Target Settles Accessibility Lawsuit for $6 Million

Actually, that isn't true. The Americans with Disabilities Act says that stores must provide full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, facilities, or accommodations. The judge only ruled that Target.com falls under that provision as much as Target physical stores do. Not an unreasonable ruling at all. "The ADA doesn't exclude web-based stores therefore it applies to it" seems perfectly reasonable. In fact, the ruling is both in the word of the law and the spirit of the law (which was to allow equal access to necessary services to all people).

Now, Target didn't have to pay $6M. That's a voluntary settlement. The ADA only specifies that establishments can be compelled to 1) make their places accessible and 2) pay the plaintiff's legal fees. Target probably decided that rather than continuing the appellate process, this was just easier.

Plus, it's the right thing to do. Seriously, it's not as if it's that hard to make a website accessible - Target wasn't even using alt tags. WTF? You can't add alt tags?

I get as pissed of as the next person when the only parking available is handicapped, but at the same time it's not like I'd trade my able-bodied status to reap the benefits.

The ADA exists. If you disagree that the ADA should exist, you need to contact your senators and rep asking them to support its repeal. If you think it shouldn't apply to the web, you need to contact your senators and rep to lobby for amending the ADA to specifically exclude the web from its jurisdiction.