America Has Lost More Than a Senator

Hello All:

Early this morning, our nation lost a great politician and man, Senator Ted
Kenedy of Massachusetts. Senator Kenedy has been in the United States
Senate longer than I've been on this earth; I'm a bit over 44 years old, and
Kenedy served in the Senate for over 46 years.

In the Senate, Kenedy was very liberal, and in the words of one reporter,
"partison to the core." He championed many, many causes during his time in
the Senate. He was a great friend to people with disabilities over the
years.

However, partison as he was, Senator Kenedy had a inique way of reaching
across the aisle and compromising wen he needed too. Unlike many
politicians on both sides of the aisle today, Kenedy realized that at times
the best legislation came from working together in a bipartison way.
Senator Kenedy worked with former President George W. Bush to pass Medicare
Prescription Drug coverage, and No Child Left Behind. He worked to pass the
Kenedy-Kassebaum bill with former Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum which was
to provie parity in insurance coverage for physical and mental ilnesses.

But Kenedy was more than a Senator. He represented the greatest political
family in our nation's history. He possibly came to his championing of
causes helping people with disabilities as his sister, Rosemary who was
developmentally disabled lived for a time at the St. Colletta's scool in
Jefferson, Wisconsin. When I attended the Wisconsin School for the Visually
Handicapped, we swam against the team from St. Colettas each year, but I do
not know if Rosemary was still living at that time.

Many of you know that when it comes to politics, I tend to be fiscally
conservative and socially moderate. In lite of that, I disagreed viamintly
with Senator Kenedy politically. However, no matter on which side of the
political spectrum you are, you have to respect what Senator Kenedy
accomplished in his long political career. I hope those in politics now,
and those planning to enter the world of politics will learn from Senator
Kenedy, because he knew how to get things done. We can learn from and
respect him, regardless of what side of the aisle you are on. May Senator
Kenedy rest in peace.

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12:16:00

Brett the Brat

Will he, or won't he play football this year? Well, that appears to be the
never ending question surrounding Brett the Brat Favre. Well, it appears
Mr. Favre, who craves attention and can't stand to be out of the lime light
is going to play football for the Minesota Vikings.

Let me be clear right up front. I respect and admire Favre for all of the
things he did for the Green Bay Packers, my favorite football team. He
brought respectability back to Green Bay. It was OK to be outwardly proud
to be a Packers fan with Favre under center. He brought us our first Super
Bowl win in 29 years in 1997. He broke several records, all while
establishing the longest, consecutive games played streak in the NFL.

Favre has nothing more to prove, which begs the question, why is he coming
out of retirement, if he ever was really there to play for the Vikings? It
certainly couldn't be for money, could it? He has plenty of that.

Favre is coming out of retirement because he wants to try and stick it to
Packers' General Manager Ted Thompson, whom he has this ridiculous idea was
the one that ran him out of town. Favre, it was you on March 4, 2008 that
anounced your retirement from football. What were the Packers supposed to
do, wait around to see if maybe, you, the attention starved little boy
you're acting like, would change your mind?

Ted Thompson did the right thing. He had a QB in the wings, Aaron Rodgers.
Thompson decided to move on without you and you, Mr. Favre, can't stand it.

Brett, I mean Brat, the Packers franchise has been around for over 80 years.
It was here and did very well before you, and it will survive long after you
finally decide to hang it up. You gave us Green Bay fans a lot to cheer
about. But you know what I'm going to be cheering about this year? I'm
going to cheer when Aaron Campman and the boys put somehard, but legal hits
on your sorry ass and plant you on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. I'm
going to cheer if you are driving the Vikings down the field against us,
trying to bring them back, and one of our Cornerbacks or Safetys intercepts
a pass and runs it back to deliver the "Dagger" against you. Thank you for
all you did for Green Bay and its fans, but now, your sorry ass is the
enemy!

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18:05:00

Can't We Have Intense, Political Debate Anymore?

It seems as if the era of being able to have intense, but
civilized political debate is another thing going by the wayside
with the Obama administration. All over the nation, people are
coming out in droves on both sides of the issue to make their
feelings known on Mr. Obama's train wreck known as health care
reform. This is one of our first amendment rights, which many
have fought and died to protect. That is, we the people have a
right of freedom of speech and the right to disagree with our
Government.

That is, it seems, we had that right. What is happening is that
if someone dares to disagree with "The O's" health care reform
agenda, they are deemed a right wing nut job, or part of a mob.
Supporters are being told, oh, it's just a small, but vocal
minority who want to protect the status quo in health care
because they benefit from it. Or, these people want to do
political damage to the Obama administration.

I'd be outraged at the shouting down of people trying to answer
questions about health care reform, if it wasn't something
liberals have been doing for years. Liberals cannot stand being
forced to answer tough questions. That's why they despise Fox
News. Fox doesn't let them rant, shout, interrupt, etc. Fox
people ask them tough questions which they have to answer.

And where, hello, is the media on this? If it were a Republican
administration saying what groups like the Democratic National
Committee are saying about health care reform opponents, we'd
hear all the stuff about, how terrible it is. The double
standard is alive and well.

I posted in this blog several weeks ago what I would like to see
in health care reform. That is not defending the status quo.
Does the radical left think those who disagree with President
Obama on this issue don't have families living in their districts
who are struggling with health care costs? If so, they are
mistaken.

Americans have a right to state their opinions on something,
health care, which affects 1/6 of our nation's economy without
fear of name cabling, intimidation, etc. U's long past time for
liberals to face reality, realize not everyone is on board with
"The One," and work for health care reform which truly benefits
all Americans. If they think a public option is so great, then I
challenge each democrat in Congress who supports it to say, hey,
not only do I support Government run health care, but I'm going
to enroll myself and my family in it when it's passed. Anyone
care to bet me on how many will actually take that challenge?

I hope folks on all sides of the health care debate will take
several deep breaths and return the discussion to a more
civilized tone. The founders of our nation fought and died for
Government of the People, by the People, for the P. That means
all of the People, not just the radicals on either side of the
political spectrum. No one who has to deal with the paperwork
and complexities of health insurance can defend the status quo.
We hear there are some 47 million Americans without health
insurance. Those who want insurance should be able to get it.
Health care decisions should be returned to between doctors and
patients.

Congress is at home on recess. Let's all as citizens of the
greatest nation on earth take the time to make our voices heard
before our representatives, regardless what our position is.
Let's pray that when Congress returns to work in September, they
will have heard from the citizenry and craft sensible, bipartison
health care reforms.

Copy of Letter on Home Services in Illinois

Hello:

Pasted below is the text of my letter to Governor Pat Quinn regarding cuts
to Home Services in Illinois.

=====start letter text=====
August 9, 2009

Honorable Governor Pat Quinn
207 Statehouse
Springfield, IL 62706

To Honorable Governor Quin:

I am writing to strongly urge that you reinstate funding to the Home
Services Program so that Centers for Independent Living (CILs) can continue
going about the job of helping individuals with disabilities live
independently in the community with qualified personal assistants helping
them meet their daily needs. As a board member of the DuPage Center for
Independent Living, the recent decision to change the program so that these
centers are not involved causes our center to lose one staff person.

But more important than that, the need for personal assistants to help
people with disabilities live independently in the community is not going
away, and in fact, is growing with the aging of the population. I ask you,
Governor Quin, if CILs like ours are not helping these individuals find
qualified P.A.s, then who wil? Will it be state employers at a much higher
cost to Illinois than CILs?

CILs are community based organizations who employ staff that are in the best
position to help consumers seeking Personal Assistant services to find
qualified P.A.s so they can remain independent in the community. If we
don't have a strong, well funded home services program, then many of these
individuals will have to move into institutions such as nursing homes.

This is wrong on many levels. For one thing, it costs the state of Illinois
far more to house someone in an institution than it does to allow them to
live independently in the community with the support services they need.
For another, forcing people with disabilities to live in institutions
violates the 1999 Olmstead decision issued by the U.S.Supreme Court which
holds that people with disabilities have the right to live in the community.
Illinois already has an abysmal record of complying with this decision and
your decision regarding home services will make it worse.

But most importantly, people with disabilities who are forced to live in
nursing homes wen they could live independently lose self esteem and
confidence, and are not in control of their own lives. They are told wen to
get up, when and what to eat at each meal, when they can use the restroom,
ETC. It is more difficult for them to see their families and friends when
they want too. They may be forced to room with someone they do not know.
They have few if any opportunities to become employed or pursue an
education. No person should have to live like this against their wil. Yet,
this is what you are forcing people with disabilities who depend on the Home
Services Program to do.

Governor Quin, remember. The minority group of people with disabilities is
one that you or anyone else can join at any time. Would you want a member
of your family or close friend to not be able to live independently in the
community simply because there weren't individuals on the ground in the
community to help him or her find a personal assistant to help take care of
their basic needs? You wouldn't want that and people with disabilities
don't want that. We are people first. Please reinstate the Home Services
Program funding so that CILs can continue helping consumers find appropriate
personal assistant services so they can live independently in the community.
Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

<my name>
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08:08:00

My Co-sponsorship Letter on H.R.3101

Hello:

Below, please find a copy of a letter I sent to my representative requesting
him to sign on as a co-sponsor of H.R.3101. Please read this and let it
inspire you to write your own letter on this important legislation.

=====start letter text=====
August 7, 2009

Honorable Representative Peter Roskam
c/o Mark Skerjan, Legislative Assistant
507 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

To Honorable Representative Roskam:

I am writing to ask That you sign on as a co-sponsor of HR3101, "The 21st
Century Telecommunications and Video Accessibility Act." This legislation,
which has been drafted by the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible
Technology (COAT) and introduced by Representative Edward Marke (D-MA) is
needed so that people like me who are blind or visually impaired will not be
left behind as developments in technology advance.

This legislation will insure that telecommunications devicess are fully
hearing aid compatible. Both my wife and my father wear hearing aids. They
should be able to freely select whatever telecommunications device, such as
a cell phone they want without fear that it will either not work with their
hearing aids, or require that they spend extra money to buy a kneck loop
just so it will work. My father has to take his hearing aid out just to use
his current cell phone. That should not be. HR3101 will help change that.

This legislation will restore the modest requirements for the provision of
video description and give the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
authority to promulgate rules to both implement this on network television
and require that programming with description carried over to the internet
takes the description with it. Video description, in which a narrator
describes the visual elements of a television program or movie has made it
much easier for me to enjoy movies. With it, I can watch a television
program or movie and not have to bother someone watching it with me to
describe what is happening.

HR3101 also requires that there be non-visual access to emergency
information. This means that if I am watching football on tv, for example,
and a tornado warning is issued for my area, I don't have to go to a radio
or find someone to know what is going on. Seconds count in an emergency and
I would much rather find out that there is a tornado bearing down on my home
from the tv than when it hits.

HR3101 will require that communications devices be made accessible. While I
do use a cell phone that gives me complete access to such features as call
history, text messaging, e-mail and GPS information, I had to pay a total of
over $1,000 above the cost of the pfone to get this access. Apple has
proven, with its most recent release of the iPhone that accessibility can be
built in off the shelf. When a user activates an iPhone, if they need it,
they can have all of the features either talk or be displayed in large
letters. HR3101 will encourage other companies to follow Apple's lead.

The importance of text messaging access was brought home to me in the fall
of 2008. DePaul University, where I attend school part time was affected by
a gas leak. Thanks to having access to text messaging, I was able to
quickly learn about this situation and react accordingly. As we work to
improve our nation's emergency preparedness, text messaging will become even
more essential for everyone.

HR3101 will allocate up to $10 million annually from the universal Service
Fund, into which we all pay for essential, but costly telecommunications
equipment for individuals who are deaf-blind. A woman I am acquainted with
recently received a piece of this kind of equipment and said because of it,
she was able to make a phone call, something we all take for granted, for
the first time in eight years. This woman was fortunate. Providing this
kind of basic telecommunications access to this population will decrease
isolation and expand opportunities for employment, education and social
interaction.

Finally, HR3101 will seek to standardize real time text messaging. This
will mean that services like AOL Instant Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, iChat
and others will be standardized so that users can communicate across these
services. Right now, that is not the case. If I use AIM and want to
instant message with someone using Yahoo Messenger, I cannot do that because
these services cannot talk to each other. Many in the deaf and deaf-blind
communications depend on instant messaging for all or part of their
communication needs. Again, by standardizing these services, we can
increase opportunities for employment, education and other things.

These are just a few of the reasons it is essential that you sign onto
HR3101 as a co-sponsor and do all you can to see that it is passed by the
House of Representatives. Thank you in advance for your time, and
hopefully, actions to sign onto this legislation. I will be watching what
happens very closely and contact you as necessary. Your strong
consideration is appreciated.

Sincerely,

<my name>

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