[nabs-l] [Nfbnet-members-list] Threw Our Eyes interview, Ride into History, Race for Independence, Wed. June 22, 8:00 pm EDT
T. Joseph Carter
carter.tjoseph at gmail.com
Tue Jun 28 08:40:25 UTC 2011
That’s fine Carly, and you certainly have a right to make whatever
choice you want. My objection is to the claim that there is no
choice, that a blind person cannot work while in school, or that the
techniques we use are necessarily going to take us longer.
None of those things are necessarily true. We like to tell ourselves
that we have no choice because it makes us feel better about a choice
we’ve made. The problem is, sighted people keep telling us the same
thing based upon their false perceptions of our abilities. That’s
just not something I can leave unchallenged.
Otherwise, I wouldn’t much care what people tell themselves to keep
from second-guessing the choices they’ve made. I’ve told myself all
kinds of interesting things over the years for much the same reason.
These days, I try to be a little more directly honest with myself. I
have a few questions to ask myself: Did I act with honor and
integrity in making my choice, based on what I knew at the time? And
did I consider everything available at the time before making that
choice? Did I give the issue appropriate consideration?
If I can answer yes to all three, I can simply tell myself that I
made my choice, and it was the best one I could have made at the
time. There’s no point in second-guessing myself. I can make new
choices going forward, but there’s no sense in looking backward.
I think this is as far as I should go on this topic on-list, though,
since we’re leaving the topic of blindness behind at this point in a
very long thread on a listserv that’s been very active lately.
Joseph
On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 10:40:13PM -0700, Carly Mihalakis Esq. wrote:
>
>Hi, Joseph,
>
> Do you remember how Ashley posted about how, she'd rather focus her
>attentions not on chasing the almighty dollar sign but instead
>filling her world with what is right now, an urgent objective of
>cultivating her know-how and additional skill sets, rather than begin
>chasing the almighty dollar sign, before she even completes her
>education? No doubt, I could probably hustle some job during school,
>but I'd rather not.
>
>Doing well in School requires my full attention and I am not tripped
>out about paying my own way. I am very supportive of the government's
>role of maintaining a social safety net while it lasts, and find
>that i am not too proud to let myself be cared for by the state and
>by FASFA, because that happens to be their role, in society.
>Life is supposed to be a gift someone enjoys, right?
>for today,
>Carhas had, while going to school. At 03:04 PM 6/27/2011,
>>bookwormahb at earthlink.net wrote: >>Joeseph, Ah, sighted people have
>so called handouts too like food >>stamps and if you are poor enough,
>Medicaid. This philosophy >>doesn't match reality. The reality is it
>takes longer to study >>college material, particularly visual
>subjects since we got to have >>descriptions or a reader make tactile
>diagrams. The reality is that >>many colleges such as the community
>college do not have updated >>screen reading software making it an
>unlevel playing field. The >>reality is that if you are not writing
>that short essay yourself, >>it takes longer, I mean longer, to
>dictate it to a scribe. Oh then >>that scribe has to read it back to
>you with punctuation to ensure >>you have it as you want it, where as
>a sighted person can read it >>silently. Maybe you took all your
>tests electronically, and used >>jaws fast, but not all of us have
>that resource. Bottom line it >>takes longer to study and as Kirt
>said working while in school is >>Not practical for many reasons. You
>never said what part time jobs >>we could do anyway. You yourself
>haven't had many interviews even >>with a college diploma. Remember
>most college students are servers >>or are selling something like
>tickets. When I took interpersonal >>communication we did
>introductions and like a fourth of the class >>was waiting tables
>part time at restaurants; a few were pizza >>delivery drivers. Now a
>blind person can't perform the duties of >>those jobs. I said before
>you can work part time if you find the >>right employer; you could
>work as a tutor, babysitter, dog walker, >>or maybe even as a
>receptionist. But its hard to find an open >>minded employer without
>that college education and I contend that >>its harder to find little
>odd jobs to work through school. So seems >>to me you really are not
>practicing what your preaching. Show me >>some blind students who
>work part time and how they do it. Come >>on, is an employer really
>going to say, buy jaws when the employee >>is only working 20 hours a
>week and won't be there for the long >>term? Do you really think
>that employer will invest $1000 for that >>part time receptionist or
>customer service representative? That >>money goes toward a screen
>reader. I do hope you find work soon >>though so you won't have to
>deal with the government. Ashley >>-----Original Message----- From:
>T. Joseph Carter Sent: Monday, >>June 27, 2011 4:26 AM To: National
>Association of Blind Students >>mailing list Subject: Re: [nabs-l]
>[Nfbnet-members-list] Threw Our >>Eyes interview, Ride into History,
>Race for Independence, Wed. June >>22, 8:00 pm EDT Actually, the
>system supposedly provides an income >>to people who are incapable of
>working. That’s what permanently >>disabled means. You get
>government money because you meet the >>definition of being unable to
>engage in substantially gainful >>activity (i.e., a job). The only
>way we achieve equality is when a >>person is not thought to be
>unemployable just because they are >>blind. Now, I know how far we
>are from that day. There are a good >>number of us who can’t
>seem to find employment largely because of >>that one simple fact.
>All I’m saying is that we shouldn’t >>delude ourselves and
>start thinking the system is anything other >>than what it is: A
>handout to the disabled, because in the eyes of >>the government
>we’re pitiful and helpless, unable to work for a >>living. If
>stripping away the mask makes people angry, it SHOULD >>make them
>angry. The social security system to us represents the >>scraps we
>are given to placate us. To keep us content that we >>still have a
>living, even though we do not have access to the >>skills and
>opportunities that would allow us to succeed, excel, and >>compete
>for the same goals that our non-disabled peers do. >>Absolutely we
>should use it when we can as a stepping stone to >>something greater,
>but so many of us fall into the trap of >>believing that it is what
>we deserve. No, there’s no dignity in >>that kind of life, and
>if we deserve anything at all it is dignity. >>So therefore I
>conclude that we deserve far better. And for myself >>at least, I
>intend to find better. Joseph On Sun, Jun 26, 2011 at >>07:22:22PM
>-0600, Kirt Manwaring wrote: >Joseph, > I think you >>make very good
>points. As I understand it, the system >is designed >>to give
>financial support to those who, because of >disability, >>have a
>difficult time working. The only reason I'm on SSI >is >>because
>doing my school work, on average, takes a substantially >>>longer
>time than it would if I were sighted because the >>alternative
>>techniques I use often are slower than using sight. >>(readers,
>test >scribes, needing to feel all the details on braille >>graphs
>vs. being >able to look at it all at once and glance at what >>I need
>later, etc.) >School is preparing me to work a regular >>job-since my
>alternative >techniques require lots of time work >>isn't really
>practical for me >while I go through school. I >>suspect that's why
>you applied for SSI >in the first place. The >>system is not
>designed to take people who are >perfectly capable of >>working and
>make them in to couch potatoes-I >think that's an >>unfortunate side
>effect of the whole deal. Rest >assured, once I >>get a full-time
>job, I'll cut the chord with SSI. >Permanently. > >>I can only speak
>for me, and how I see the system. I don't think >>it >was ever
>intended to be a handout or something to keep able >>people >from
>working. It's unfortunate many people abuse the >>system and, I'll
>>admit, it makes me angry! But do you have a >>better idea to make
>sure >we're able to get the education we need >>to work? And anyway
>(I'm not >talking about you, I don't know your >>situation), if
>someone's able to >work a full-time job, what >>business do they have
>getting SSI? Best, >Kirt > >On 6/26/11, T. >>Joseph Carter
><carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote: >> Wait, are you >>saying the
>system is designed for us to sit on our >> collective >>duffs and
>mooch off of others while we piddle around and >> do >>nothing? Does
>that seem like an appropriate system to you? >> >> >>You know how
>most people get through school? They work. Why >>should >> we be
>different? Yes, I know we ARE, but why should we >>accept that? >>
>We cannot work through school because the very act >>of going through
>>> school takes us longer. Why? Because we >>haven’t got the
>skills to >> keep up. Why? Because the same >>system that is giving
>us our little >> handout (for which I’m >>told we should be
>grateful) has actively >> interfered in our >>efforts to be and do
>better than that. >> >> As for suing, how, >>whom, and why? My
>benefits were never actually >> stopped, only >>threatened. Just
>enough to keep me jumping for my >> government >>slavemasters. I was
>entitled to, had, and won each of my >> >>appeals, so the system
>worked as designed. >> >> I’m just no >>longer willing to be a
>slave. >> >> Joseph >> >> >> On Sat, Jun 25, >>2011 at 01:18:23PM
>-0600, Kirt Manwaring wrote: >>>Joseph, >>> You >>make great points,
>and I really do feel for you. That's >>>>>aweful...like, maybe get a
>social security lawyer kind of >>aweful. >>> All I'm saying is, the
>way the system is intended to >>work (and the >>>way it works for a
>lot of us), SSI is necessary >>income. I'm using it >>>so I don't
>starve through school; the >>minute I get out and find a >>>full-time
>job, I'm saying goodbye to >>my SSI for good. That's how it
>>>>should be-use it to get yourself >>able to work then cut the cord.
>I >>>know lots of people abuse it, >>I know it's poorly managed, and
>I know >>>you're getting screwed by >>the system. But the way I see
>it, it's >>>designed to be a boost >>up to equality, not a handout.
>Of course, >>>everyone doesn't use >>it that way. >>> In any case,
>best of luck. I hope things work >>out for you. For >>>what it's
>worth, I'm sorry you're going >>through all this crap. >>> Best
>wishes, >>>Kirt >>> >>>On 6/25/11, >>T. Joseph Carter
><carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote: >>>> Kirt, >>>> >>>>>> Social
>Security and SSI are still a handout, and they come >>with >>>>
>strings attached that make getting off of them pretty >>difficult.
>>>>> Especially if you live in subsidized housing, >>collect food
>stamps, >>>> receive utility subsidies, etc. If you >>do and you go
>and find >>>> yourself a job that doesn’t pay >>enough, you will
>have a sudden net >>>> reduction in your income >>that already
>doesn’t pay the bills. >>>> >>>> I’ve decided >>I’m
>getting off this roller coaster even if it makes me >>>> >>homeless
>in the process, because I’m sick and tired of living in >>fear
>>>>> that they might take away my benefits! I’ve gotten >>three
>letters to >>>> that effect in the past two years, in the >>midst of
>cancer treatment >>>> for two of them, all with the >>customary 30
>day appeal I’d better take >>>> advantage of if I >>want to be
>able to survive another month! >>>> >>>> I’m tired of >>getting
>paid to NOT work. I’m tired of living in places >>>> >>where
>the government intrudes upon my home three times a year to >>make
>>>>> sure my landlord isn’t complete pond scum (but allowing
>>>them to be >>>> one level removed from pond scum!) I’m tired
>of >>being told that if I >>>> start working, my rent will suddenly
>be >>120% of what anybody in their >>>> right might would ever pay
>for >>this dump. And I’m tired of being >>>> told that
>they’re >>sorry, but I just don’t qualify for the work >>>>
>incentives, or >>the better medical coverage, or the exemptions that
>>>>> might >>possibly allow me to save a few hundred dollars with
>which to >>>> >>actually get out of here! >>>> >>>> Your
>not-a-handout Social >>Security and SSI have made slaves of far >>>>
>too many of us. >>Perfectly able to work, but afraid to try for fear
>>>>> that >>we’ll lose what little we’ve got. We are
>trapped in a prison >>of >>>> learned helplessness, and the only way
>out is to see these >>things—all >>>> of them—for what theyhey are:
>Government handouts >>designed to keep us >>>> docile, afraid, and
>living in poverty. >>>>>> >>>> I’m done playing that game. >>>>
>>>>> Joseph >>>> >>>> >>>>>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 09:13:21AM
>-0600, Kirt Manwaring >>wrote: >>>>>Carley, >>>>> First off, I've
>done a bit of really >>light research and I was way >>>>>liberal
>about what I thought the >>cost of this would be. It's probably
>>>>>>going to be in the >>neighborhood of $100 million, so I was way
>off. >>>>>That'll teach >>me not to make outlandish statements with
>no proof. >>>>> But >>still, the point I made in my last message
>stands. Of course I >>>>>>>don't want the government to write out a
>check for all of us-I >>was >>>>>trying to point out that trying to
>make all the cash out >>there more >>>>>"blind-friendly" is not
>necessary. Just like we >>don't need government >>>>>handouts (I'm
>not counting SSI as a >>government handout because that's >>>>>money
>lots of us genuinely >>need), we don't need the government
>>>>>>spending $100 million >>redesigning currency we can already use
>with >>>>>pretty much no >>problem. Honestly, if you think you can't
>afford an >>>>>iBill, >>there's probably something you're buying with
>your $680 a month >>>>>>>that you really don't need. >>>>> Just a
>thought, >>>>>Kirt >>>>>> >>>>
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