Since its very inception, capitalism as a system has sought to keep the wealthy class in power by giving those with more money greater opportunities than the poor and working classes. This wealthy class often has access to better healthcare, better living and working conditions, and even better education. Every day, it seems like the wealth gap is growing at an increasingly rapid pace. However, where I had to draw the line was when I first laid my eyes on paid parking spaces.

It is a normal Sunday morning on which my mom decides to drag us to the Cheesecake Factory at La Cantera. My dad drops me, my mom and Jude off at the front. Following this, dad begins circling the parking lot at least 1500 times, hoping a spot will magically open up. Then, he sees it. For those who haven’t been to that Cheesecake Factory recently (I honestly don’t blame you. The tea tastes like dishwater.), La Cantera made every parking space around the restaurant a paid space! $2 an hour, with a cap at $10. What corporate greediness! Think about it, we now have to spend money on parking to then go into the mall to spend more money! I thought all parking was supposed to be free to the public, at least according to Monopoly. The only way we could find a spot was through the valet, which, keep in mind, you still have to pay for! It just makes it a hassle trying to frantically search for a parking spot that is at a reasonable distance and that you don’t have to pay for! Another problem, it makes lots much emptier. Those paid parking lots, they look like a ghost town most of the time! Very few will actually want to pay for parking, much less go through the struggle of paying through the mobile app that never works, leaving huge lots with only one or two cars in them. That’s a horrible waste of space for parking lots, which are already a waste of space!

Though this wasn’t my only encounter with a paid parking space. When I visited DFW this past winter, we decided to pay a visit to our old hangout, Grapevine Mills Mall. What we didn’t realize is that they were quite literally trying to make us “pay” a visit. The spaces near the front of the mall required payment, while the free spaces were at the back. Not only is the wealth gap increasing, but so is the distance between the people short on cash and the mall! Now we can’t even experience the feeling of striking gold and finding a spot by the front. Once again, the good spots are reserved for those willing to pay, while those who aren’t are stuck walking a mile in the heat to the mall. My stance? Never support paid parking! It’s another way corporations are trying to extract more money from consumers while, in the process, giving advantages to those with money to blow. I say walk a mile to the mall in the heat if it means not paying for parking! Tear down the paid parking signs (Wait, don’t actually do that; you might get fined.)!  We must fight so that we all may have equal opportunity to snag a spot near the front of the mall and eat some mid food at the Cheesecake Factory in peace!