The UN Disability Vote Is Soon - GOP Out in Force

[otohara]

It was hard to find many liberal sites asking folks to call senators - mean while the right is set to derail this, just like everything else. They fear we will lose our sovereignty?????

Even when the United Nations sets out to do the right thing, it can count on a skeptical response in the U.S. That's happening now, as the Senate prepares to consider a U.N. treaty upholding the rights of people with disabilities.

The treaty is based on existing U.S. law. Its advocates argue convincingly that nothing in the U.S. would need to change as a result of the treaty's adoption. It would not affect the federal budget in any significant way. It would not raise costs in schools or workplaces.

It would, however, bring about significant changes abroad. The treaty, already ratified by more than 100 nations, seeks to establish international standards based on practices pioneered in the U.S. It provides a framework for countries to enact and enforce legislation that enables those with disabilities to live more independently, with greater dignity.

Ratifying this treaty would show that the U.S. remains committed to lead on access for the disabled. The U.S. has been leading since Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990. Though there was great concern at the time about the cost of implementing the ADA, the law has helped to establish that providing access to the disabled is good for society ... and good for commerce. More than 50 million Americans, and an estimated 10 percent of the world population, live with disabilities.

The wheelchair ramps, sidewalk cutouts and handicapped parking that have become part of the landscape in the U.S. are practically unknown in many parts of the world. Disabled Americans traveling overseas often encounter severe obstacles. In developing countries, children with disabilities go without even simple accommodations.http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-disability-1204-jm-20121204,0,4272312.story

[otohara]

1. Chirp Chirp Chirp

WTF

[BlueToTheBone]

2. why are they so against this?

None of their arguments make sense (on any subject for that matter.)

[otohara]

3. They Hate The UN More Than They Care

about us disabled folks who on occasion travel to other countries where it's virtually impossible to get around.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. Oh please, please....

They hate the UN more than they love mother's milk. There is no UN resolution that this nitwits would endorse.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. It seems pretty innocuous to me

Leave to the the right-wing to make something sinister out of it. I heard that Rick Santorum, who has a child with disabilities, weighed in AGAINST this? Not that I care much but what did Sarah Palin think of it, given that she has a child with disabilities as well?

[mstinamotorcity2]

6. Those Ridiculously Ignorant Republicans...

Have not learned a DAMN thing since the election. They do not give a flying f--k that they seem like the most intrangient people in the World!!! Who in their RIGHT MIND Votes against people with Dis-abilities?? WHO??? Silly Republicans thats WHO!!!! They look like absolut assholes. This does follow their way of doing things after all Medicaid is used to help families with disabled children and adults. And they are forever talking about Slashing Medicaid. Me myself I love it. This will be more people who join the Dems or call themselves Independents. They are so ridiculously ignorant that they were feed the numbers on how many people this treaty would embrace (650 million worldwide), and because of their respect for math, they could not see that they were going against 650 million people. Part of that their own base. I LOVE it!!! I told you they were ridiculously ignorant.