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The War on Bathrooms
I am in Klamath Falls, OR, 1,068 miles into my drive to Albany, OR. It has been a great trip, except for a curious aspect, the government’s war on bathrooms. Outside of Kirkwood, CA, I stopped to use a facility in the National Forest only to find the doors locked by my bureaucratic betters due to COVID-19, presumably to discourage travel by the hoi polloi like myself. My first instinct was to pee on the locked door but sanity returned and I parked by the side of the road a few miles later.
A few weeks ago, I stopped to admire the expansion of the Roosevelt Dam at the junction of AZ 88 and AZ 188. There was a bathroom that was locked to discourage people from traveling. At least this sign pleaded with people to not urinate against the building.
I stopped by Starbucks to order some food. Their bathrooms were closed to the public. I asked why. “Due to COVID-19” was the answer. “What, COVID-19 prevents people from needing to pee?” was my retort.
Hey, I don’t like the masks but wear mine religiously when I leave my car. However, this war on bathrooms is a step too far.
Patrick Henry famously exclaimed, “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!” Perhaps my fellow Ricochetti can think of a pithy exclamation.
Published in General
Abbreviated highly or abbreviated lowly? I don’t happen to remember.
Both highly and lowly. They were the bikini bottoms of doors.
Gary,
Take this obnoxious inconvenience and multiply it by 1,000. That is what will happen to this society if the creatures from the other side take over. They talk about their concern and sensitivity. However, when it comes down to it they always opt for tyranny. No accident here, if you want more of this just let these lunatics get more control.
Regards,
Jim
Gary asked for a pithy, inspiring comment, but I just couldn’t seem to do pithy.
These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer sojourner and sunshine sprinkler must, in this crisis, constrict his pelvic muscles and shrink in homage to the CDC. And he that stays near home now, deserves the love and thanks of all our Karens and Pajama boys. Virology, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder we squeeze, the more glorious the triumph.
Thanks. Good observation. And great advice.
T,
Well done man. Just the phrase “Karens and Pajama Boys” should be given the Ricochet quote of the week award.
Regards,
Jim
But only half as evil.
You could write a book!
It’s easy to figure out why states would erect porta-potties next to their closed bathrooms. Those porte-potties are provided and managed by contractors, not the state itself. Outsourced, as it were. The state just pays them, and they are responsible for their property. Fortunately, the state of Washington has kept all its rest areas open.
The Great Bathroom Terror Continues.
I was driving south on U.S. 395 in far Northeastern California. A rest area was closed, but another one was advertised in some 63 miles. Well, okay I can hold it. I passed several convenient quasi-hidden spots next to the road. But I believed in the government. I trusted the government. I relied on the government.
But the government lied to me. There was a black plastic bag over the sign for the rest stop. I limped into a service station whose facilities I used before pumping gas.
I am now in Fernley, Nevada. All three bad experiences On this trip happened in California. Now that I have left the benighted “Golden State,” I hope that Nevada treats me better.
Gary,
You are doing some on the scene reporting. Nothing could be as basic as this. Nothing sounds more like a totalitarian mentality that couldn’t give a damn for the ordinary citizen than somebody who would close the rest stops this way.
It’s just a microcosm but this is what’s wrong with the whole country. They don’t give a damn about ordinary people but they imagine they are doing something big and important. Invariably their grand plans screw everything up worse than it was before.
Regards,
Jim
Q: Does a California bear shirt in the woods?
A: He has to. The state’s shut down all the rest areas.
Gary, I like your scenic narration a lot.
I’m cynical enough that my first thought about putting porta-potties outside closed rest rooms was that it was to shift any covid liability onto the contractor and away from any gummint entity operating the rest room.
If the porta johns are managed by a contractor in order to keep park/highway staff on (paid) furlough or whatever is going on…..why not contract out the cleaning services needed? I mean, since conctractors are ok to expose to risk and it’s not about saving money since we must be using tax dollars plus added sums anyway. And in itself no restrooms doesn’t discourage travel as most people don’t realize this is going on if they are planning stealth trips, until it is “too late.”
Although I admit if word gets out, it will discourage the subset of travelers terrified of ports johns.
How about this?
https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/little-john-pilot-urinal.html
You can even get the “Lady J Adapter” should your female companion get the urge . . .
So ignore his posts. I don’t recall anyone ever attacking your profession.
If it was a bipartisan effort, then it’s okay!
Stad,
You’re a genius. I’ve been trying to understand the logic of Chief Justice Roberts and now you’ve given me the answer. Bipartisan sheer stupidity is OK!
Thanks.
Regards,
Jim
I thought we’d live in 1984. Turns out we are living in Urinetown: The Musical. With less singing and humor.