[blindlaw] RE federal ALJ exam

[Daniel McBride]

Elizabeth:

With all due respect, I believe you missed my point about political
connections and jobs.

The point I was making applies to all persons seeking those jobs, not just
the blind and disabled.  A well qualified person that is perfectly healthy
and possessing absolutely no disabilities, had best have a really high level
connection to have any hope of getting such a job.

The issue is one of political connections.  The issue has absolutely nothing
to do with disabilities.

And I can guarantee you that there is not, nor will there ever be, any law
passed that prevents the politicians from utilizing their influence for the
benefit of their family and friends.  Notice that they always exempt
themselves from all the rules that you and I must follow, such as Obama
care.

Dan McBride

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth
Rene
Sent: Saturday, March 09, 2013 2:10 PM
To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
Subject: [blindlaw] RE federal ALJ exam

Just a word about politicization of federal jobs, the ALJ exam in
particular.

The Internet reading I did brought some attention to previous criticism of
the ALJ exam for this reason.  Apparently the OPM has recognized this flaw
and has tried to address it in developing the current test.  But we all know
we live in a political world.

The question I want to raise is this.  And maybe I have more than one
question.

Isn't the NFB a political organization?  Aren't we a civil rights movement? 
Don't we have some clout with Congress?  Aren't federal agencies trying to
up their quotas of employees with disabilities (yes, pardon the Q word)?

But there are some deeper questions too.  As lawyers, and able lawyers, what
are we doing sitting on our hands and complaining about the privileges of
others with better connections?  Who better than an able lawyer is able to
make political or corporate connections?  Isn't that supposed to be part of
our skill set?

So we're blind lawyers and part of a vastly underemployed minority.  So what
are we doing with our time and talent?

And isn't it better to land a good job, or to have had a good run for the
money, than to have lived and died with a good excuse on our lips?

Other people have overcome prejudice, disability, family dysfunction, and
their own self-doubt.  Just listen to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

I made political connections in my 20s through the Minnesota Women's
Political Caucus and in criminal justice circles by writing an exposé on
conditions in the county jail when I didn't have a clue about what I was
doing.  I was the blind daughter of laborers with eighth grade educations
who thought I was too big for myself.  That was before law school.

My point is that we have to stop blaming our blindness, the unfairness of
the world, our own weaknesses, and anything  else and go for what we want. 
No one else will do it for us.  And if you think this sounds self-righteous,
know that I got kicked flat by the prejudice in the church that I loved and
have taken a long, long time to stand up again.

But one has to stand up.

Sure, there'll always be someone better skilled or better connected who may
beat us.  But the ones who never get a chance are the ones who never try.

Sorry for the diatribe.

And best to all,

Elizabeth





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