Why do the poor deserve obamaphones?

[Irongrip400]

What is the reason, besides buying votes? Do these people realize that they are just making people less likely to go out and work?  When these people all decide to quit their jobs, or just not work, who is left to foot the bill for everything else?  The working man?  I would like a leftist view on these welfare programs, sell me on this please.

[avxo]

What is the reason, besides buying votes? Do these people realize that they are just making people less likely to go out and work?  When these people all decide to quit their jobs, or just not work, who is left to foot the bill for everything else?  The working man?  I would like a leftist view on these welfare programs, sell me on this please.

What's an Obamaphone? I don't think I've heard the term before.

[Irongrip400]

What's an Obamaphone? I don't think I've heard the term before.

Free govt cell phones. Sorry for the colloquialism.

[Straw Man]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/cellphone.asp

[240 is Back]

i bet they all light up on election day with text reminders to vote Obama so you can keep your damn phone

[Irongrip400]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/cellphone.asp

Ok, I read it, what I want to ask is why do welfare recipients deserve a phone. I call it an obamaphone because it happened under his watch, and it seems he is a little more inclined to "help" the poor. Anyway, do you think people should get a free phone?

[tu_holmes]

Ok, I read it, what I want to ask is why do welfare recipients deserve a phone. I call it an obamaphone because it happened under his watch, and it seems he is a little more inclined to "help" the poor. Anyway, do you think people should get a free phone?

Apparently, you did not read it... It happened under Ronald Reagan's watch.

That's what the article says.

[avxo]

Ok, I read it, what I want to ask is why do welfare recipients deserve a phone. I call it an obamaphone because it happened under his watch, and it seems he is a little more inclined to "help" the poor.

I think it's fairly obvious from the snopes article that Obama had nothing to do with it. Calling it Obamaphone and making Obama responsible seems a bit disingenous. I've never understood the penchant that people have for attributing to Obama things which demonstrably aren't his fault. It's not as if he doesn't have enough things that he should be held accountable for and which actually do have his fingerprints on them.

Anyway, do you think people should get a free phone?

That depends on who's giving the phone. Do I think that people should be entitled to a free phone courtesy of the government? No.

Apparently, you did not read it... It happened under Ronald Reagan's watch.

That's what the article says.

Not quite - the programs under Reagan were for wireline phone service. Not that the wire (or lack thereof) is a big differentiator.

[Irongrip400]

Apparently, you did not read it... It happened under Ronald Reagan's watch.

That's what the article says.

Spin it anyway you want, I never saw commercials for it until a few years ago. Especially with the commercial where the black woman talks about her phone being cut off and she exclaims "it's my cousins fault". It's Lmost like whoever did the marketing was patronizing blacks. Again, I just question the policies of a government that keeps on giving handouts without anything in return. I'm sorry, but my wife and I do okay, and I see what is paid in taxes and it pisses me off that there are programs that take my money and give it to those who do nothing but be born and breed. 2010, the last year I was single I paid $43,000 in taxes, now how is that fair that I pay so much, and others get free phones etc. I will now retract my obamaphone euphamism and call it what it is, a welfare phone.

[tu_holmes]

Spin it anyway you want, I never saw commercials for it until a few years ago. Especially with the commercial where the black woman talks about her phone being cut off and she exclaims "it's my cousins fault". It's Lmost like whoever did the marketing was patronizing blacks. Again, I just question the policies of a government that keeps on giving handouts without anything in return. I'm sorry, but my wife and I do okay, and I see what is paid in taxes and it pisses me off that there are programs that take my money and give it to those who do nothing but be born and breed. 2010, the last year I was single I paid $43,000 in taxes, now how is that fair that I pay so much, and others get free phones etc. I will now retract my obamaphone euphamism and call it what it is, a welfare phone.

That's a fair enough statement.

I don't see how there is any right to a phone what so ever... Phone companies already allow for emergency services on ANY Cell phone. (Land Lines as well)

Even one you can buy for a penny.

[Skip8282]

Spin it anyway you want, I never saw commercials for it until a few years ago. Especially with the commercial where the black woman talks about her phone being cut off and she exclaims "it's my cousins fault". It's Lmost like whoever did the marketing was patronizing blacks. Again, I just question the policies of a government that keeps on giving handouts without anything in return. I'm sorry, but my wife and I do okay, and I see what is paid in taxes and it pisses me off that there are programs that take my money and give it to those who do nothing but be born and breed. 2010, the last year I was single I paid $43,000 in taxes, now how is that fair that I pay so much, and others get free phones etc. I will now retract my obamaphone euphamism and call it what it is, a welfare phone.

A landline...maybe for like emergency stuff.

A cell phone...absolutely not!   Landlines work just fine.

[OzmO]

A landline...maybe for like emergency stuff.

A cell phone...absolutely not!   Landlines work just fine.

Agreed, why our government is subsidizing cell phones is beyond me.   More evidence of how we can trim fat. 

[240 is Back]

Agreed, why our government is subsidizing cell phones is beyond me.   More evidence of how we can trim fat. 

we actually had a great discussion on how govt issued phones can help inspire commerce, save lives, and CONNECT people - thus leading to increased productivity & tax payer dollars coming in.

I dont like the govt subsidizing things, but there are a LOT of things (like ball washing programs) that I'd slash before I'd cut communication devices.   They're so cheap and deliver SO much productivity and better use of time for americans.

[ritch]

So they can deal drugs more efficiently

pretty sure everyone of them phones are tapped! Nice try Obama...

[240 is Back]

pretty sure everyone of them phones are tapped! Nice try Obama...

that's an interesting proposition - free phones, but law enforcement has ability to monitor them and use them against you in trial.

if you're just using them for emergencies, for needing a ride, for flirting, for job interviews, then you have nothing to worry about, right? 

If you don't like it and don't agree with the terms, then pay for your own #$&@#^$&^# cell phone.

[ritch]

^^^ true enough about the terms and not liking them.

[Roger Bacon]

So they can deal drugs more efficiently

 

[Skip8282]

we actually had a great discussion on how govt issued phones can help inspire commerce, save lives, and CONNECT people - thus leading to increased productivity & tax payer dollars coming in.

I dont like the govt subsidizing things, but there are a LOT of things (like ball washing programs) that I'd slash before I'd cut communication devices.   They're so cheap and deliver SO much productivity and better use of time for americans.

Saving lives = fine.

Connect people = not the governments job.

Inspire commerce = any proof or studies that there's any real impact?

[Shockwave]

Saving lives = fine.

Connect people = not the governments job.

Inspire commerce = any proof or studies that there's any real impact?

They inspire commerce through drug deals.
Lots of tax revenue and money flowing back into the economy from drug dealers.

[Skip8282]

They inspire commerce through drug deals.
Lots of tax revenue and money flowing back into the economy from drug dealers.

[Shockwave]

Have they stopped beating up random passers by of different races and taking their phones or something?  Arent poor black neighborhoods the most racist places in the usa?  Non aggresive other races cannot even walk into those neighborhoods without being subjected to violence.  Yes, lets give this group more free things. 

Racist.

[Soul Crusher]

Have they stopped beating up random passers by of different races and taking their phones or something?  Arent poor black neighborhoods the most racist places in the usa?  Non aggresive other races cannot even walk into those neighborhoods without being subjected to violence.  Yes, lets give this group more free things. 

Dude = truth.

[Skip8282]

Dude = truth.

Probably just a poor issue, not a race issue.

Don't get me wrong, nothing bad about helping people out.

But cell phones?  Think that's going a little far...regardless of what Congress or President started it.

[Soul Crusher]

Probably just a poor issue, not a race issue.

Don't get me wrong, nothing bad about helping people out.

But cell phones?  Think that's going a little far...regardless of what Congress or President started it.

The do gooders always have a new NEED for the loafers. 

[Soul Crusher]

Great. Post.   I live in the Bronx and often feel like I am in the middle of the. Movie ZULU.   


the biggest issue is socialism and racism.   The rampant bs pumped into the. Ghetto is beyond anyones imagination.