[nfb-talk] SSI or not

ckrugman at sbcglobal.net ckrugman at sbcglobal.net
Sun Apr 25 08:29:52 UTC 2010


Actually, there are many instances of blind people running for and holding 
office on all levels. When I lived in Michigan there were a couple of blind 
judges and there are many blind legislators. This is nothing new.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "T. Joseph Carter" <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com>
To: <info at michaelhingson.com>; "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 5:27 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] SSI or not


> Michael and Bryan,
>
> If you haven't noticed, there's a few hundred thousand people out there 
> who are ready to rewrite the rules of the game, pleased with neither party 
> right now.  The candidate nobody's ever heard of before is the one these 
> people are most interested in right now.
>
> The danger is that some of the people you've never heard of are even worse 
> than the ones we have.  I don't think I want to elect someone who believes 
> that Dick Cheney blew up the world trade center, that Barack Obama was 
> actually born in Kenya on the night of the full moon during a Satanic 
> rite, or that there are secret mind control devices hidden in Luden's 
> cough drops.  Sleazebag politicians are one thing, but electing those 
> sorts of people is likely to be worse.
>
> It may be a bit late for 2010, but I don't see why a blind person could 
> not run for office and have a fairly good shot if that person has real 
> integrity, the sense God gave a goose, and can communicate these things 
> well.
>
> Joseph
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 06:00:33AM -0700, Michael Hingson wrote:
>>Hi,
>>
>>I do have a clue.  However, that is how the game at present is played.
>>
>>
>>The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>> “Speaking with Vision”
>> Michael Hingson, President
>> (415) 827-4084
>> info at michaelhingson.com
>> www.michaelhingson.com
>>
>>
>>for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
>>http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>Behalf Of Bryan Schulz
>>Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 8:47 PM
>>To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] SSI or not
>>
>>mike,
>>
>>do you even have a slight clue how long that would take even if you got
>>lucky and skipped a few rungs like local city mayor, school board, etc.?
>>
>>Bryan Schulz
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Aziza Cano" <daydreamingncolor at gmail.com>
>>To: <info at michaelhingson.com>; "NFB Talk Mailing List" 
>><nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:39 PM
>>Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] SSI or not
>>
>>
>>>I wish people would state their views of other people's ideas in a more
>>>friendly manner. We all have ideas of how to make the world better for 
>>>the
>>>blind and sighted communities, and it doesn't matter if we're right or
>>>wrong, we're here to support each other, not be condecending.
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Michael Hingson" <info at michaelhingson.com>
>>> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 9:09 PM
>>> Subject: [nfb-talk] SSI or not
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I am a bit lost here.  Isn't what Ray proposes what the NFB is doing?
>>> Many
>>> not on SSI as well as many more who are all are working together to work
>>> with congress to provide not only incentives to go off that program but
>>> also
>>> methods by which blind people can gain more of a foothold in the work
>>> force.
>>> For years this organization has been educating where it can.
>>>
>>> What we need is for individuals to work through their chapters to 
>>> develop
>>> a
>>> louder and stronger voice.
>>>
>>> Here is a thought.  When are some of us going to run for and get elected
>>> to
>>> congress?  We all talk about what Congress should do, why don't we 
>>> become
>>> part of the process to make it happen?
>>>
>>>
>>> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>>> "Speaking with Vision"
>>> Michael Hingson, President
>>> (415) 827-4084
>>> info at michaelhingson.com
>>> www.michaelhingson.com
>>>
>>>
>>> for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
>>> http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>>> On
>>> Behalf Of John G. Heim
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 2:54 PM
>>> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] New List for Blind Conservatives
>>>
>>> What the heck are you talking about? I offered Ray a real way to start
>>> implementing his ideas. You could hardly be *less* dogmatic than that.
>>>
>>> Ray offers this completely unrealistic idea for doing away with SSI and 
>>> I
>>> offer him a realistic way to make a difference, however small,  and *I* 
>>> am
>>> the one accused of being dogmatic?  Its insane.
>>>
>>> ---- Original Message -----
>>> From: "qubit" <lauraeaves at yahoo.com>
>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 11:22 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] New List for Blind Conservatives
>>>
>>>
>>>> John, you are not reading past Ray's conservative politics to the crux 
>>>> of
>>>> the problem -- you're both trying to solve the same problem I 
>>>> believe --
>>>> Ray
>>>> is just musing on how to do that from one approach, you from another. 
>>>> You
>>>> are being as dogmatic as you say Ray is, but of course it is good you 
>>>> are
>>>> employed and attempting a solution.
>>>> I grew up trying to beat the stereotypes and do as much as possible --  
>>>> I
>>>> won't bore everyone more with that, but I wanted to add that it was 
>>>> nice
>>>> when I was in school to have the government programs available to help
>>>> the
>>>> process along.
>>>> I think Ray is just saying that the handouts should be temporary, right
>>>> Ray?
>>>> Now before I get in more hot water I'll leave you both to your sniping.
>>>> --le
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "John G. Heim" <jheim at math.wisc.edu>
>>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:42 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] New List for Blind Conservatives
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Ray,
>>>>
>>>> Why do you keep saying somebody should do this or somebody should do
>>>> that?
>>>> Why don't you just do it?
>>>>
>>>> I'll tell you what... I am the President of a non-profit called the
>>>> International Association of Visually Impaired Technologists. See
>>>> http://www.iavit.org. We could use someone to maintain our web site. 
>>>> If
>>>> you
>>>> can gather enough donations to IAVIT, we'll hire the person of your
>>>> choice
>>>> to maintain our web site. They'll have to be qualified, of course. But
>>>> you
>>>> can pick someone currently on SSI and we'll give them a job.
>>>>
>>>> PS: You really need to knock  off this hhonesty bullstuff.  People with
>>>> opinions that differ from yours aren't simply being dishonest. That's
>>>> insulting because it implies that you have some kind of monopoly on the
>>>> truth. You don't. In fact, you have nothing but your unsubstantiated
>>>> opinions. When I've asked you for substantiation, you have mrely 
>>>> repeated
>>>> your opinions as if that proves them.  So knock it off with the
>>>> intestinal
>>>> fortitude and honesty stuff. If you want me to believe you're right 
>>>> then
>>>> prove it.
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at comcast.net>
>>>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 9:50 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] New List for Blind Conservatives
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Agreed, we are not there yet.  Perhaps what is needed is some 
>>>>> individual
>>>>> or group of individuals composed of blind people who are no longer on
>>>>> SSI
>>>>> and who are federationists to seriously sit down and ask the question,
>>>>> just how can we help those on SSI and who do have legitimate need get
>>>>> off
>>>>> SSI and in to good jobs?  Maybe one individual could start a 
>>>>> networking
>>>>> process that might lead eventually to some better solution.  Look,
>>>>> folks,
>>>>> if we say that the simplist solution is just to leave things as they
>>>>> are,
>>>>> how can we any longer say that we're inovaative about providing or
>>>>> trying
>>>>> to provide solutions to these very real world problems.  No, our
>>>>> solutions
>>>>> most likely won't be perfect, but, can we not even be honest with
>>>>> ourselves enough to admit that we do need some better way?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!!!
>>>>>
>>>>> Now a proud Mac user!!!!!
>>>>>
>>>>> e-mail:
>>>>> rforetjr at comcast dot net
>>>>> skype:
>>>>> barefootedray
>>>>>
>>>>> On Apr 21, 2010, at 7:19 PM, David Andrews wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Ray:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think you ask some good questions -- questions that have nothing to
>>>>>> do
>>>>>> with being a liberal or a conservative, or a dog (smile.)  Your
>>>>>> language
>>>>>> in this message is diplomatic and considered and I think accomplishes
>>>>>> more than some previous messages.  People get caught up in this and
>>>>>> that
>>>>>> and don't hear the message.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I think that as a community we will ultimately decide that the price
>>>>>> for
>>>>>> things like the extra tax exemption, SSI, SSDI, etc., is just to 
>>>>>> high,
>>>>>> but with a 70 percent unemployment rate, we are just not there yet.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> No, this system isn't working, but the chance of a wholesale
>>>>>> replacement
>>>>>> is slim.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dave
>>>>>>
>>>>>> At 11:14 PM 4/20/2010, you wrote:
>>>>>>> All I'm asking now is this.  do we blind people have the intestsinal
>>>>>>> fortitude to frankly face the fact that the SSI check is not the 
>>>>>>> best
>>>>>>> way for us to get ahead in this society?  If even asking that is a
>>>>>>> crime
>>>>>>> in the federation, mark me down as being about as guilty as one can
>>>>>>> get.
>>>>>>> Sometimes, the truth hurts, and that fact does not negate the 
>>>>>>> eventual
>>>>>>> fact that we're going to have to shut down SSI and create something
>>>>>>> better.  Yes, I'll again speak frankly here.  We need to shut down 
>>>>>>> SSI
>>>>>>> and social security.  those things punish the blind for trying to
>>>>>>> work.
>>>>>>> I said it last night and I'll say it again.  IF a blind person tries
>>>>>>> to
>>>>>>> go to work, they don't make enough money to live, and yet, too much
>>>>>>> money to get needed help.  How do I know?  It happened to me.  So,
>>>>>>> with
>>>>>>> all due respect, don't tell me I know not of what I speak!!!  I'm 
>>>>>>> not
>>>>>>> saying that those who need help should not get it; but, can we not
>>>>>>> even
>>>>>>> be honest with ourselves and each other about the fact that our
>>>>> current set up may not be the best way to cary us in to the future? 
>>>>> IS
>>>>> that too hard to do?  Is that too much to ask?  I said what I said in
>>>>> this
>>>>> message and there's no taking it back.  Even if I wanted to, it's too
>>>>> late.  If we can't even be honest with ourselves about this, what have
>>>>> we
>>>>> come too?
>>>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!!!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Now a proud Mac user!!!!!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> E-Mail:
>>>>>>> rforetjr at comcast dot net
>>>>>>> Skype:
>>>>>>> barefootedray
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Apr 20, 2010, at 9:50 PM, Steve Jacobson wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> > Stepping back and examining our points of view makes a lot of 
>>>>>>> > sense
>>>>>>> > to
>>>>>>> > me and it is something I try to do often.
>>>>>>> > Actually, one element of Ray's comments that fits into this notion
>>>>>>> > is
>>>>>>> > that we do need to look at what we ask of society to
>>>>>>> > figure out what we need as opposed to what we want.  I further
>>>>>>> > believe
>>>>>>> > we need to think about the cost of what we
>>>>>>> > might request society and what the benefits are to us and to
>>>>>>> > society.
>>>>>>> > These seem like reasonable questions that should
>>>>>>> > not be seen as conservative or liberal.  Still, if this is even 
>>>>>>> > what
>>>>>>> > Ray is saying, I find it very hard to believe that our
>>>>>>> > overall status, the 70% unemployed for example, is related to a
>>>>>>> > sense
>>>>>>> > of entitlement.  As we make progress, we do need
>>>>>>> > to be prepared to consider that some benefits of various types are
>>>>>>> > no
>>>>>>> > longer needed.   However, we have some pretty
>>>>>>> > large obstacles to overcome before we get there.  Labeling us as
>>>>>>> > having a sense of entitlement that overshadows the
>>>>>>> > other barriers we encounter really does not recognize reality.  To
>>>>>>> > extreme conservatives and to extreme liberals, life is
>>>>>>> > just a theory.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Best regards,
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > Steve Jacobson
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> > On Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:04:22 -0500, John G. Heim wrote:
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> Its almost impossible to find anyone actually interested in
>>>>>>> >> discussing
>>>>>>> >> liberal vs conservative issues in a rational manner. People 
>>>>>>> >> should
>>>>>>> >> occasionally take a step back and examine their point of view. 
>>>>>>> >> Far
>>>>>>> >> too many
>>>>>>> >> people make up their minds and then start casting around for
>>>>>>> >> reasons
>>>>>>> >> to
>>>>>>> >> believe what they've already decided.  That's a recipe for
>>>>>>> >> disaster.
>>>>>>> >> That's
>>>>>>> >> how mistakes are made.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> I am actually planning to write a book about this. I'm thinking 
>>>>>>> >> of
>>>>>>> >> calling
>>>>>>> >> it "Recipe For Wrongness". Almost everyone believes in freedom of
>>>>>>> >> speech.
>>>>>>> >> And most people even understand why its so important. Its not 
>>>>>>> >> just
>>>>>>> >> because
>>>>>>> >> we all enjoy it. The reason why freedom of speech is so important
>>>>>>> >> is
>>>>>>> >> that it
>>>>>>> >> allows the best ideas to win out. Ideas can compete against each
>>>>>>> >> other in a
>>>>>>> >> society with free speech and most of the time, the best idea 
>>>>>>> >> wins.
>>>>>>> >> Its
>>>>>>> >> called the market place of ideas.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> But very few people apply the concept of the market place of 
>>>>>>> >> ideas
>>>>>>> >> to
>>>>>>> >> their
>>>>>>> >> own opinions.  Its just not even something that occurs to most
>>>>>>> >> people
>>>>>>> >> to do.
>>>>>>> >> Most people make up their minds ahead of time and then start
>>>>>>> >> casting
>>>>>>> >> about
>>>>>>> >> for information to support what they already believe.  And that 
>>>>>>> >> is
>>>>>>> >> a
>>>>>>> >> recipe
>>>>>>> >> for wrongness.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> If you start occasionally sitting back and examining what you
>>>>>>> >> believe, you
>>>>>>> >> will find its an incredibly valuable tool. It even made me a 
>>>>>>> >> better
>>>>>>> >> chess
>>>>>>> >> player. I was in a round-robin chess tournament and lost almost 
>>>>>>> >> all
>>>>>>> >> of my
>>>>>>> >> matches until I started sitting back occasionally and trying to 
>>>>>>> >> get
>>>>>>> >> a
>>>>>>> >> realistic overview of the board and my opponent. What are my
>>>>>>> >> opponent's
>>>>>>> >> strengths and weaknesses?Does he see any advantages I might not
>>>>>>> >> see?
>>>>>>> >> Is he
>>>>>>> >> missing any vulnerabilities he currently has? What's going on in 
>>>>>>> >> my
>>>>>>> >> opponent's head? From then on, I won almost every match. It was
>>>>>>> >> like
>>>>>>> >> magic.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> The real message in the chess tournament story is not the
>>>>>>> >> importance
>>>>>>> >> of
>>>>>>> >> trying to look into your opponents mind. The real insight there 
>>>>>>> >> is
>>>>>>> >> how few
>>>>>>> >> people do it. Its not just that a lot of people are crummy chess
>>>>>>> >> players.
>>>>>>> >> Its that it would be so easy to be so much better.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> Once you start thinking this way, you see opportunities to use it
>>>>>>> >> everywhere. Instead of just bulling ahead with your political
>>>>>>> >> opinions, take
>>>>>>> >> a step back occasionally and consider whether they're working or
>>>>>>> >> not.
>>>>>>> >> Do
>>>>>>> >> they actually make sense? Does history support or dispute my
>>>>>>> >> beliefs?
>>>>>>> >> Do I
>>>>>>> >> believe what I believe because I want to or because of the facts?
>>>>>>> >> If
>>>>>>> >> more
>>>>>>> >> people did this, they'd be right a lot more often and the world
>>>>>>> >> would
>>>>>>> >> be a
>>>>>>> >> better place.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>>>>>>> >> From: "Michael Hingson" <info at michaelhingson.com>
>>>>>>> >> To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> >> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:45 PM
>>>>>>> >> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] [NFB-talk] New List for Blind 
>>>>>>> >> Conservatives
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> Hi all,
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> Leftist, liberal, socialist, and progressive as well as
>>>>>>> >> conservative
>>>>>>> >> and
>>>>>>> >> "right wing" are words.  The fact is that these words have been
>>>>>>> >> used
>>>>>>> >> to
>>>>>>> >> inflame and are not necessarily true or fair.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> In our country today we are seeing a war of words escalate into
>>>>>>> >> anger
>>>>>>> >> and
>>>>>>> >> downright polarization on a scale we have never seen before.  I 
>>>>>>> >> and
>>>>>>> >> others
>>>>>>> >> survived the attack at the World Trade Center and Pentagon to see
>>>>>>> >> our
>>>>>>> >> potential to grow stronger be negated and even see our resolve
>>>>>>> >> disintegrate
>>>>>>> >> along party lines.  Folks, it matters not our political leanings.
>>>>>>> >> Knock off
>>>>>>> >> the words and find ways to come together.  Stop calling each 
>>>>>>> >> other
>>>>>>> >> names and
>>>>>>> >> recognize that we all have a job to do.  In the case of the NFB 
>>>>>>> >> it
>>>>>>> >> is
>>>>>>> >> to
>>>>>>> >> promote the security, equality, and opportunity which all blind
>>>>>>> >> Americans
>>>>>>> >> should have.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> Mike Hingson
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
>>>>>>> >> "Speaking with Vision"
>>>>>>> >> Michael Hingson, President
>>>>>>> >> (415) 827-4084
>>>>>>> >> info at michaelhingson.com
>>>>>>> >> www.michaelhingson.com
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
>>>>>>> >> http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> -----Original Message-----
>>>>>>> >> From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>>>>> >> [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>>>>>> >> Behalf Of Ray Foret jr
>>>>>>> >> Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 8:16 AM
>>>>>>> >> To: NFB Talk Mailing List
>>>>>>> >> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New List for Blind Conservatives
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> Just being honest.  That's all.
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> Sincerely,
>>>>>>> >> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!!!
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> Now a proud Mac user!!!!!
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> E-Mail:
>>>>>>> >> rforetjr at comcast dot net
>>>>>>> >> Skype:
>>>>>>> >> barefootedray
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >> On Apr 20, 2010, at 9:39 AM, John G. Heim wrote:
>>>>>>> >
>>>>>>> >>> I'd suggest that if you really want to discuss this rationally 
>>>>>>> >>> you
>>>>>>> >>> refrain
>>>>>>> >> from using perjoritives like "leftist" and "socialist". The 
>>>>>>> >> correct
>>>>>>> >> term is
>>>>>>> >> "liberal" or "progressive".
>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Foret jr"
>>>>>>> >>> <rforetjr at comcast.net>
>>>>>>> >>> To: "NFB Talk Mailing List" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>> >>> Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 10:05 PM
>>>>>>> >>> Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] New List for Blind Conservatives
>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>> >>>
>>>>>>> >>>> RyanO,
>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>> >>>> I must publicly applaud you for taking this very long overdue
>>>>>>> >>>> stand
>>>>>>> >>>> for
>>>>>>> >> us blind conservatives.  Let me be completely frank here, at
>>>>>>> >> perhaps
>>>>>>> >> some
>>>>>>> >> risk to myself.  For much too long now, I have feared that 
>>>>>>> >> perhaps
>>>>>>> >> the
>>>>>>> >> federation was leaning rather too far over to the left.  But why?
>>>>>>> >> It's the
>>>>>>> >> entitlement mentality of the SSI check; to put it bluntly.  We 
>>>>>>> >> poor
>>>>>>> >> blind
>>>>>>> >> think we can't live without it.  But, the sad truth is, that for
>>>>>>> >> many
>>>>>>> >> of us,
>>>>>>> >> that think is a physical reality.  That is the reason why more of
>>>>>>> >> us
>>>>>>> >> don't
>>>>>>> >> have jobs.  We get punished for trying to start to go to work. 
>>>>>>> >> When
>>>>>>> >> we do,
>>>>>>> >> we don't make enough money to live by; and yet, on the other 
>>>>>>> >> hand,
>>>>>>> >> we
>>>>>>> >> make
>>>>>>> >> too much to receive any help from the socialist security system.
>>>>>>> >> What,
>>>>>>> >> there fore, is the sad result?  The sad result is that too many
>>>>>>> >> blind
>>>>>>> >> individuals adopt leftist socialism because they think that
>>>>>>> >> government will
>>>>>>> >> "look after us".  IF you just stop and consider for a moment what
>>>>>>> >> that
>>>>>>> >> really means, you'll see that i
>>>>>>> >>>> t goes directly against the grain of true federationism.  It
>>>>>>> >>>> personally
>>>>>>> >> hurt me when Joanne Wilson and the rest of us were deceived by 
>>>>>>> >> the
>>>>>>> >> Republican party in or about 2005 when Secretary Spelling wanted 
>>>>>>> >> to
>>>>>>> >> dismantle blind rehab.  Frankly, I felt then and feel still that 
>>>>>>> >> my
>>>>>>> >> fellow
>>>>>>> >> conservatives were completely wrong on that score.  They seem to
>>>>>>> >> hate
>>>>>>> >> political correctness; that is, until it comes to the blind. 
>>>>>>> >> That
>>>>>>> >> turns my
>>>>>>> >> stomach!!!!  It sure doesn't help when any leaders of the
>>>>>>> >> federation
>>>>>>> >> fail to
>>>>>>> >> reach out to conservatives because they feel more comfortable 
>>>>>>> >> being
>>>>>>> >> in bed
>>>>>>> >> with the socialist left.  To speak quite candidly, I was 
>>>>>>> >> sincerely
>>>>>>> >> hoping
>>>>>>> >> that our fight to get money to convert over to the digital 
>>>>>>> >> talking
>>>>>>> >> book
>>>>>>> >> program would have taught the lesson that we cannot afford to 
>>>>>>> >> ride
>>>>>>> >> the back
>>>>>>> >> of the tiger for fear of ending up devoured by it. It seems,
>>>>>>> >> however,
>>>>>>> >> that
>>>>>>> >> this is not so.  Now look, just so I am not misunderstood here, I
>>>>>>> >> personally
>>>>>>> >> couldn't care whether any individu
>>>>>>> >>>> al in the federation or on this list is a leftist, a socialist,
>>>>>>> >>>> an
>>>>>>> >> extreme right wing person or what ever.  What I do care about is
>>>>>>> >> the
>>>>>>> >> fact
>>>>>>> >> that so long as we do not face up to the fact that we're going to
>>>>>>> >> have to
>>>>>>> >> figure out a better way to live for ourselves, we'll be looking 
>>>>>>> >> for
>>>>>>> >> that
>>>>>>> >> check every month which is supposed to assure us that we're being
>>>>>>> >> looked
>>>>>>> >> after. I'm just wondering when enough is finally going to be
>>>>>>> >> enough.
>>>>>>> >> What I
>>>>>>> >> look forward to in this debate is not accusation after 
>>>>>>> >> accusation,
>>>>>>> >> but
>>>>>>> >> rather, healthy discussion about how we can rid ourselves of the
>>>>>>> >> entitlement
>>>>>>> >> mentality and move in to something much better for us.
>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>> >>>> Sincerely,
>>>>>>> >>>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!!!
>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>> >>>> Now a proud Mac user!!!!!
>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>> >>>> E-Mail:
>>>>>>> >>>> rforetjr at comcast dot net
>>>>>>> >>>> Skype:
>>>>>>> >>>> barefootedray
>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>> >>>> On Apr 19, 2010, at 8:32 PM, RyanO (by way of David Andrews
>>>>>>> >> <dandrews at visi.com>) wrote:
>>>>>>> >>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>> I have been asked to circulate the following:
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>> Dave
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>> In October, 2008, a fellow Federationist and I were asked to
>>>>>>> >>>>> reach
>>>>>>> >>>>> out
>>>>>>> >> to the McCain campaign in hopes of persuading a representative to
>>>>>>> >> come speak
>>>>>>> >> at our monthly Denver chapter meeting on the topic of disability
>>>>>>> >> issues. We
>>>>>>> >> already had a rep from the Obama campaign in the person of one of
>>>>>>> >> our
>>>>>>> >> members, who was an official Obama surrogate. After several days 
>>>>>>> >> of
>>>>>>> >> phone
>>>>>>> >> tag, I was informed that the McCain camp would not be sending a
>>>>>>> >> representative to speak to us. The reason I was given was 
>>>>>>> >> because,
>>>>>>> >> "Obama
>>>>>>> >> was just too far ahead on disability issues."
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>> I and my fellow conservative blind friends were angry and 
>>>>>>> >>>>> hurt.
>>>>>>> >>>>> We
>>>>>>> >>>>> tried
>>>>>>> >> to give both sides equal time and felt we'd been told that we
>>>>>>> >> didn't
>>>>>>> >> matter.
>>>>>>> >> To that end, I felt I had two options. The first was to quit 
>>>>>>> >> being
>>>>>>> >> a
>>>>>>> >> conservative and jump ship over to the other side. The second
>>>>>>> >> option
>>>>>>> >> was to
>>>>>>> >> get more actively involved and to make our voices heard on all
>>>>>>> >> levels.
>>>>>>> >> Anyone who knows me knows that option one was not an option.
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>> To that end, I have created a mailing list called, Brush 
>>>>>>> >>>>> Fires.
>>>>>>> >>>>> It
>>>>>>> >>>>> is
>>>>>>> >> primarily for blind conservatives so that we may form a network 
>>>>>>> >> of
>>>>>>> >> communication and information. Let me stress that everyone is
>>>>>>> >> welcome
>>>>>>> >> on
>>>>>>> >> this list, no matter what their political stripe may be. In the
>>>>>>> >> spirit of
>>>>>>> >> the Federation, I believe that healthy debate and discussion
>>>>>>> >> fosters
>>>>>>> >> a more
>>>>>>> >> vibrant society for all of its members.
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>> Right now, the list is announce only. If we get big enough, I
>>>>>>> >>>>> plan
>>>>>>> >>>>> to
>>>>>>> >> turn it into a discussion mailing list. For more information,
>>>>>>> >> please
>>>>>>> >> Email
>>>>>>> >> me at
>>>>>>> >>>>> ryano218 at comcast.net
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>> Thank you for your time and attention.
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>>>> >>>>> RyanO
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
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>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>
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>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> nfb-talk mailing list
>>> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>>
>>
>>_______________________________________________
>>nfb-talk mailing list
>>nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
>>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
>
> _______________________________________________
> nfb-talk mailing list
> nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk_nfbnet.org
> 





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