Federal appeals court judges expressed their worries about the fact that blind people are not able to distinguish between a $50 bill and a $1 bill. The judges, however, still hesitate on forcing the redesign of the U.S. currency.

The case rose after a judge stated that the government discriminated against sightless people because it keeps the banknotes in the same color, shape and texture. Although the judge gave several days to the Treasury Department to start solving the issue, while appeals play out, the question regarding changes still remained withheld.

"Where does this stop? Are postage stamps illegal? Government Web sites? When mail carriers leave handwritten notes on front doors, are they discriminating against blind people? The National Gallery is having a Hopper exhibit. Those paintings, do they violate the Rehabilitation Act" Judge A. Raymond Randolph argued.

Judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit expressed their concerns regarding the consequences of the change, thus they did not rule right away.

The Rehabilitation Act, which was passed back in 1973, forbids the discrimination against people with disabilities in government programs. However, this law is quite indistinct about what it covered. According to Jeffrey A. Lovitky, who works as an attorney for the American Council of the Blind and who brought the lawsuit, both postage stamps and government Web sites are surely covered by the law, however currency is not clearly identified in it. "Congress has had many opportunities to do exactly what you're asking us to do and they said 'No,' " mentioned Judge Thomas B. Griffith.

The problem seems to be troublesome even among advocacy groups. The attorney representing the interests of National Federation of the Blind, Scott C. LaBarre, who is blind, sided in court together with the government. He stated that blind people have more important problems.

"No regulation can make a blind person see. No law can make me see the bill, see the postage stamp or see the federal building," he outlined.