Free cellphones!

[KGB]

Point remains.

On government money equals free cell phone.

You working folks getting free cell phone? Free cable? Free rent? Free food?

Tell ya what... why don't you quit your job, give away all your possessions and live in a Kenmore box? THEN you can get the free phone you're so obviously jealous about.

 

[Modelworks]

The phones are not paid for with tax dollars so why are you complaining ?
It comes from the USF that is on telephone bills. People have been paying the fee on their phone bills for over 20 years. Before the cell phone it allowed people to get home phone service called lifeline service from the phone company. It is a limited service, has no long distance , only local. I think phone companies charge about $15 a month for it. Instead of only allowing that lifeline service they added cell phones. You can do one or the other but not both. It is the same payout as before. My grandmother before she died had it for years, she got about $400 social security and so she qualified for the service. Complain to your phone company if you don't like the policy, or even better the FCC.

 

[Modelworks]

It was those times that made me what I am and my personal success. I don't ever want to go back to that time again. If I can do it, anybody can. And dam straight I'm going to hoard my money so the fucking leeches can't take it. Gold/Silver is at an all time high and I've got plenty of ammo.

The only reason you made it is because someone gave you a chance to make it. There is no such thing as self made. Everyone that got anywhere got there because someone gave them the benefit of a doubt. Now that you have made it you are saying to hell with anyone else asking for that chance. What have you done to help those that are trying to make it ?

 

[spidey07]

The only reason you made it is because someone gave you a chance to make it. There is no such thing as self made. Everyone that got anywhere got there because someone gave them the benefit of a doubt. Now that you have made it you are saying to hell with anyone else asking for that chance. What have you done to help those that are trying to make it ?

Donate a ton to charity and volunteer along with professional development mentoring.

Oh, and giving everybody free cell phones, free food, free rent, free cable, free/reduced utilities, etc. apparently.

 

[Specop 007]

Given that access to telephonic communications is a basic necessity of life in the modern world, what is the difference between giving them a cheap cell phone and giving them a cash equivalent that they would use to purchase phone service? If you're opposed to welfare for the poor, then fine, but there is no reason to be more opposed to this than giving them money. Less so, actually. It's better to give them the things that are necessities than just write a check because they might spend the money on liquor, drugs, gambling or who knows what else. The false premise of this outrage is the idea that a cell phone is a luxory item, but I can guarantee that almost anyone on welfare would use this instead of paying for a landline, not in addition to.

Basic necessity?? Are you high?? You mean to tell me a cell phone is a basic necessity for life??

And this is whats wrong in the country right here people.

 

[Modelworks]

Basic necessity?? Are you high?? You mean to tell me a cell phone is a basic necessity for life??

And this is whats wrong in the country right here people.

Actually it can be. For example my grandmother was 98, lived in a rural area where the nearest home was about 2000ft from her home. She fell one day and broke her hip, laying on the bathroom floor she was lucky she had one of those life alert pendants that she could press and call for help. That requires a phone line to work. For the elderly or sick a cell phone can mean life or death.

 

[brandonb]

Basic necessity?? Are you high?? You mean to tell me a cell phone is a basic necessity for life??

And this is whats wrong in the country right here people.

Yeah no kidding.

Here are some basic necessities for life:

1) Clothing
2) Food
3) Shelter

The government provides NONE of that to me, and should not provide any more than that to anybody else.

 

[ShawnD1]

A landline costs just as much as a voice only cell phone plan. What world do you live in where landline is a basic need and a cell phone is the luxury? Even in Africa people have cell phones now, NOT landlines, because landlines are too expensive.

It's so ironic how this plays out and twists around. 12 years ago I lived with parents and had a wired computer network. Then wireless networks came out and it was so cool how you were no longer tethered down, but wireless was an expensive novelty. Now that I'm trying to rebuild a computer network and I no longer have access to my CAT6 cables, my whole network is going wireless because I can't afford to create a wired network!

This is also why much of the shit world has satellite TV instead of cable TV. Running cables is expensive as hell, but any bozo can put up a dish.

Basic necessity?? Are you high?? You mean to tell me a cell phone is a basic necessity for life??

Try getting a job without one. For every job I have ever had, the people called me in for an interview. No phone = no job.
Also remember how important it is to have voice mail. In the days before answering machines or voice mail, people literally would stay home because they expected a phone call.

 

[werepossum]

The phones are not paid for with tax dollars so why are you complaining ?
It comes from the USF that is on telephone bills. People have been paying the fee on their phone bills for over 20 years. Before the cell phone it allowed people to get home phone service called lifeline service from the phone company. It is a limited service, has no long distance , only local. I think phone companies charge about $15 a month for it. Instead of only allowing that lifeline service they added cell phones. You can do one or the other but not both. It is the same payout as before. My grandmother before she died had it for years, she got about $400 social security and so she qualified for the service. Complain to your phone company if you don't like the policy, or even better the FCC.

This is pretty much how I see it. I have a knee jerk reaction against any government giveaway, but I really have no problem paying an extra tax so that people below the poverty line (including their various government checks and bennies) can have a telephone. A cell phone is more iffy, but arguably more practical in some situations, for some people. I do get aggravated when such programs are extended to those above the poverty line though.

 

[ShawnD1]

I do get aggravated when such programs are extended to those above the poverty line though.

I've always felt the opposite. It seems like more people support social programs when those social programs cover everyone. Grade school is a good example of this. It doesn't matter if you're poor or if you're super rich, you can attend a public school and nobody will ask you to prove that you're below a certain level. Everyone qualifies for this government benefit.

On the opposite end is stuff like Medicaid. How many people hate medicaid? You earn a respectable $30,000 per year but have no health benefits. You're rich enough to pay taxes going into medicaid, you're too rich to qualify for medicaid, but you're also too poor to afford for private health insurance. What the god damn hell? It's not a shock that so many people absolutely hate medicaid. It's something you pay into and you never get anything back even if you desperately need the assistance.
In other countries like Canada or France, medicaid covers every citizen, so it's widely liked. People like social programs they pay into as long as they are able to use those programs.

So who should qualify for cheap phones that only offer basic telephone service? I say everyone. If you make 100k per year and you're fine with using a piece of shit phone, then good for you. The people who make 100k per year are the ones who fund social programs, so it only makes sense that they are able to use those social programs. True?

 

[Hacp]

Free housing, free food, free cable, free electricity, free healthcare, and now - FREE CELL PHONES!

You may have seen the adds for assurance wireless and I was suspicious thinking it was some kind of scam. But it's not. You too can get a free cell phone, paid for by other peoples money of course.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_749344.html

I'm surprised Spidey. I made a thread about this a while back. Outrageous cellphone usage. Nothing has been done to this date. We need to take back America.
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=300321&highlight=cellphone

 

[Hacp]

I've always felt the opposite. It seems like more people support social programs when those social programs cover everyone. Grade school is a good example of this. It doesn't matter if you're poor or if you're super rich, you can attend a public school and nobody will ask you to prove that you're below a certain level. Everyone qualifies for this government benefit.

On the opposite end is stuff like Medicaid. How many people hate medicaid? You earn a respectable $30,000 per year but have no health benefits. You're rich enough to pay taxes going into medicaid, you're too rich to qualify for medicaid, but you're also too poor to afford for private health insurance. What the god damn hell? It's not a shock that so many people absolutely hate medicaid. It's something you pay into and you never get anything back even if you desperately need the assistance.
In other countries like Canada or France, medicaid covers every citizen, so it's widely liked. People like social programs they pay into as long as they are able to use those programs.

So who should qualify for cheap phones that only offer basic telephone service? I say everyone. If you make 100k per year and you're fine with using a piece of shit phone, then good for you. The people who make 100k per year are the ones who fund social programs, so it only makes sense that they are able to use those social programs. True?

Except with that program, you'll pay for your phone plus your neighbors. I support the program where people who can afford phones buy them, and people who can't afford phones don't buy them.

 

[werepossum]

I've always felt the opposite. It seems like more people support social programs when those social programs cover everyone. Grade school is a good example of this. It doesn't matter if you're poor or if you're super rich, you can attend a public school and nobody will ask you to prove that you're below a certain level. Everyone qualifies for this government benefit.

On the opposite end is stuff like Medicaid. How many people hate medicaid? You earn a respectable $30,000 per year but have no health benefits. You're rich enough to pay taxes going into medicaid, you're too rich to qualify for medicaid, but you're also too poor to afford for private health insurance. What the god damn hell? It's not a shock that so many people absolutely hate medicaid. It's something you pay into and you never get anything back even if you desperately need the assistance.
In other countries like Canada or France, medicaid covers every citizen, so it's widely liked. People like social programs they pay into as long as they are able to use those programs.

So who should qualify for cheap phones that only offer basic telephone service? I say everyone. If you make 100k per year and you're fine with using a piece of shit phone, then good for you. The people who make 100k per year are the ones who fund social programs, so it only makes sense that they are able to use those social programs. True?

But if you define poverty as the lowest quintile, then applying the program to everyone raises costs at least 400%. Further, it unnecessarily adds a layer of cost (government) to 80% of the population.

I can see your point, though, especially about Medicaid. When people have a need for a service they have to fund but cannot benefit from it, it will be wildly unpopular.

 

[Jaskalas]

America, where the homeless have free phones...

 

[squirrel dog]

I have seen,held and inspected said cell phone.It's pos with pathetic coverage.I have a neighbor whose son has one.No sim chip,a kyocera elcrapo the size of a small candy bar.Not a smart phone.250 min a month,anything else triggers a bill.It's better than nothing,but that's all.Runs on Virgin Mobile.Check out their coverage map.Heinous.

 

[Jhhnn]

But if you define poverty as the lowest quintile, then applying the program to everyone raises costs at least 400%. Further, it unnecessarily adds a layer of cost (government) to 80% of the population.

I can see your point, though, especially about Medicaid. When people have a need for a service they have to fund but cannot benefit from it, it will be wildly unpopular.

Heh. It'd just change the layer from private insurance to govt, and transfer the cost from insurance to govt as well. We'd probably see a rather large net savings, overall. That's the truth for most first world countries who have socialized medicine, and precisely why they have it- lower costs & universal coverage, & populations who are largely happy to have it that way except when govt won't devote a large enough share of GDP to the proposition...

 

[spidey07]

Heh. It'd just change the layer from private insurance to govt, and transfer the cost from insurance to govt as well. We'd probably see a rather large net savings, overall. That's the truth for most first world countries who have socialized medicine, and precisely why they have it- lower costs & universal coverage, & populations who are largely happy to have it that way except when govt won't devote a large enough share of GDP to the proposition...

Not really. What all this free stuff is, is to keep the poor fucks from revolting.

I say let them revolt, because it is surely coming. That haves and the have-nots will war. Working, tax paying folks vs. the leeches. And the working folk are prepared.

Bring it.

 

[Jhhnn]

Not really. What all this free stuff is, is to keep the poor fucks from revolting.

I say let them revolt, because it is surely coming. That haves and the have-nots will war. Working, tax paying folks vs. the leeches. And the working folk are prepared.

Bring it.

You're beyond delusional. The vast majority of "leeches" would much rather have a job. There's just one catch- a worldwide near depression, thanks to the greed and over reach of America's wealthiest, thanks to the flimflam of Reaganomics, Bushonomics, and tax cuts for the wealthy extending back 30 years.

What we're experiencing is a debt/ deflation spiral, albeit a slow one thanks to govt interference. I know you'd love to make it worse, buy the house of your dreams for a pittance. It'd be interesting to see how well you'd fare when the mob came to burn you out. Not that people whose minds aren't poisoned by rightwing bullshit will let it come to that- you'll just have to pay higher taxes to avoid it, let the little guy have a little bit of what there is, help him make a go of it some way other than looting & pillaging.

Most people see it as a reasonable alternative, which is why things are the way they are.

 

[3chordcharlie]

I saw a pretty cool IBM video with an Indian businessman bragging that he was now able to provide mobile phone service in India for $0.50/month.

That's not saying it should cost the same here, but FFS, I spend more than that charging the thing.

Most of your monthly charge goes to:
1) Marketing
2) Paying off the 'free' phone you got
3) Staffing the efficient, effective Customer service hot-line
4) Paying the mortgage on the radio spectrum lease

\Oh, that does suggest that these phones may in fact be very, very cheap to provide; probably a good investment just so folks have a phone number they can put at the top of their resume.

 

[spidey07]

I'll be just fine. Bring it.

 

[Jhhnn]

I'll be just fine. Bring it.

Straight for the Bunker O' Denial, blind in every way.

 

[jackschmittusa]

spidey07

So, are you going to help out your grandparents if they fall on hard times, or just let them become "leeches" and shun them?

Your parents?

Your kids?

If your employer goes belly up or gets bought out by another company and they kick you to the curb, will you decline any government assistance or become a "leech", sucking at the government tit? Remember, many employers currently won't consider an unemployed person for a job.

 

[Fear No Evil]

I saw a pretty cool IBM video with an Indian businessman bragging that he was now able to provide mobile phone service in India for $0.50/month.

That's not saying it should cost the same here, but FFS, I spend more than that charging the thing.

Most of your monthly charge goes to:
1) Marketing
2) Paying off the 'free' phone you got
3) Staffing the efficient, effective Customer service hot-line
4) Paying the mortgage on the radio spectrum lease

\Oh, that does suggest that these phones may in fact be very, very cheap to provide; probably a good investment just so folks have a phone number they can put at the top of their resume.

Resume? They need a computer for that. What good is a computer without internet? Can't print a resume without a printer.. add that on.. can't go to an interview without a suit.. Can't be slumming it to an interview in a bus, should probably throw in a car.. cars don't run on rainbows, throw in a free gas card... cars break down, some free maintenance would be useful. Can't make it to work reliably without a properly maintained car. Not likely going to do well in the interview without a college education, should probably throw that in as well. Can't learn without books and a laptop. Laptop not very useful without Windows and Office and maybe some built in 4G. Can't really learn without a good healthy breakfast, some food coupons should be provided. Can't concentrate on learning when your 4 kids are bugging you all day, should probably provide them with daycare. Have to make sure you don't have any more kids, probably some free contraception would be a good idea. Need to make sure the family stays healthy, some free healthcare will work. Can't be all work and no play, we should probably provide a check for some entertainment and recreation.

Cradle to grave...

 

[Fear No Evil]

spidey07

So, are you going to help out your grandparents if they fall on hard times, or just let them become "leeches" and shun them?

Your parents?

Your kids?

If your employer goes belly up or gets bought out by another company and they kick you to the curb, will you decline any government assistance or become a "leech", sucking at the government tit? Remember, many employers currently won't consider an unemployed person for a job.

We're spending damn near 4 trillion dollars a year. We can't provide basic assistance to people for 4 trillion? How much more do we need to spend? 8 trillion? 10? 20 trillion a year?

 

[spidey07]

Resume? They need a computer for that. What good is a computer without internet? Can't print a resume without a printer.. add that on.. can't go to an interview without a suit.. Can't be slumming it to an interview in a bus, should probably throw in a car.. cars don't run on rainbows, throw in a free gas card... cars break down, some free maintenance would be useful. Can't make it to work reliably without a properly maintained car. Not likely going to do well in the interview without a college education, should probably throw that in as well. Can't learn without books and a laptop. Laptop not very useful without Windows and Office and maybe some built in 4G. Can't really learn without a good healthy breakfast, some food coupons should be provided. Can't concentrate on learning when your 4 kids are bugging you all day, should probably provide them with daycare. Have to make sure you don't have any more kids, probably some free contraception would be a good idea. Need to make sure the family stays healthy, some free healthcare will work. Can't be all work and no play, we should probably provide a check for some entertainment and recreation.

Cradle to grave...

You say that somewhat jokingly, but it really is how the mind of a liberal works, it's what they honestly believe.