The nanny state in overdrive

 

Is there no aspect of our lives the government does not now want to regulate?  The government is now coming out with more bizarre regulations.  The problem is Congress abrogating its duty to legislate, giving this power instead to nameless, faceless bureaucrats.

 

What is happening now?

 

It is the Americans with Disabilities Act on steroids.

 

Now, the Department of Justice has issued new regulations, which now require restaurants and other business to allow people to come in with miniature horses as service animals.

 

That is right, miniature horses.

 

This is to accommodate people who believe dogs are unclean.  You can read that as Muslims, since Islam is the only religion that considers dogs unclean. 

 

Can you imagine having dinner at a nice restaurant while at the next table there is a miniature horse?  Let’s hope the horse does not have an accident.  Let’s hope the horse does not kick you.

 

Horses, even miniature horses are high-strung animals.   They do not react well to loud noise or other stressful situations.  What is there instinctive reaction?  If they cannot run, they kick.

 

The Department of Justice released a statement claiming that miniature horses can be housebroken.

 

Really?

 

In the legal business, that is called assuming facts not in evidence. 

 

If these regulations go into effect, businesses will not be able to deny access to a “service horse.”

 

We are rapidly becoming the regulation nation.  According to Congressman Jason Chaffetz, there are 95 different standards for bathrooms.  That does not count the myriad of other regulations for all types of other areas.

 

The Department of Justice is hell bent on this insane regulation, even though the American Miniature Horse Association says miniature horses are not a good substitute for guide dogs.

 

The House recently passed something called the REINS act which would require Congress to vote up or down on any regulation that would cost more than $100 million to implement.

 

That is closing the door after the horse is already out. 

 

The problem is Congress itself. 

 

Congress passes numerous laws every year with enabling language in them.  Enabling language is part of the law that authorizes a specific department, like the Department of Justice to issue regulations.

 

That is why the Code of Federal Regulations has grown to a voluminous size.   Regulations are now out of control.    Congress is the problem because they abdicate their authority to bureaucrats and then complain about the regulations they enable.

 

Before someone accuses me of being a heartless conservative who hates the handicapped, let me explain something.  Two of the most influential people in my life were in wheelchairs, both put there by polio. 

 

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed.  My late mother in law was a state employee for a number of years before the act passed.  She was confined to a wheelchair because of the polio she suffered in her youth. 

 

Prior to the ADA, the building she worked in had no handicapped accessible bathrooms.   She went to work and could not go to the bathroom all day long.  Her workdays frequently exceeded eight hours.   When the ADA was passed she finally got a handicap accessible bathroom.

 

For all of the good the ADA did, it has now become a monstrosity.   The Justice Department is now telling miniature golf courses how steep their inclines can be.  With thousands of regulations, it is impossible for business to be in compliance and the ADA allows for suits by people who have not even been injured by the non-compliance.

 

Congressman Chaffetz has introduced a bill to stop the Justice Department’s miniature horse rule.  For that he should be commended.  However, he is treating the symptoms, not the problem.  

 

Congress must stop passing the buck for these regulations they allow bureaucrats to write without any accountability. 

 

In America, we may have been born free but we are now being regulated to death.

 

This is Congress’ fault and we need to start calling Members of Congress and United States Senators out on this.