On my recent trip to Alaska, I saw a couple of signs that just made me shake my head. They are perfect examples of what becomes necessary when a socialistic culture takes root, and we all lose the ability to take care of ourselves.
The first was this little gem, seen in a rest area while we were still in Washington State. Washington isn’t as socialist as Canada or Europe, but it’s definitely not for lack of trying. A copy of the sign was posted just outside the door on both the men’s and the women’s bathrooms.
Now, if you’re traveling with a disabled person, I think it’s safe to assume that you may have, at some point in time, had to assist them (if they require the help at all). But according to the wizards who decided this sign was necessary, once confronted with a rest area and gender specific bathrooms, all common sense and ability to reason must leave that otherwise perfectly competent helper. Clearly, they would come to this public bathroom, so unique amongst public bathrooms, and not know what to do. Grampa will just have to wet himself, unless there is no sign telling his wife that she’s allowed to help him. But wait – to the rescue is the Government of Washington, assuring her that she will not be arrested if she enters the men’s bathroom and helps him out of his wheelchair. Thanks, Government, for telling us what we are all too stupid to figure out – and for spending our tax dollars on it, too!
Man, I don’t miss that state.
The other sign we saw that made me look around for the Big Brother cameras was when we stopped for the night on the first day of traveling. The campsite had a playground, and on the play structure was this stern warning to “Supervise Children.”
First of all, the sign seems a little misplaced. If the children are playing on the equipment, and they aren’t being supervised, then it seems to me that the intended audience for this sign will never actually see the sign in the first place. This sign would make a lot more sense hanging over a bar somewhere…
And honestly – if you aren’t inclined to watch your kids closely anyway, is this sign really going to make a difference? Or is the supervision of children a new fad that the government of British Columbia is attempting to instruct their citizenry about? And is the BC Provincial Park system so flush with money that they can afford little extravagances of nagging?
This kind of thing is silly and headshaking. But it’s more troublesome when you really think about the mentality behind it. The people who ordered these signs to be posted think that most people are too stupid to know that they’re allowed to care for the disabled or that children must be supervised. They think that government must spend other people’s money to micromanage the lives of the citizenry.
And if the government officials think you’re too dumb to figure out even the basics, how soon is it until they determine we’re too stupid to govern ourselves?
At some point, if we want to remain a free people, we must stop allowing our money to be spent on this kind of Big Brother creep. The appearance of this kind of signage is a canary in the coal mine for far more sinister government involvement in all of our lives. Even if it is all for the sake of the children…
