event to have had anything to do with this regulation, but it's an interesting coincidence.
That said, do you think Tom Cruise will now have to "un-dance" on Oprah's sofa?
Patrick at June 29, 2012 2:42 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/06/government-gone.html#comment-3248020">comment from PatrickCan a shark be unjumped?
Amy Alkon
at June 29, 2012 3:02 PM
AFAIC, Tom Cruise jumped the shark the minute he went after Brooke Shields for her decision to take her doctor-prescribed Paxil for her post-partum depression. I've had no interest in anything he's made since that. I can't get past his repulsive, self-righteous personality.
Patrick at June 29, 2012 5:00 PM
Amy Alkon
https://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2012/06/government-gone.html#comment-3248079">comment from PatrickAnyone whose criticism of others' prescribed medication comes out of their religion created by a whack job science fiction writer has earned my derision for life.
Amy Alkon
at June 29, 2012 5:09 PM
Another story, that I haven't seen commented on yet, is that the regs will basically put an end to the construction of new roller coasters or other thrill rides. The regs require all amusement park rides to be able to accommodate a person in a wheelchair, and there's no way in hell to safely restrain a wheelchair in a roller coaster.
Cousin Dave at June 29, 2012 5:28 PM
"I suspect that a good bit of regulations like this is about people in government having a woody for wielding power..."
I think you nailed it (did I make a pun?).
I'm tired of evil regulators and bureaucrats who dream up and enforce asinine, oppressive regulations getting credit for being "do-gooders" having "good intentions" but "a misguided approach"; or attributing regulations like this to ignorance or stupidity.
They may be ignorant and stupid, but they do not have good intentions. They derive pleasure from dominating and inflicting hardship and burden on other people. I think the term is "schadenfreude", a common trait in people attracted to of positions authority in government.
Ken R at June 29, 2012 7:01 PM
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