Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!David.Andrews From: David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: Pending Expulsion from NFB Message-ID: <17579@bunker.UUCP> Date: 4 Feb 91 17:19:00 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA Lines: 60 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 13460 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] / DA>> The vending machines which the NFB is placing around the DA>> country dispense gum balls, peanuts etc. These are small DA>> change items which certainly aren't going to threaten the DA>> income of any blind vendor. This is another case of mis- DA>> information and everyone assuming the worst about the NFB! WW> David, WW> Excuse me, but why do you say this is misinformation??? WW> Frankly, I've tried to remain as neutral in this whole NFB WW> thing as possible, but Grant's saying that the NFB is WW> putting vending machines in the same buildings as vending WW> stand operators, and that it would affect the incomes of those WW> vending machine operators, can't possibly be referred to as WW> "misinformation", because by your own response to him, I can WW> see it is a fact! You don't seem to be catching all the mail WW> here anymore, but I believe Loretta Trees just left a message WW> describing her operation of a "Dry Stand", in which she WW> handles exactly the type of items you say are present in the WW> NFB machines! Even if it wern't for this fact, how can you WW> possibly be so presumptious as to judge what is and what is WW> not a substantial portion of a vending stand operators WW> income!!! For some reason, I can see the NFB position to be WW> just the opposite if it were they who ran the vending stands WW> and someone came into their domain with machines!!! Then I WW> would guess the cry would be "a single penny taken from our WW> operator's hands is too much!" WW> Then again David, I don't ever expect to see a loyal NFB WW> member to post here that the NFB may have made a mistake, nor WW> does anyone else I bet. That's ok, and actually, I appreciate WW> the loyalty the NFB seems to continue to be able to foster in WW> its membership, but for sure, the tactic of attaching words WW> like "misinformation" to anything disagreeing with NFB policy WW> isn't going to work here to camoflouge the truth! Willie, I think to a certain extent we both are making different assumptions which are widening the distance between our points. The machines which are installed on our behalf are ones where you put in a coin and receive a few peanuts or M&M's into your hand directly. They are not regular candy machines that dispense a wide variety of pre-packaged candy. You say that I am presumptuous making assumptions about what is a major portion of someone's income. Maybe so, but I find it difficult to believe that this machine would threaten a blind vendor. Secondly, every vendor signs an agreement to operate in a given location which specifies what kinds of activities can go on in the building, other vending machines, etc. I believe that our machines are placed and operated by commercial vending machine companies. They should of course go through proper channels, and if they haven't, then the machines shopuld be removed. You and others seem to be implying that the NFB is directly going in and threatening the income of blind vendors. I don't believe that this is the case. ... Your Sound Alternative -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!David.Andrews Internet: David.Andrews@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org