[Ct-nfb] Weighing in on tax issue at state convention

Justin Salisbury PRESIDENT at alumni.ecu.edu
Sat Jun 13 23:53:54 UTC 2015


Hey everybody,

I am really grateful for the discussion that this has generated. It has sparked a new idea for me.

I had initially interpreted Rob’s message the same way Gary did. If I can take another crack at articulating my point, the employment-related topics really focus on empowering blind people to go out and participate in the world in a way that we all want to do it. The tax deduction part is nice, but it doesn’t accomplish the same thing. I always take advantage of tax deductions when I can get them; I want everyone to do the same, but I don’t think something like that should be given the same degree of priority as the employment topics. When we look at our agenda (and I don’t just mean the general session, I mean the whole schedule of our convention) our priorities as an organization are reflected in it. I want us to give more attention to employment, which reflects first-class citizenship, and less attention to the tax deductions, which reflect second-class citizenship.

Anne West has sparked an idea in me that, if I may say so myself, is a great one. I either hadn’t realized or had forgotten that Anne was a business owner, but I am a major believer that we need to start a Connecticut Association of Blind Merchants at this year’s convention. There are state merchants’ divisions across the country, and I had a great conversation with the Lousiana Association of Blind Merchants president in April. Now, I hadn’t figured out when to try to schedule the formation meeting at the convention, but maybe this time slot would be appropriate. I say so because the other topics would be about being employed by someone else, and the merchants’ division would be about being the employer yourself. Both would be on employment, but one from each perspective.

What do you think, Rob?

I am working with Edward to gather merchants in Connecticut, very few of whom are currently affiliate members. Earlier this year, when we had to advocate for vendors’ rights, it was really hard to do because we didn’t know them ourselves. We need to have an organized voice for our vendors to inform our affiliate. If anyone is interested in helping with this, please let me know!

Thanks, all!

Justin

Justin Salisbury - Running Thunder Phoenix
Graduate Student
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University
Email: President at Alumni.ECU.edu<mailto:President at Alumni.ECU.edu>
Twitter: @SalisburyJustin

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller

From: Ct-nfb [mailto:ct-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Gary Allen via Ct-nfb
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2015 5:37 PM
To: NFB of Connecticut Mailing List
Cc: Gary Allen
Subject: Re: [Ct-nfb] Weighing in on tax issue at state convention

Rob was talking about personal. Tax deductions that have to deal with the blindness deduction

On Thursday, June 11, 2015, Anne West via Ct-nfb <ct-nfb at nfbnet.org<mailto:ct-nfb at nfbnet.org>> wrote:
I'm a business owner and I don't understand all of the tax deductions both
state and federal.  You need a professional such as an accountant to sort
all that out and there is no way tax deductions can be totally presented at
a job seminar.  A general outlook is great and should be noted but a
complete discussion. No.

Anne West
Ct.daffodil at snet.net<javascript:;>



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