METER-GRANNY meets BIG BROTHER! |
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In Cincinnati, Sylvia Stayton merely wanted to commit a random act of kindness. For a simple deed of charity, this Good Samaritan got a fight from City Hall - and a nice bill for $500 (+ Court Costs). Stayton, a 63-year-old mother of 4 and grandmother of 10, was arrested, thrown in jail and charged with "disorderly conduct" and also "obstructing official business". How can this be, you ask? What great crime had she committed? Well, Sylvia had had the temerity to feed two expired parking meters before a policeman could get to them. Great Scott! you say. Did she spit in the officer's face? Hit him with her purse? No. She just put a total of 15 cents in two strangers' meters so the cars' owners wouldn't get a nasty surprise when they returned. Instead, it was Sylvia who got the nasty surprise. On what grounds did the Cincinnati City Fathers justify their arrogant persecution of this harmless person - a law prohibiting anyone from feeding anyone else's parking meter. And just what legitimate purpose of the State does this outrageous law promote? The Majesty of the Law? No. Public Safety? No. Preventing the Leaking of State Soil-Secrets to the Soviets? No. Well, what then? Was it Interference with Orderly Parking? or, (Dare We Speak It?): Diminishment of Parking Violation Revenues? If so, so what? What legitimate interest does Big Brother have in controlling how long one parks on the public streets? None. There is no compelling reason for Government to be in this business. If controlled parking is required, the time-proven and eminently reasonable method is the parking lot or garage. Government should provide such of these services as may be adequate to park the vehicles of those doing business with or working for the government. Beyond that - it is none of Government's damn business! As for private enterprise, let it look out for it's own interest. If patrons require parking it should be up to the businesses to provide it - not the Government. Government should not be subsidizing private enterprise - and since the roadways are currently paid for by taxes and assessments anyway, Government has no business telling the Citizens how long they can park - or little old ladies on a mission of mercy that they are bad, bad criminals - much less wasting more tax-payers' money on persecuting harmless behaviour. One would think that with all the murder, rape, theft, arson, assault and fraud going on that our Blessed Big Brother would have better things to occupy himself with. 
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