> "Clarifying roles and responsibilities across government, and clearly articulating expectations between public and private sectors will enable the advancement of processes and communications architecture to support the development and maintenance of situational awareness across sectors.
Here's the translation: We don't know who is going to do what, or how they are going to do it. So, we need a study (which will be done after the election and the campaign contributions are calculated) to find out.
(I can still speak bureaucratese, from when I was a social worker.)
I hear you!! Amazing that people are keeping their sanity thru all of this, or at least trying to. Lately, I've been getting a little hope. Not much though!
Personally, I am in the dissillusioned category like most people today. I vote, but am not sure that it means anything. From what I have read and researched, the software needs to be open-source. Or better yet, go back to paper ballots.
Forty-nine of the 85 people who this year have given Republican Ohio secretary of state Kenneth Blackwell the maximum $10,000 allowed an individual donor have done so since May 2. Members of Cincinnati financier Carl Lindner's family led the way by combining for $90,000. The maximum-donor list also includes Mitch Given, who is a registered lobbyist for Diebold Election Systems.
you know full well the goal of electronic voting, eliminate those unnecessary, time consuming and democracy demanding voters from the whole election process
You're right, but I just can't help it--I grew up in the 60's!
If I took $25 from the government to install a braille sign in my place of business, I don't think that automatically makes me public; it just makes me more accessible to the public.
As a business owner, why alienate a part of the public who would benefit from your business having a Braille sign (and their friends and family) and risk litigation when the costs for ADA complaince can be written off? That makes no sense to me.
Personal experience again: re: vocational rehabilitation: I want to take a computer class and get some type of certification, so I can go back to work. Technology caught up w/me, as explained previously. Seems to me that approval for my taking a class should be a no-brainer. Voc rehab says no so I have been filing appeals since last summer. There are administrative costs involved re: the appeals as well.
The way I see it, it would be more cost-effective for me to have taken the damn class to begin with. (I've had a couple job offers disappear due to my lacking any certification (despite the fact that the economy is tanking.) So, yeah, we do agree, but it is completely unrealistic to wait for market forces to sort the good from the bad.
BTW, think I should change my sig to something like "Yeah, I'm a liberal. Deal with it!"?
the cost of care and benefits to the disabled, not just the monthly benefit checks. This includes health care, VA hospitals, mobility programs, vocational rehabilitation, etc.
There is the same sort of waste (if not worse) in every program that you mentioned, and more that you didn't. Here is one prime example.
Computers, however, are machines that, unless malfunctioning due to a defect in their hardware (rare), do not make mistakes.
They cannot and do not, however, rectify problems caused by garbage: garbage programming, garbage systems planning, garbage leadership by people whose understanding of the complexities of healthcare are garbage, garbage assumptions and underestimations, garbage conflicts of interest, and garbage accountability and penalties for screw ups of this magnitude.
and
Who, exactly, were the government computing "experts", private contractors, private payor IT personnel, the IS "let's outsource-this-to-India-to-save-a-few-bucks" leaders, and other "healthcare information technology experts" responsible for this debacle? How many sweetheart deals with vendors with poor track records were done? How much participation was there from the people most affected by this debacle, i.e., clinicians, pharmacists, and patients? Who is going to be held accountable? Why do these debacles go on and on, such as this Veterans Administration deposit of nearly $500 million directly to the garbage can, without much of an apparent learning curve?
There really is change afoot in the industry, and those who fail to change will fall by the wayside.
As everything is on the web now, so many people benefit by accessibile sites. I don't know if you read my previous replies, but, as a former social worker, I have heard so much from clients. (And personally experienced.)
The links that you posted are great and they really caught my attention. I know I'll end up checking them out, as there is so much info that many are unaware of. Thanks again.
the bulk of tax dollars for the disabled are not going to corporations, they are going to the disabled directly.
Excuse me, but that's incorrect. Direct payments to a person with a disability (Supplemental Security Income) are $620.00 a month. Social Security Disability can be higher, in some instances lower, but is capped. (Tbe amount changes yearly.)
I was reading an article about how much it costs the state to take care of a disabled child while in states custody. It was averaging around $100,000/year per child.
States custody/foster care is a hellhole w/administrative costs/waste that are unbelieveable. That's where the majority of the figure of $100,000.00 goes. If you do the math re: direct v. indirect payment, you'll see what I mean. Yes, in some instances it/foster care is needed, but if direct payments were made to the parents of a child w/a disability or a person w/a disability, the costs would be substaintially less, due to the administrative overhead and other bs.
The same can be said of many other agencies. Also, there is so much unnecessary crap (duplication) that it contracted out to private businesses. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good ones, but not all.
The costs of audits and compliance monitoring are another nightmare/waste, and the that is pretty hefty, as are the fines for non-compliance--an agency can be fined for non-compliance for the stupidest things, as on a case-by-case basis, the emphasis is on procedural bs, as opposed to the end result of a case that would benefit the client (and society as a whole).
With that in mind, litigation is/can be more cost-effective in bringing about any change (as opposed to working w/in the system), as that is the only thing that some businesses pay any attention to. With the costs of ligitigation, both direct and indirect, it seems to me that it makes more sense to comply in the first place.
I don't think corporation's see anything near that amount in tax relief.
It depends on the corporation and which ones it qualifies for, both at the State and Federal level. (In some instances, not all, it can be much higher.) Also, the cost of designing and maintaining a website would be an operating expense. That can be written off.
I worked briefly as a social worker where I saw many clients who had disabilities more severe than mine, and needed more than was then being done even with the ADA. Those are the people who I was referring to when I said about damn tine.
However, this was before computers were as widely used as they are now. And, technology has to catch up so everyone will benefit, not just a few. As a matter of fact, in my instance, advances in technology are wonderful.
I am a traumatic brain injury survivor and due to neurological damage, I have a difficult time writing legibly w/a pen. (In addition to extremely painful headaches caused by shrill noises, problems concentrating and several other things.) So, email and computer use are great for me, as is having a cell phone, because the ringtones don't give me a headache while a land-line does. (These are some of the reasons why I couldn't work--in social work, case notes have to be written by hand and signed, the damn phones in the office never stopped ringing--I headaches and was exhausted constantly. There are others.)
Plus, computer use is more widespead today--that reminds me of a couple things. Many people with disabiities go online as there is not much else for a person on disability to do. (re: computers, many people with disabilities are self-taught by reading tech sites.) So, it seems to me that a business that has a site on the net should want to make their site accessible to as many as possible. I have a question for you about this:
Business that choose not to cater to those with disabilities will pay by bad PR and reduced patronage by disabled persons.
One of the criteria for the ADA, Rehab Act, and more to apply to a business is that the business receive federal funds. (From my social work days, I know for a fact Target gets Federal funds.) So, why should taxpayers subsidize a business that does not allow a segment of the population to access them? If the market were truly free, there would be no need for any federal sudsidies to any business. Those are your tax dollars I'm talking about. So, why don't people get all riled up about that money being wasted on corporate welfare?
On another note, the first time I booted linux, I was amazed that it didn't have all of the crap everywhere--made it so much easier for me to concentrate as I didn't get a headache after an hour or so. (Still haven't decided which one I like best. Also have some hardware problems that I'm putting off fixing--that's another story.) I enjoy writing for the sake of writing, as do many people. Here's a writing sample re: Medicare D that is only the tip of the iceberg re: how screwed up the computer system is.
''Blackwell made Katherine Harris look like a cupcake,'' Conyers told me. ''He saw his role as limiting the participation of Democratic voters. We had hearings in Columbus for two days. We could have stayed two weeks, the level of fury was so high. Thousands of people wanted to testify. Nothing like this had ever happened to them before.''
''The secretary of state is supposed to administer elections -- not throw them,'' says Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat from Cleveland who has dealt with Blackwell for years. ''The election in Ohio in 2004 stands out as an example of how, under color of law, a state election official can frustrate the exercise of the right to vote.''
For congress and governor in my state, my choices are between do-nothing incumbents and their challengers who out for themselves. What kind of a choice is that? I'm so disgusted, I swear, I am giving serious thought to writing in my own name and getting a few friends to do the same. Just curious as to how the tabulating software really counts a write in vote. Know what I mean?
Some people with disabilities are on a fixed income and can't afford to constantly upgrade all the crap necessary to run MS, so many do use open-source software for as it is more secure. And when a site can only be acessed by IE...well, that sounds like its another one for the courts. Think a lawyer would have a better answer than mine.
Sometimes a lawsuit is the only thing that will get a person's attention to actually correct somehing. I remember when I was a social worker for a public agency (and had to deal w/accomodations and the like), it was easy to find out what was needed, but another thing to get them actually done. If there was a lawsuit filed for every violation that those in just the agency I used to work for came across, nothing else in any court would ever be heard!
I had to look up stuff like the original Rehab Act and amendments, the ADA, state legislation all the time so clients would be able to get some assistive technology.
Finding a funder was another nightmare that was not always a success.
Where we to have had it in the 2000 presidential election, Nader supporters wouldn't have put Bush in office
I am so sick and tired of hearing that bull when it was a Supreme Court decision that determined the outcome of the election in 2000!
The decision stopped the statewide recount that was occurring in Florida and allowed Florida Secretary of State (and Bush's Florida campaign co-chair) Katherine Harris to certify George W. Bush as the winner of Florida's electoral votes. Florida's 25 electoral votes gave Bush a majority of the electoral college with 271 votes and enabled him to win the Presidency.
Slashdot Mirror
> "Clarifying roles and responsibilities across government, and clearly articulating expectations between public and private sectors will enable the advancement of processes and communications architecture to support the development and maintenance of situational awareness across sectors.
Here's the translation: We don't know who is going to do what, or how they are going to do it. So, we need a study (which will be done after the election and the campaign contributions are calculated) to find out.
(I can still speak bureaucratese, from when I was a social worker.)
I hear you!! Amazing that people are keeping their sanity thru all of this, or at least trying to. Lately, I've been getting a little hope. Not much though!
OK, OK, I can take a hint--I know you're messing w/me. LOL
Personally, I am in the dissillusioned category like most people today. I vote, but am not sure that it means anything. From what I have read and researched, the software needs to be open-source. Or better yet, go back to paper ballots.
You're right, but I just can't help it--I grew up in the 60's!
Anyone ever think of that?
What the hell is the big deal about hiring more workers to count ballots cast by hand?
Matter of fact, here is some info for anyone who wants to volunteer to do so as to save the a few bucks of cost for an accurate count.
Please note: Nothing personal intended. This is a very important subject to me.
A problem was made where none existed, IMO. And computers were seen as the answer. Now look at the shape this country is in. I've got to move!
As a business owner, why alienate a part of the public who would benefit from your business having a Braille sign (and their friends and family) and risk litigation when the costs for ADA complaince can be written off? That makes no sense to me.
Personal experience again: re: vocational rehabilitation: I want to take a computer class and get some type of certification, so I can go back to work. Technology caught up w/me, as explained previously. Seems to me that approval for my taking a class should be a no-brainer. Voc rehab says no so I have been filing appeals since last summer. There are administrative costs involved re: the appeals as well.
The way I see it, it would be more cost-effective for me to have taken the damn class to begin with. (I've had a couple job offers disappear due to my lacking any certification (despite the fact that the economy is tanking.) So, yeah, we do agree, but it is completely unrealistic to wait for market forces to sort the good from the bad.
BTW, think I should change my sig to something like "Yeah, I'm a liberal. Deal with it!"?
There is the same sort of waste (if not worse) in every program that you mentioned, and more that you didn't. Here is one prime example.
and
Some damn good questions!
As everything is on the web now, so many people benefit by accessibile sites. I don't know if you read my previous replies, but, as a former social worker, I have heard so much from clients. (And personally experienced.)
The links that you posted are great and they really caught my attention. I know I'll end up checking them out, as there is so much info that many are unaware of. Thanks again.
Wish there were more developers w/your attitude.
Unofficial Rule of Social Work: If a business/private enterprise accepts any government funding, it is not private.
Excuse me, but that's incorrect. Direct payments to a person with a disability (Supplemental Security Income) are $620.00 a month. Social Security Disability can be higher, in some instances lower, but is capped. (Tbe amount changes yearly.)
States custody/foster care is a hellhole w/administrative costs/waste that are unbelieveable. That's where the majority of the figure of $100,000.00 goes. If you do the math re: direct v. indirect payment, you'll see what I mean. Yes, in some instances it/foster care is needed, but if direct payments were made to the parents of a child w/a disability or a person w/a disability, the costs would be substaintially less, due to the administrative overhead and other bs.
The same can be said of many other agencies. Also, there is so much unnecessary crap (duplication) that it contracted out to private businesses. Don't get me wrong, there are some very good ones, but not all.
The costs of audits and compliance monitoring are another nightmare/waste, and the that is pretty hefty, as are the fines for non-compliance--an agency can be fined for non-compliance for the stupidest things, as on a case-by-case basis, the emphasis is on procedural bs, as opposed to the end result of a case that would benefit the client (and society as a whole).
With that in mind, litigation is/can be more cost-effective in bringing about any change (as opposed to working w/in the system), as that is the only thing that some businesses pay any attention to. With the costs of ligitigation, both direct and indirect, it seems to me that it makes more sense to comply in the first place.
It depends on the corporation and which ones it qualifies for, both at the State and Federal level. (In some instances, not all, it can be much higher.) Also, the cost of designing and maintaining a website would be an operating expense. That can be written off.
However, this was before computers were as widely used as they are now. And, technology has to catch up so everyone will benefit, not just a few. As a matter of fact, in my instance, advances in technology are wonderful.
I am a traumatic brain injury survivor and due to neurological damage, I have a difficult time writing legibly w/a pen. (In addition to extremely painful headaches caused by shrill noises, problems concentrating and several other things.) So, email and computer use are great for me, as is having a cell phone, because the ringtones don't give me a headache while a land-line does. (These are some of the reasons why I couldn't work--in social work, case notes have to be written by hand and signed, the damn phones in the office never stopped ringing--I headaches and was exhausted constantly. There are others.)
Plus, computer use is more widespead today--that reminds me of a couple things. Many people with disabiities go online as there is not much else for a person on disability to do. (re: computers, many people with disabilities are self-taught by reading tech sites.) So, it seems to me that a business that has a site on the net should want to make their site accessible to as many as possible. I have a question for you about this:
One of the criteria for the ADA, Rehab Act, and more to apply to a business is that the business receive federal funds. (From my social work days, I know for a fact Target gets Federal funds.) So, why should taxpayers subsidize a business that does not allow a segment of the population to access them? If the market were truly free, there would be no need for any federal sudsidies to any business. Those are your tax dollars I'm talking about. So, why don't people get all riled up about that money being wasted on corporate welfare?On another note, the first time I booted linux, I was amazed that it didn't have all of the crap everywhere--made it so much easier for me to concentrate as I didn't get a headache after an hour or so. (Still haven't decided which one I like best. Also have some hardware problems that I'm putting off fixing--that's another story.) I enjoy writing for the sake of writing, as do many people. Here's a writing sample re: Medicare D that is only the tip of the iceberg re: how screwed up the computer system is.
Thanks for your thoughts.
-Terri
For congress and governor in my state, my choices are between do-nothing incumbents and their challengers who out for themselves. What kind of a choice is that? I'm so disgusted, I swear, I am giving serious thought to writing in my own name and getting a few friends to do the same. Just curious as to how the tabulating software really counts a write in vote. Know what I mean?
Informative post and link.
Bet this is their last wake-up call!
Some people with disabilities are on a fixed income and can't afford to constantly upgrade all the crap necessary to run MS, so many do use open-source software for as it is more secure. And when a site can only be acessed by IE...well, that sounds like its another one for the courts. Think a lawyer would have a better answer than mine.
Would you say that to someone who fell and is paralyzed as a result of a severed spinal cord?
And, FYI, I was injured at a former employers and can no longer work!
STFU!
Also have a disability and used to be a ex-social worker. And I think its about damn time for this ruling--its been long overdue.
There are grants, tax credits and so on available.
Sometimes a lawsuit is the only thing that will get a person's attention to actually correct somehing. I remember when I was a social worker for a public agency (and had to deal w/accomodations and the like), it was easy to find out what was needed, but another thing to get them actually done. If there was a lawsuit filed for every violation that those in just the agency I used to work for came across, nothing else in any court would ever be heard!
A starting point is Section 508 of the Rehab Act.
As for the technical assistance sites, there are just too many to list.
I am so sick and tired of hearing that bull when it was a Supreme Court decision that determined the outcome of the election in 2000!
Because Microsoft says it is!