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

Tue Mar 9 20:15:42 UTC 2010

Darian,

I wish you the best of luck in your protests. They have not done much of anything here in Michigan, but perhaps they will have a greater effect out there in California. Although when you keep hearing about proposed budget cuts year after year, it just seems to become a normal part of life. If I were to participate in every protest against statewide budget cuts, then I’m honestly not quite sure how much of a life I would have left since they seem to appear on a fairly regular basis. I commend your active civic participation, but with all due respect, sometimes you just need to buckle down and ride out the hard times. Although I do agree with you on the issue of the bail out money that has been given to private corporations. I understand that in some ways this has helped our economy, but sometimes I wonder if this money could have been better spent on cash strapped state and local governments rather than the big banks on Wallstreet. But at any rate, good luck at your protests.

Elizabeth

> Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2010 18:19:44 -0800
> From: dsmithnfb at gmail.com
> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Reflecting upon the March 4 day of action.
> 
> Elizabeth,
> Very good points for sure.
> I know that one question you have to ask yourself as a californian
> (speaking in general terms) is what can you afford to have taken away
> from you by way of taxes? If you are one of those people who are
> working and barely get enough to make things work as it stands, how
> can you be asked to give that little bit you do have? a point
> that was brought up during the rally was something along the lines
> of... when the government wants to go to war; the money is there.
> When the government wants to bail out the banks; the money is there.
> Seems to not be the case for education. To me that makes some sense,
> but I also can understand that you could argue for the money to be
> spent on these things.
> Without making this too much of a political discussion, I guess I
> just would say that if people live in a state that is making noise
> much like california's students and teachers are doing; I would
> encourage you to join the fight because this effects you too.
> Budget cuts effect the level of services you get from rehab or school
> ( Private institutions not withstanding). I know that I plan on
> making my way up to sacramento twards the end of the month when the
> rallys take place at the capital. I think that the biggest thing
> to keep in mind in regards to your state and where it may or may not
> be in regards to budgetary considerations is to remember that this is
> as much a blindness issue as it is anything else. In fact, I would
> argue that this is bigger than blindness or the important issues
> of g blind students, because if you think about it we all are students
> and we all feel this. If you live in a state where this is not such
> an issue I would hope that you see that it does not become one (at
> least as best as one can). This is a matter of civic responsibility
> as well, and we have that responsibility to uphold as citizans of this
> country- we look to become integrated into society in a level equil
> to that of our sighted peers and here's a good oppertunity to do
> that.
> Respectfully,
> Darian
> 
> On 3/7/10, Elizabeth <lizmohnke at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > 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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> 
> 
> -- 
> 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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