What Chutzpah !

On page A2 of the Providence Journal this morning ( Nov.27 )

    is great little CHUTZPAH story out Bangor, Maine. A deaf man, Randall

    Dill, had to serve 30 days in jail for DRUNKEN DRIVING and ASSAULT.

    He is now suing the Penobscot County Sheriff's Department . He had

    been inadequately accommodated in jail . For instance , he had

    planned to to go through the drunk's remorse routine at Alcoholics

    Anonymous  meetings in jail. But there was no interpreter available.

            Perhaps compassionate conservatism can come to his rescue.

    Society certainly has an obligation to help the handicapped. But

    the case of the drunken deaf man, Randall Dill, shows just how

    corrupting the sense of entitlement can be: The VICTIMS think

    society can never do enough for them, while they themselves feel

    free to behave quite recklessly and irresponsibly.

          There is no way the most compassionate society on earth can

    create absolute parity for people with severe handicaps. I was on

    the bus recently going from East Providence to downtown Providence.

    On or near Gano St. the bus was delayed for longer than usual picking

    up a man in the wheel chair; the lift just could not be lowered

    properly at that curb. I myself was in no hurry and not at all vexed

    by the situation. In fact I might have even offered to carry the man

    -who seemed slight - on the bus.

            After pulling the bus over to another street, the driver

    - finally -was able to get the man aboard. But I wondered: " What

    about the people who were in a hurry ?  Was not their right to

    be on time for their daily business sacrificed to the " right "

    of the handicapped man to have public transportation ?

            This is no simple matter, I understand. Perhaps here

    " compassionate conservatism " can offer some wisdom .