Hello Kelly,

Happy New Year, and I appreciate your candid point of
view.  What we are talking about here is accessibility
access to the web, aren’t we?

George Orwell quite appropriately examined the delicate
balance of economic power that “the elitist classes
wield for control” in his 1984, where their sole desire
is to maintain the existing status quo, versus the
deplorable plight of the oppressed [disabled] poor.
Under that scrutinizing light then, it is free Internet
Service that provides that reasonable access to web
technology that is the only option open to millions of
disabled people.  These are people whose income is only
about $500.- to $800.- per month to survive on.
Charging these people $21.95 a month or thereabouts for
this service, means they don’t eat for two or three
days.  And viewing the article on an interlinear basis,
and as “reasoning” from the tumultuous frontlines may
permit:  The ISPs referenced “are going out of business
as much as PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) on the west
coast is going out of business.”

Hitting these poverty stricken disabled hard by coercing
an up to an estimated 20% hike in their utility fees by
claiming a “trumped up power shortage”, as well as
jacking up web access service because of “loosing
profits”, is pure bunk.  And is this the understanding
of the facts, and the reason why advocates are now
calling for governmental intervention and having the PGE
books audited to ascertain the factuality of their
claims?  And in the wake of the recent Federal ruling
of “Guidelines Set for Web Accessibility”, should these
Advocates now call on Mr. Goldstein and his associate
CEOs as well, to make available and open up for
inspection their corporate Books of Account to ascertain
the factuality of their claims?  And after these facts,
when we check the ownership of those consolidated ISPs,
will we find the same names on the roster.  Including
Mr. Goldstein?

We are all caught up in the loop of corporations
merging.  And as some “reasoning” from the tumultuous
front lines may again permit me, we need to and we have
to fully consider those disabled persons who are trying
to survive day-by-day, and whose only means of access to
Technology is a free ISP with their 75 Mhz 486, or lower
grade Pentium.  These people don’t have any free choice
or option of access to “super technology” as some of
their disabled counterparts who may have fortune smile
on them, and who possibly work for institutions and
other such corporate entities that provides the
Technology.  A valid question should arise in the minds
of all logical minded persons because of this corporate
decision.  And that is:  Will Mr. Goldstein comply with
Federal Accessibility Guidelines and accommodate these
disenfranchised individuals?

From this perspective and point of view
then, “...corporations [and ISP (Internet Service
Providers)] merge, not because they are going out of
business.”  These “Corporations merge because it is more
profitable for them.”  [Economics 1A – The Corporate
Strategy] [The Global Business]

Rudy
.
.
.
> Could we have a bit of reason here.  Where did this or any CEO compare
> people with disabilities to drunks being kicked out of a bar?
>
> In case you've missed the news, Internet companies are failing right and
> left.  Is it better to have the company go out of business or to have it
> try and stay alive by examining usage patterns and cutting expenses where
> appropriate?
>
> The most humanitarian-minded person isn't going to be able to do a thing if
> the company's out of business.
>
> At 07:43 PM 1/1/01 +0000, you wrote:
> >One step forward:  And a Giant Leap backwards for
> >Technology Access?
> >
> >Anyway, while all low-income disabled persons who
> >desperately need these services are holding their
> >breath, we all want to thank you Mr. Goldstein and all
> >other humanitarian minded CEOs for your progressive
> >outlook on life ­ by comparing us disabled to “’…The
> >worst drunk customers’ ­ ‘That you are going to kick out
> >of the bar.’”
> >
> >Rudy
> >AADAA
> >.
> >.
> >.