Judge Rules That Paper Money Is Unfair To The Blind
Posted on November 28, 2006
The person that sent this tip noted that this is a Clinton appointee. Judge Robertson is the same judge who resigned without explanantion from the FISA Court one year ago. They seemed to think this was “unreal”, but I don’t really see that it is that big of a deal. The government is changing the face of our currency quite often. I’m sure it is difficult for the blind to tell the difference between denominations. I’m not sure I agree with the reasoning of the ruling all the way through, but I think it is an interesting idea overall.
By keeping all U.S. currency the same size and texture, the government has denied blind people meaningful access to money, a federal judge said Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge James Robertson said the Treasury Department has violated the law, and he ordered the government to come up with ways for the blind to tell bills apart.He said he wouldn’t tell officials how to fix the problem, but he ordered them to begin working on it within 10 days. The American Council of the Blind has proposed several options, including printing bills of differing sizes, adding embossed dots or foil to the paper or using raised ink.
I don’t know, what do you all think? Whats the deal with only giving them ten days?
Viking Pundit proposes Smell-O-Bills. Chris Lawrence doesn’t think Congress will let the ruling stand as is.
Blue Crab Boulevard:
Where exactly does this reasoning stop? A thought experiment: the ruling hinges on the “Rehabilitation Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in government programs”. I cannot fly a fighter jet for any number of reasons, but I happen to be (truthfully) blind in one eye.
Is the government now to be forced to make me a fighter pilot? Is this not the same weird logic? (I am actually sympathetic to the issue, but this is exactly the wrong way to deal with the issue. This is, I think, bad law and a bad use of the courts.)
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8 Responses to “Judge Rules That Paper Money Is Unfair To The Blind”
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I agree. It probably wasn’t feasible 50 years ago, but I’m sure we have the technology now to give blind people a fighting chance.
Ten days is more than enough “to begin working on it.”
On the other hand, I don’t think the judge’s reasoning here that the Feds are “discriminating” is true at all. What an over-used term.
Yeah, it’s not like they’ve intentionally made it hard on blind people. They just haven’t been as considerate as they could have been.
I question the fairness aspect since life is not fair in general and I do not believe it is the job of the Courts to push through the socialistic equality agenda.
I believe there is a law against discrimination. I am not sure that law applies to this situation.
What minor group are we going to change the money to please next?
It may not. I’m not convinced either.
I think little people should be next. It’s really not fair to expect them to carry wallets that are clearly not proportional to their size.
“I think little people should be next. It’s really not fair to expect them to carry wallets that are clearly not proportional to their size.” -Jeff Molby
LOL Best not to give them any ideas Jeff, that could be next.
I thought it was humorous also.
The judge gave them 10 days to begin working on this..not to complete the project. Within 10 days, I am quite sure that someone could plan an action meeting for another date..a show of good faith. Of course the judge has the right to do this. No government department is above the laws we have in place. They produce money for the citizens and need to assure that all citizens can use it. The treasury just changed the color of the money and spent $24 million advertising it…it would have been just as easy to comply with the law at that time…