PC Goes Berserk Again

[Rohirrim]

Judge rules paper money unfair to blind
Judge says Treasury Department is violating the law by keeping all money the same size and feel.
November 28 2006: 6:10 PM EST


NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Treasury Department is violating the law by failing to design and issue currency that is readily distinguishable to blind and visually impaired people.

Judge James Robertson, in a ruling on a suit by the American Council of the Blind, ordered the Treasury to devise a method to tell bills apart.


The judge wrote that the current configuration of paper money violates the Rehabilitation Act's guarantee of "meaningful access."

"It can no longer be successfully argued that a blind person has 'meaningful access' to currency if she cannot accurately identify paper money without assistance," Robertson wrote in his ruling.

He further ruled that finding a solution to the problem would not be an "undue burden" on the government and ordered the Treasury Department to begin working on a solution within 30 days.

The American Council for the Blind has submitted several alternatives, including embossing, holes punched in the paper or using different-sized bills for different denominations.

The Treasury Department had no comment on the ruling.

For CNN's coverage of the new federal court decision today ordering the U.S. Treasury Department to implement an alternative to paper money for blind and visually impaired people, here is FindLaw's link: Memorandum Order (American Council of the Blind v. Paulson)http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/28/mark...ex.htm?cnn=yes

We are reaching the outer limits of absurdity here. Here's my philosophy about this:

Law Number One: The physical world is imperfect.
Law Number Two: It will always be imperfect.
Law Number Three: There is nothing you can do to change law number one, though you may write reams of laws and issue avalanches of legislation.

I would add an addendum to Law Number One: If you are handicapped, the physical world is even more imperfect. That still does not negate Law Number Three.

For those who haven't heard, you can put this one under the heading of those who want to build wooden ramps all the way throughout Yosemite so that the wheelchair bound can enjoy the scenic beauty of the backcountry.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Wouldn't this be related to the number of blind people we have? How many is there, 1 million, 5 million, 20 million?

Never mind, I found it.....

And an interesting fact....

"Of the more than 180 countries that issue paper currency, only the United States prints bills that are identical in size and color in all their denominations," Robertson wrote. "More than 100 of the other issuers vary their bills in size according to denomination, and every other issuer includes at least some features that help the visually impaired."

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AFB American Foundation
for the Blind

Home > Blindness Statistics

Blindness Statistics


Every seven minutes, someone in America will become blind or visually impaired. For more facts and figures on the 10 million blind or visually impaired individuals in the United States, see the following topics:
Facts and Figures Topics:

Numbers of blind and visually impaired Americans

Getting around

Children's use of braille

Computer use

Marital status

Race and ethnicity

Employment

Educational attainment

[Rohirrim]

I have a visually impaired fellow worker who I asked about this judgment. He said he could care less because he uses his bankcard for every purchase.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Originally Posted by Rohirrim

I have a visually impaired fellow worker who I asked about this judgment. He said he could care less because he uses his bankcard for every purchase.

I'm pretty sure in another 20 or 30 years or so cash will be pretty much regulated to the back burner where chip embedded plastic cards will be the money we all use.

[defenseman]

To turn the monetary manufacturing process in this country upside down, overnight is just plain stupidity. IF, we were to undertake this on an official basis, it needs to be planned, coordinated and financially supported over YEARS, not days. some sort of rough plan by 30 days, great. Meet the intent in 30 days, take years to execute should be what really happens. That's if it's not overturned somewhere else in the pipeline. The actual process, it will take years. That judge, can rule whatever he wants, however, it ain't happenin overnight pal. Do I really care, no. I could care less to be honest. I do however, care about activists judges. Is this guy one? Who knows, I can sort of see a need to a degree, then again, folks have been dealing with this for over a century to date with no discernable problems. Let's see, you say your one leg is 1" shorter than the other, well by god, we better make all sidewalks slightly higher on one side just for you. Ok , sounds fine to me. Way too much PC these days. Damn primmadonnas, most of them anyway..dman

[-Slap-]

The blind can take all their change in ones and like it!

[alkemical]

This is just another move to eliminate paper currency and move to a cashless society.

Viva la Beast!

[bendog]

Originally Posted by claviculasolomonis

This is just another move to eliminate paper currency and move to a cashless society.

Viva la Beast!

God knows what we'll be left to barter with to avoid taxes ...... oh, nevermind.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Originally Posted by defenseman

To turn the monetary manufacturing process in this country upside down, overnight is just plain stupidity. IF, we were to undertake this on an official basis, it needs to be planned, coordinated and financially supported over YEARS, not days. some sort of rough plan by 30 days, great. Meet the intent in 30 days, take years to execute should be what really happens.

You didn't read the article correctly.

[defenseman]

Originally Posted by bendog

God knows what we'll be left to barter with to avoid taxes ...... oh, nevermind.

You got that right...it's crazy these days...dman

[baja]

Why not just make the different denominations different colors.

[alkemical]

i'm glad i got my education in the black market. I got a doctorate!

[baja]

If we change the sizes will that be fair to lap dancers?

[bendog]

I thought blind people could tell what coin it was by the sound it made hitting their tin cups?

[Garcia Bronco]

this isn't a bad idea...plus...it makes creating bogus mnoey a little bit harder.