While I have no intention of starting a political discussion as to which
organization is the best one for the blind as there are members of both on
this list, Handiham would do well to learn from the lesson of N.F.B.  The
N.F.B. also became totally obsessed with government money.  Now it is
totally ineffective as an advocate.  It is now accepting money from the very
agencies it will sooner or later have to confront in its advocacy role
assuming there is any left.  So at best its integrity as an advocate for the
blind is severely compromised.  And at worst, and the way I see it most
likely, it has chosen to totally trash its posture as a consumer advocate
because it has wanted to get out of the advocacy business for years opting
instead for government money which largely built its needless new building.
Harvey