From: Al and Masha Sten-Clanton 
Subject: Re: ACB Washington Connection (fwd)
On Tue, 30 Sep 1997, Harvey Heagy wrote:
> 
> 
> Actually, the original intent of the law was to allow blind
> persons a business opportunity.  As I understand it, when you got
> to the level you wanted to be at, you were supposed to have the
> option of buying your facility from the agency and going out on
> your own, but most states have never implemented that provision
> of the act.  That's because they are making too much money on set
> asides at least those that have them.
> 
> I don't know what the reasoning was on the non payment of rent
> except that at one time, the facilities were not nearly as big as
> some of them are now.  They were not originally full fledged food
> service facilities and were little more than candy, cigarette and
> newspaper stands in their early days.
> 
> Harvey
I think what you say is quite accurate.  My suggestions have been intended
to serve as ideas for future thought and action.  As I recall, there was a
dinner about a decade ago for Jennings Randolph, who was retiring from the
Senate.  At that dinner, Jim Gashel pointed out that many blind people who
were employed would not have been but for his efforts.  Those of us who
often push for a more hard-core implementation of our philosophy should
indeed bear this in mind.  To me, this doesn't mean we should back away
from that hard-core approach.  It certainly does mean to me that we should
be careful in trying to implement it, and be willing to accept gradual
change--but it must at least be gradual.
Well, time to do a veritable Stalin on my e-mail messages!
Al
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