[nfbmi-talk] You Can Help

[Fred Wurtzel]

Hello,

 

I am writing to try, once again, to appeal to you, the Board, to consider
how process affects relationships.  I applaud the idea of reviewing the data
and data collection within MCB.  State and federal rules and procedures
already require significant data collection.  As I said in an earlier
message to you, Geri, it seems simpler to review what is already being done
and add in what is missing.

 

Second, the MCB could simply post the data that it collects on the internet.
Again, this would allow anyone interested to look for the data they are
interested in and then request the addition of data they would like to see
collected.  Furthermore, such data as the RSA-911 and RSA-15 reports are
public information and thus ought to be widely distributed to interested
parties as state and federal law requires.  To withhold or resist sharing
this information creates a sense of exclusion, disrespect and possibly a
violation of the law. 

 

My reason for writing is to ask if you, the MCB Board, can explain this
behavior.  It seems counterproductive, self-defeating and will lead to more
conflict and distrust.  In the end, we will gain access to public
information, anyway.  Collaboration, openness and inclusion would build
positive relationships, reduce distrust and make administration easier and
more effective.  So I ask, why?  Why alienate your constituents.  Why create
a paternalistic and arrogant aura?  I believe that I know that is not your
personalities or those of your colleagues on the Board.  What will be gained
from intentionally increasing distrust?

 

I, along with many of my friends and colleagues are committed to seeing P.A.
260 coming to full bloom.  Right now, we are at the lowest point in
consumer/agency relationships since the passage of the law.  When we look
back some years from now, we will point to this episode as the time that
consumers finally stepped up to fully implement the law.  We will look back
and see that this conflict helped us to create systems and processes that
put consumers, not bureaucrats, in the forefront of the reason for the MCB
Until then we will struggle together, you and us.  Until love, reason and
good sense rise to be our mutual guideposts for how we relate people will
suffer by being unfairly fired, forced out, smeared and generally mistreated
just because the bureaucracy, temporarily, has the power.  Power is always
temporary.  The day will come when bullying, intimidation and mismanagement
will cease.  Consumers will be there to see it and celebrate the victory of
reason over tyranny.  You can reverse this, today.  For my part, I and most
of the people I associate with, yearn for the time when we can sit down
together in civil discourse to make Michigan a great place to be blind.  I
take no pleasure in these circumstances and I am saddened with the stress in
my fellowship with many people who I really like.  Justice and freedom come
at a cost, I Guess.

 

Warm Regards,

 

Fred.