[nabs-l] Reflecting upon the March 4 day of action.

[Elizabeth]

It is interesting to hear about how the people in California have reacted to the budget cuts made to the education system. I have not heard of any rallies to protest any such action here in Michigan. Although perhaps being a bit ahead of the curve in terms of the economic crises and a declining population may help, explain a different reaction when compared to that in California. All I can say is that I’m glad I’m not the one who has to decide on how the government chooses to spend what little money they have right now. If they are not cutting funding from schools, then they are cutting funds from library services, and when they are not cutting funds from library services, they are cutting funds from local road projects. And the list goes on and on. I think the only reason why things here in Michigan are not as bad as they are in California is our declining population. If not for this decrease in population, it is quite possible that things here in Michigan would be even worse then they are in California. I understand these cuts may be difficult, but it is also equally difficult to raise the revenue needed to sustain these services at their current levels. So if you do not want to see these services go, then perhaps you should be willing to support an increase in taxes to preserve the current levels of these services. But no one wants to see their taxes go up right now which makes it difficult to preserve the current levels of funding to all of the services state and local governments provide. So basically it boils down to the lesser of two evils. If you were the government, which one would you choose? 
 
Elizabeth

 > Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2010 13:24:19 -0800
> From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com
> To: cabs-talk at nfbnet.org; nabs-l at nfbnet.org; nfbc-info at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabs-l] Reflecting upon the March 4 day of action.
> 
> In much of the state of california, as well as other states across
> the nation Students, teachers and other supporters took part in a
> "day of action" this past thursday. This Day of action was aimed to
> organize and educate people to the harsh reality that state budget
> cuts present to all of those who believe that Education is not a
> privelege but a right.
> In California, many schools up and down the state from K-12 up
> through graduate schoolmade their voices heard and their numbers seen
> in a very major way. In the Bay area, masses of frustrated victums
> of the budgetcuts marched in the streets and on the freeway (arrests
> soon followed) to bring more attention to their causes. Armed with
> very creative Costumes and sighns, these peaceful demonstrators
> eventually made their way to San Francisco's Civic Center where a
> major rally much resembling a civil rights gathering of decades gone
> by took place. Union workers, school board members, and even a
> state senitor were present. there were featured; passionate student
> speakers from high schools and colleges as well as very thoughtful
> performances by many gifted students and student groups.
> I have to say that the energy in these rallys was really
> amazing- I couldn't help but to get goosebumps walking through the
> sea of people unified in fighiting for the same cause.
> I honestly hope that my fellow students found their way to their
> own demonstration no matter where you all are in this country. If
> there was a rally near you, I hope you made your voice heard, because
> when these cuts take place, they effect each and every student. It
> effects our teachers/instructors, it effects our classes, our
> disabled students offices, our rehabilitation services and other
> programs we enjoy/rely upon.
> I certainly plan to take up the cause and work along side my
> sighted peers- I have friends and family that this effects, their
> education, their jobs and to some extent their quality of life.
> I hope that you find the passion within you and organize within
> your student divisions, with in your communities, and within your
> colleges and schools.
> Thank you for your time.
> Warm regards,
> Darian
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Darian Smith
> Skype: The_Blind_Truth
> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
> The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher
> recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate
> individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your
> help! To Get Involved go to:
> www.TeachBlindStudents.org
> 
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