The right to a cell phone

Rebel Yell · Nov 10, 2009 09:08 PM

SAFELINK WIRELESS®

SAFELINK WIRELESS® service is U.S. government supported program for Income eligible households provided by TracFone Wireless, Inc. In order to participate in the SAFELINK WIRELESS® service, persons must meet certain eligibility requirements set by each State where the service is to be provided. These requirements are based on a person’s participation in a state or Federal support programs or by meeting the Income Poverty Guidelines as defined by the U.S. Government. SAFELINK WIRELESS® service is limited to one person per household.

"TracFone Wireless believes that cell phone ownership is a right. . ." Quoted from their page; https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enr.../about_us.aspx You have GOT to be kidding me . . .

Health care is a right, now cell phones are a right? I would laugh, but this is just too sad. I look forward to the indication that this too, is in the Constitution.

"The cell phone is NOT subsidize by the federal government and is provided by TracFone to the customer at no cost." Sponsored by the FCC. I am going to have to follow the money on this one.

*tntrn* · Nov 10, 2009, 09:25 PM

You couldn't make this stuff up. I think I have the right to longer legs, and and hair color I don't have to pay for. Where, pray tell, in the Constitution, is that? Hahahaha!

*Spidey's mom* · Nov 10, 2009, 09:35 PM

Hmmm . . I'd like the right to no more gray hair, no more cellulite and body fat, and no more cell phone bills.

I'll stop there . .. .

steph

*Grace Oz* · Nov 10, 2009, 09:48 PM

Wonder if they'd pay for us aussie's to have mobile phones too?

GCTMT · Nov 11, 2009, 04:47 AM

It provides a limited number of minutes, 68 per month, incoming and outgoing.

It's not a right, like health care. Honestly, comparing this to health care is silly. But it is important.

Lifeline and Link-Up are government subsized services and something we (the taxpayers) have funded for home telephone lines for the very needy since 2005.

I think it's a good idea, with one condition. The people who get this benefit and are unemployed should make an honest effort to use the phone to secure employment. It's pretty difficult to find a job without a phone and transportation.

*Grace Oz* · Nov 11, 2009, 04:59 AM

[quote][I think it's a good idea, with one condition. The people who get this benefit and are unemployed should make an honest effort to use the phone to secure employment. It's pretty difficult to find a job without a phone and transportation. /QUOTE]

It might be difficult, but it's possible. People all over the world,- including myself a long time ago,- have done so and continue to do it everyday.

Before mobile phones became the "norm", most ordinary people used either private home phones or public phones. We caught buses, trains and other forms of public transport.

I'm all for helping people, but there needs to be caution in just how much help is given lest the incentive to pursue things for ourselves is eroded.

Rebel Yell · Nov 11, 2009, 08:35 AM

"It's not a right, like health care."

Health care is not a right, it is a privilege, and since we live in a country with an economy such as ours, we have the privilege of offering it to all.

*HeyJude* · Nov 11, 2009, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by Rebel Yell

Health care is not a right, it is a privilege, and since we live in a country with an economy such as ours, we have the privilege of offering it to all.

The ED, right? I'm sure ED nurses nationwide are glad.

When you say healthcare is a privilege, you are de facto restricting it to those who are 'privileged' enough to pay for good healthcare, whether they actually earned that money or not.

Comparing this to cell phones is one of the more ridiculous things I've heard this week.

**VickyRN** · Nov 11, 2009, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by HeyJude

The ED, right? I'm sure ED nurses nationwide are glad.

When you say healthcare is a privilege, you are de facto restricting it to those who are 'privileged' enough to pay for good healthcare, whether they actually earned that money or not.

Comparing this to cell phones is one of the more ridiculous things I've heard this week.

It's not a comparison, per se, just another indicator of the ridiculous sense of entitlement that has swept our nation over the past 30 years or so. Sad thing is, those of us who are still working will be paying for this nonsense.

**Elvish** · Nov 11, 2009, 10:26 AM

I see a huge difference between ensuring that everyone has access to a cellphone and ensuring that everyone has access to decent healthcare.

Government spending for cellphones is a stupid expenditure. Spending to make sure citizens have decent access to healthcare is not. The latter to me isn't a ridiculous sense of entitlement.

The right to a cell phone

The right to a cell phone

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