Opus 2011-163, On the Street: Preferred Parking

I stop by our neighborhood Fresh and Easy grocery store occasionally.  Yes, I know they are a yuppie haven and are into all the latest fads but sometimes on selected items they have good prices.  I can rub elbows with my supposed betters if it saves me money.

My problem is not the shelves but the stalls.  I mean the stalls in the parking lot.  They have these special reserved parking spots.  Like everyone else they have the blue marked handicapped spaces.  Okay.  They have some stalls reserved for people with infants.  Cool.  Then they have spaces reserved for people with hybrids.  Red flags. 

I know that they think they are trying to encourage “green” thinking and saving the earth.  This is the perfect example of Green Hypocrisy.  We will leave aside a discussion of whether hybrids are really environmentally friendly, you already have your opinions on that.  My questions is, “Why are they reserving special parking for the rich?” 

Let’s face it.  Poor people can’t afford a Prius.  They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain.  Why should these people be given a space by the door while I have to walk across the parking lot from my stuttering twenty year old antique?  Why don’t they just supply free valet parking for people with large bank accounts?

I also saw this at the place where I donate blood.  There was a row of shiny new, expensive hybrids right outside the door of the center and I had to walk from around the corner. 

I guess I should be grateful that they are making me walk more.  It is good for my health.

homo unius libri