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US court: Paper money discriminates against blind
Yahoo ^

Posted on 05/20/2008 7:56:57 AM PDT by Sub-Driver

US court: Paper money discriminates against blind

23 minutes ago

A federal appeals court says paper money discriminates against blind people.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has upheld a ruling that could force the U.S. to redesign its money so blind people can distinguish between values.

Such changes could include making bills different sizes, including raised markings or printing oversized numbers for people who see poorly.

The appeals court ruled 2-1 on Tuesday that the U.S. didn't explain why such changes would be an unreasonable burden, especially since many other countries have done so.


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1 posted on 05/20/2008 7:56:58 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
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To: Sub-Driver

Two words:

Re Tarded.


2 posted on 05/20/2008 7:58:28 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: Sub-Driver

I know a blind woman who can tell the difference in bills simply by touch. Don’t ask me how, but she has no problems at all.


3 posted on 05/20/2008 7:59:27 AM PDT by mnehrling (We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.)
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To: Sub-Driver

If you pass a law requiring “reasonable accomadation”, you better practice reasonable accomodation. And if you think something would be unreasonable, you better be able to make that case to a judge.

In this case, the government appears to have failed to show how it would be too hard or too unreasonable to make our money easier for blind people.

If they don’t like it, congress can change the law.


4 posted on 05/20/2008 7:59:33 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT (Green, but not gullible)
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To: Sub-Driver

What ignorant sluts.


5 posted on 05/20/2008 7:59:42 AM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: Sub-Driver

So, I guess the bigger denominations discriminate against poor people?


6 posted on 05/20/2008 8:00:14 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Sub-Driver
The appeals court ruled 2-1 on Tuesday that the U.S. didn't explain why such changes would be an unreasonable burden, especially since many other countries have done so.

A major problem with the USA today: we try to measure our success by what "other countries" do...so many, including Supreme Court justices, want us to COPY other nations--a losing proposition for liberty.

7 posted on 05/20/2008 8:00:58 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: Sub-Driver

So up until this point no blind person in the USA could buy anything with paper money? I highly doubt that.

Besides... there’s always plastic.


8 posted on 05/20/2008 8:01:01 AM PDT by pnh102 (Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
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To: SoFloFreeper

We could encode the money so it can be read by a scanner. Then we could take the printing off the bills altogether.

Of course, then couldn’t read the bill to see what it’s value was. But you wouldn’t care right — that woudl be Re Tarded.

/sarc


9 posted on 05/20/2008 8:01:36 AM PDT by CharlesWayneCT (Green, but not gullible)
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To: Sub-Driver
Such changes could include making bills different sizes, including raised markings or printing oversized numbers for people who see poorly.

Well, they are already putting bigger numbers on the back. Just look at how big the 5 is on recent $5 bills. Maybe as a reasonable accommodation the government could also distribute metal disks as money which can be told apart by their size and edge ridges.

I'm just waiting for an ADA lawsuit against newspapers for discriminating against the blind.

10 posted on 05/20/2008 8:02:11 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Pray for Rattendaemmerung: the final mutually destructive battle between Obama and Hillary in Denver)
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To: KarlInOhio

...or the illiterate.


11 posted on 05/20/2008 8:03:52 AM PDT by dr.zaeus
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To: Sub-Driver

I guess it will all have to be re-printed in braille?


12 posted on 05/20/2008 8:04:17 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia (Rush on McCain: "We're so screwed.")
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To: Sub-Driver

Newspapers, magazines, billboards, pedestrian signals, voting booths etc. discriminate against the blind. I guess its time to redesign the whole country to give everybody that warm-fuzzy feeling.


13 posted on 05/20/2008 8:04:51 AM PDT by ConservaTexan (February 6, 1911)
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To: Sub-Driver
the U.S. didn't explain why such changes would be an unreasonable burden, especially since many other countries have done so.

So, if many other countries have already explained why this would be an unreasonable burden, then it shouldn't be difficult for the U.S. to do so as well.

14 posted on 05/20/2008 8:05:28 AM PDT by Jess Kitting
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To: Sub-Driver
Blindness descriminates against the blind.

Should we all blind ourselves to level the proverbial playing field?

15 posted on 05/20/2008 8:05:28 AM PDT by bannie (clintons CHEAT! It's their only weapon.; & Barry/Barack has two faces.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Is there someway we can have a class action lawsuit, take the Government to court, prove it’s an unreasonable burden to people, and make it dissolve itself?


16 posted on 05/20/2008 8:06:09 AM PDT by Pravious
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To: CharlesWayneCT

You are right: it is Congress’ fault for imposing a slew of Federal “equal opportunity” laws whose scope is potentially unlimited and certainly unfunded. The meaning of “discrimination” has been warped beyond all meaning for a long time now, and ironically so, as far too many people are now unable to discriminate between intelligence and stupidity.


17 posted on 05/20/2008 8:06:25 AM PDT by andy58-in-nh (Peace Is Not The Question.)
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To: Sub-Driver

And it was only the sighted people who complained about the dollar coins.. Go figure.


18 posted on 05/20/2008 8:06:45 AM PDT by vietvet67
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To: SoFloFreeper

US Law has always taken into account what is going on abroad in other civilised countries. The so called ‘M’Naghten Rules’ by which a defendent can not be held accountable for murder due to insantity was adopted by the US states in the 1840s and is still the standard used in most US states to this day. Look it up. It’s interesting.

Besides, I don’t see what the problem is making different denominations different sizes so the blind can tell them apart more easily. It isn’t going to make any difference to your life, but it would make a blind person’s life a hell of a lot easier and less dependent on other people’s honesty...


19 posted on 05/20/2008 8:08:47 AM PDT by thundrey
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To: Sub-Driver
How about age discrimination?? For starters...I am tired of being subjected to loud talentless noise misnomered “music” in restaurants.
20 posted on 05/20/2008 8:10:42 AM PDT by Notasoccermom
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To: Sub-Driver

“Paper money discriminates against blind.”

Paper money discriminates against the poor.

I think that judges have nothing else to do than to create havoc in this nation.


21 posted on 05/20/2008 8:11:02 AM PDT by 353FMG (What marxism and fascism could not destroy, liberalism did.)
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To: Sub-Driver
And braille discriminates against the fingerless.
22 posted on 05/20/2008 8:11:05 AM PDT by SampleMan (We are a free and industrious people, socialist nannies do not become us.)
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To: pissant
The handicapped (unacceptable term these days) are no longer disadvantaged, challenged or well, handicapped. They are just like everyone else and we will change the way we do everything to prove it.

OR ... we could just recognize that there will always be citizens among us that need a little assistance with everyday tasks and help them out as much as we can. What a concept!

23 posted on 05/20/2008 8:11:54 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde ("When the government fears the people there is liberty ... " Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Sub-Driver

Oh, for God’s sake! Aren’t there a few more important issues than this?


24 posted on 05/20/2008 8:12:52 AM PDT by Redleg Duke ("All gave some, and some gave all!")
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To: dr.zaeus

Exactly. My first thought when I read this article was how we were going to accomodate those just too darned ignorant to tell bills apart. It’s coming ... bet on it.


25 posted on 05/20/2008 8:15:04 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde ("When the government fears the people there is liberty ... " Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Sub-Driver

“Paper” money discriminates against us all.................


26 posted on 05/20/2008 8:15:04 AM PDT by Red Badger ( We don't have science, but we do have consensus.......)
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To: 353FMG
You're right. Some judges just have too much time on their hands. See below.

Congressman Billybob

Latest article, "King George Wears a Black Robe"

27 posted on 05/20/2008 8:16:58 AM PDT by Congressman Billybob ( www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: Sub-Driver

And radio discriminates against the deaf. Radio must now provide written text for the deaf. Everything that the announcer says must be printed out and come out of the radio - we can’t discriminate!

And cars discriminate against the blind. Cars must now be driveable by the blind, with Braille markings on the shift and steering wheel.

Here’s one to think of. Putting Braille markings on paper money will very rapidly be followed by criminals pressing those markings out of the money and creating NEW Braille markings with the WRONG denomination. Thus the blind will be defrauded.


28 posted on 05/20/2008 8:19:16 AM PDT by Leftism is Mentally Deranged (liberalism is a serious mental disturbance)
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To: Sub-Driver

May I be the first to suggest “Talking Money”? You pull it out of your wallet and a little chip in it shouts “I’m a five...I’m a five...I’m a five...” Kind of like the talking greeting cards...Of course, it would make theives jobs easier, they just have to listen for an opportunity...then it also discriminates against the deaf...oh well, money talks but “you know what” walks...


29 posted on 05/20/2008 8:19:43 AM PDT by Preech1 (Bill the Cat in '08...this time, why not the worst!)
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To: Sub-Driver
Paper Money discriminates against EVERYONE!

For one thing it takes us for fools for it is an oxymoron...if it's paper, it ain't money.

At one time in America the "certificates" were redeemable for Silver...now they are not certificates, they are "notes" from a phony "bank" and are irredeemable so they literally have less value than the cost of producing them.

30 posted on 05/20/2008 8:21:01 AM PDT by Positive (Nothing is sadder than to see a beautiful theory murdered by a gang of brutal facts.)
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To: Sub-Driver

Who sued on this case and why did they have standing in the Fed courts?

Lots of good lawsuits get thrown out because the court says there is no standing.


31 posted on 05/20/2008 8:21:51 AM PDT by edcoil
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To: rightwingintelligentsia

I’ve often wondered why the drive up ATMs at my local bank have braille on them for the slots where the card goes, the deposits go in and the cash come out.

Of course, the rest of the machine is a touch screen.

Plus, it’s a drive up ATM.

But I guess it’s in accordance with some law somewhere.


32 posted on 05/20/2008 8:22:37 AM PDT by Breyean
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To: CharlesWayneCT

Better get car manufacturers to stop discriminating against blind drivers too.

The man in Monty Python’s Life of Brian cannot bear a baby because he has no womb, that is certainly not through any oppression by the Romans on the Peoples Front Of Judia.


33 posted on 05/20/2008 8:24:47 AM PDT by weegee (We cant keep our homes on 72 at all times & just expect that other countries are going to say OK -BO)
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To: thundrey

Yeah, I disagree with setting our laws by what other nations do.

I KNOW we don’t need courts telling us how to print money. They aren’t given that power in the Constitution.


34 posted on 05/20/2008 8:26:07 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: KarlInOhio

There IS money that can be determined by the blind (coinage up to 1 dollar). This’ll be another excuse to print even more play money and to encourage us to shift to e-money.


35 posted on 05/20/2008 8:26:16 AM PDT by weegee (We cant keep our homes on 72 at all times & just expect that other countries are going to say OK -BO)
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To: Preech1
then it also discriminates against the deaf...

You mean the blind and deaf (Hellen Kellers) QFT!

36 posted on 05/20/2008 8:26:21 AM PDT by John123 (Obama said that he has been in 57 states. I will now light myself on fire...)
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To: ConservaTexan
Newspapers, magazines, billboards, pedestrian signals, voting booths etc. discriminate against the blind. I guess its time to redesign the whole country to give everybody that warm-fuzzy feeling.

good point. The whole seeing world is in a conspiracy to keep things from the blind.

37 posted on 05/20/2008 8:27:05 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

Let’s use this to our advantage then. Spending public money on “art” and fancy architecture is discriminatory to the blind. End art financing.


38 posted on 05/20/2008 8:27:46 AM PDT by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: Sub-Driver

Paper money discriminates against me too! I just can’t get it to come to my wallet, even for a visit. Oh, sure maybe a one will show for a ‘hello’ but the really important guys never come around, you know, the ‘fiftys and hundreds’. I’ve tried to make friends with them but they all say they’ve hired out to someone else. (huge sigh)
If any of you have any old worn and useless paper monies about just send them to my house where they will treated as welcome strangers. thanks.


39 posted on 05/20/2008 8:30:15 AM PDT by count-your-change (you don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: Sub-Driver

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has upheld a ruling that could force the U.S. to redesign its money so blind people can distinguish between values.....

And why the hell not?....It’s only taxpayer money being flushed to pay for it!


40 posted on 05/20/2008 8:31:39 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: weegee
This’ll be another excuse to print even more play money and to encourage us to shift to e-money.

They needed an excuse?

As for your latter comment...


41 posted on 05/20/2008 8:32:23 AM PDT by WVKayaker ( "Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome..." I. Asimov)
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To: Larry Lucido; Cagey; MotleyGirl70; Gamecock; Rb ver. 2.0

LLOYD BRAUN: I’ll run in and get the gum.

JERRY: Alright.

LLOYD: Got any money?

Jerry digs his wallet out of his pocket. He opens it and extracts a bill. He peers at it, trying to work out what denomination it is, but the glasses are still too strong.

JERRY: (handing it over) Here.

/snip

LLOYD: Yeah. A hundred dollar’s worth.

JERRY: (incredulous) I gave you a hundred dollars?!


42 posted on 05/20/2008 8:43:13 AM PDT by Mr. Brightside
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To: pissant

I’m all for your idea, but instead of ending public monies for art, they would probably argue for a whole new funding program for ‘tactile’ art so that the blind could be equally served. It is a crazy world.


43 posted on 05/20/2008 8:44:05 AM PDT by JustaDumbBlonde ("When the government fears the people there is liberty ... " Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Mr. Brightside

ROFL!


44 posted on 05/20/2008 9:01:31 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: AngelesCrestHighway
Ok this thread needs a counterpoint so here goes:

I have to keep a stash of euros as I am over in Euroland quite abit. The larger the note the more face-value. Even for an able visioned person like myself it is nice to have that reinforcement that I am handing over the correct amount.

I don't mind having different sized bills in my clip.

As long as there is a PHASED-IN period where the new bills replace aging ones (they have a short half-life anyway) this is no big deal.

All the ani-counterfitting tech is immediately transferable.

They can have a contest for artsy bills and that could be fun and CHEAP.

45 posted on 05/20/2008 9:04:02 AM PDT by corkoman
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To: Sub-Driver
The appeals court ruled 2-1 on Tuesday that the U.S. didn't explain why such changes would be an unreasonable burden

Perhaps it wasn't explained since Captain Obvious had another engagement that day.

46 posted on 05/20/2008 9:05:09 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Just because you're running for President doesn't mean that you are the center of the universe")
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To: Sub-Driver

Threads from the original ruling:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1745375/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1747164/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1745521/posts


47 posted on 05/20/2008 9:07:19 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (You are receiving this broadcast as a dream)
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To: Leftism is Mentally Deranged
And drive-through ATMs are already ahead of the curve!
48 posted on 05/20/2008 9:08:17 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("Just because you're running for President doesn't mean that you are the center of the universe")
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To: mnehrling
I know a blind woman who can tell the difference in bills simply by touch. Don’t ask me how, but she has no problems at all.

Same here. The guy I knew actually ran a cash register at Penn State.

49 posted on 05/20/2008 9:10:22 AM PDT by chopperman
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To: All

This is almost too stupid to comment on. The courts have at last arrived at the point where legislatures are now. So few things left to regulate and criminalize that imaginations are feverishly working overtime to come up with anything - ANYTHING - to rule on, forget how childish and ludicrous it may be.


50 posted on 05/20/2008 9:14:15 AM PDT by DPMD (~)
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