[JR in Orlando]

I believe everyone should be treated with dignity. I also believe in compassion on an individual basis. However, actions mandated by law are not and never will constitute compassion. They are nothing more than the hand of government controlling our lives. An individual should be allowed to act as they want, but they should also bear the consequences of their decisions. While we as a society should require the airlines to provide for those who truly cannot walk, e.g. paralyzed, the airlines should not be required to provide for those who have limited their ability to walk or have chosen not to walk through lack of exercise, smoking, or obesity. This assistance is not free for the airlines. Why should mobile passengers pay for those who have chosen to not to walk? Where is the morality in that, anymore than making working people pay to support those who can, but chose not to work.

The airlines should provide assistance to those truly disabled, but not for those who by their own actions have limited their mobility. That would simply be the consequence of their actions. Allowing people to face the consequence of their actions, is not a lack of compassion.

If the op herein could not walk, that would be one thing. But the op obviously could walk, because he finally did so. If he walked more often, maybe it would be easier and better for him. Why should it be the duty of the airlines to assist someone who can walk, but doesn't want to because his former decisions have made walking difficult for him. I submit the airline rules should be changed to limit the requirement to provide assistant to something more than just some person saying they are disabled and asking for it. The person should be truly disabled. This needs to be addressed before the demand for assistance overwelms the system.