How many here vote?

Hi.  My name is Charles Smith.  I am working with several organazations
in Illinois to help increase the voting disabled population.  I post
this both as a new person in the group and as a rabbit and happely
cavorting political activist.  If you like it please coppy it and send
it on.  

Thanks a bunch.

Chuck

_____________________________________ 
Did you know that in Illinois and through out the nation twenty five
percent of people eligible to vote are disabled? Did you also know that
less than five percent of them even bother to vote? 
There are many issues that are important to people with disabilities
such as affordable housing, Better educational opportunities for
disabled children, better enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities
act, and better assistance for those who need help to stay out of either
institutions or nursing homes. Over seventy percent of people with
disabilities are not employed and many wish to work. No Minority group
of people has been so treated in the united states. 
While Disabled people have made a great deal of progress fighting for
their rights it has been done by means close to begging. We "Educate
people" and, while that is not a bad thing, it doesn't work well enough.
What will work? It is very Simple. Get registered, go out and vote. 
Laws have been past requiring that voting places be made accessible.
Those laws can be inforced, but only if the disabled community, that
means all of us, takes action. If the Politicians see that disabled
people are a voting block they will be more likely to listen. Every
other group from those who are pro choice and anti abortion to the
members of the National Rifle association get out and vote. We should
to. 
Voting is the right of every american citizen, but rights can be
whittled away to become privileges and privileges can be taken away.