[Bluestrike2]

The economics of the ADA were known from the beginning. By definition, it addresses a situation where business owners weren't implementing the changes necessary. Practically across the board, it was cheaper and easier to say "oh well" to the disabled than to make accommodations for what was a small percentage of their customers. It was before my time, but the business community was aggressively against the ADA back when it was being drafted.

From a societal perspective, the entire idea behind the ADA is that the right to equal access for the disabled--including the public accommodations necessary for them to actually make use of that access--is something we value beyond the initial cost of implementing it.

[prodigal_erik]

An unfunded mandate is entirely punitive. If we as a society valued it, we'd be paying for it.