[Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert

Sat Dec 2 18:13:36 CST 2006

You know what?  I had someone (an 18 year old nonetheless) bring up an
incredibly good point...there are *SO MANY* bills of our present currency
out there, getting them replaced with any changed currency would be an
unbelieveable task.

Alan Wheeler
awheeler at neb.rr.com or alan_wheeler at neb.rr.com
redwheel1 on skype
http://alan-wheeler.blogspot.com/
"Tell the people the truth and the country will be free"
  --Abraham Lincoln

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Chris Danielsen
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2006 11:01 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert

Dianne and listers,

With due respect, the trouble with this argument is that the increased use
of computers and scanning technology was a society-wide change that,
incidentally, became a huge benefit to the blind.  In fact, it could just as
easily have *not* been to our benefit had we not worked so hard to make
computers accessible, particularly when the graphical user interface came
into being.  But the point is, not just the blind, but everyone, uses
computers and scanning technology now, and through some modifications we are
able to use those same technologies.  What is being proposed here is
altering the United States currency solely for the benefit of the blind. 
The ruling in this case argues that the blind can't use money because we
can't see it, which is a dangerous argument.  We can and do use money
regularly.  Sure, it might be more convenient if we could identify it
without seeing it, but the question is whether that, by itself, is a reason
to alter the design of the currency.  The Treasury has considered this issue
in the past and decided that the best course is to pursue the development of
electronic money identifiers, and according to the ruling they even started
a project to develop a very cheap one.  I know that other countries have
tactile currency, but other countries have lots of things we don't have in
America, and while many of them are advantages, some of them aren't.  And
despite our supposed lack of access to currency, blind people are better off
in America than we are anywhere else in the world, which says something
about the relative importance of tactile currency.  I guess I wouldn't
necessarily mind the money being redesigned with tactile features, but I
*do* mind the implication that this *must* be done for the benefit of the
blind.  I don't want society to get the idea that major alterations are
needed in every aspect of everyday life so blind people can get along in the
world, and that we're vulnerable victims if such modifications aren't made. 
That's my opinion and it's the reason for the NFB position.

Chris

----- Original Message -----
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at crc.IN.gov>
To: "NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 8:03 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert

> Good Morning To All,
>
> My viewpoint is pretty much in line with yours Sherri.  I mean, PLEASE
> do not get me wrong.  We have MANY much more important issues in need of
> attention from our legislators and legal system than this one.
>
> I too have a method of folding my money, and it generally has proven to
> be quite effective.  For many years I didn't even fold it.  What I would
> do is keep the larger bills on the outside of the role or stack of bills
> and the smaller ones in the middle, and then just remember what I had.
> But alas, I am growing older, and my memory is growing weaker.  So
> several years ago I began to fold the bills for identification purposes.
>
> But, it is a fact that, in order to get our money folded in the first
> place we do have to depend on the honesty/accuracy of a merchant, a bank
> teller, a family member and so on.  That is, if we don't' have that $400
> identifier.  Most of the time this method of initial identification
> works fine, but I have been known to be on the other side of that coin.
> It doesn't happen regularly or often, but it has happened.
>
> Like Sherri, I don't spend a great deal of time fretting about this
> issue, but the rest of the world is going to a completely tactilely
> identifiable monitory system, and I don't see why we need to be
> different just to prove that there are alternative techniques.
>
> After all, progress is progress.  I mean, prior to the days of
> wide-spread computer use, and scanners and Kurzweil and the whole bit,
> blind people hired and used readers and sometimes had to call on others
> to proof read there typed work and so on.  This worked out fine for them
> then.  It was an alternative technique and it worked well.  But would
> you rather have stayed back there?  Aren't you thankful, glad and
> elated, that you can now take care of your bills, mail and other
> business totally independently for the most part?
>
> I know I am.  The alternative techniques worked fine for their time, but
> I for one, am grateful to be increasingly more independent of sighted
> assistance.
>
> And now we even have the Kurzweil/NFB handheld reader which will
> increase that independence even more as it can be carried with us.  I
> can't wait to get my hands on one of those.  I am folding my money and
> putting it away (when I can) in anticipation of that grand purchase.
>
> I do understand that it seems absurd to spend time on the little things
> when there are so many major problems, but don't knock progress guys!
> Every little piece of independence we achieve is precious.  At least it
> is to me.
>
>
>
>
> Diane Graves
> Civil Rights Specialist
> Indiana Civil Rights Commission
> Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
> 317-232-2647
>
>
>
> "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference."--Winston
> Churchill
>
>
>
>
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>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Sherri
> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:26 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] FW: FNC Alert
>
>
> This is probably an unpopular viewpoint and though I manage pretty well
> without it and am much more concerned about obtaining more money than I
> am
> about having some tactile way to tell bills apart other than folding, I
> guess I don't understand why we don't just catch up with the rest of the
>
> world and make our money identifiable? If we have to change it anyway
> because of counterfeit bills, why not just make the other changes too?
> However, I don't stay up nights thinking about this issue. Really, it
> isn't
> that important in the scheme of things. (smile)
>
> Sherri
>
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