Cell Phone Socialism: "Free" Phones for the "Poor"

[rambone]

Anybody else getting sick of getting their paycheck re-distributed??
I suppose every American has a right to a cell phone??




https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enr...blic/home.aspx

SafeLink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers.

Safelink Wireless "Free" Cell Phones -- Exposing the Government's Cell-Phones-For-The-Poor Scam

How to Qualify for a free cell phone from Safelink Wireless


“The process to qualify for Lifeline Service depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if…

1. You already participate in other State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid. OR
2. Your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government. AND
3. No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier.
4. You have a valid United States Postal Address. In order for us to ship you your free phone you must live at a residence that can receive mail from the US Post Office. Sorry, but P.O. Boxes cannot be accepted.

In addition to meeting the guidelines above you will also be required to provide proof of your participation in an assistance program, or proof of your income level.

Un-freakin-believable. Outrageous. Shocking.

The way we read it, this program gives you a free phone, free monthly service, and free minutes. You qualify even if you make 35% more than the designated “poverty” level or if you’re already getting additional freebies from the government. And we see nothing that indicates you have to be a legal resident of the United States to qualify.

The site is also available in Spanish, leading to the not-too-unreasonable conclusion that a significant percentage of the applicants conceivably could be, may be, might be undocumented aliens.

And, for God’s sake, we don’t even want to know how many of the applicants are currently stiffing a bank on a mortgage they never really qualified for in the first place.

We think we’re going to have strokes. Would someone please call 911 on their free cell phone?

[firstrock]

That is unfreaking believable!!!!!! Why not just use a pay phone??? Oh, wait, I know why, that would require you to get off your deadbeat *** and walk to the phone!!!!

Socialism at it's best!!!!

[Bill of Rights]

I do not take issue with a private company providing used (or new!) cell phones with only 911 accessibility to whomever they choose. I have a problem with government supporting this and with providing airtime without charge to the user.

This, however, is a

Blessings,
Bill

[Pami]

Originally Posted by firstrock

That is unfreaking believable!!!!!! Why not just use a pay phone??? Oh, wait, I know why, that would require you to get off your deadbeat *** and walk to the phone!!!!

Socialism at it's best!!!!

Pay phones still exist? They've removed most of the ones around me.

[Bill of Rights]

Originally Posted by firstrock

That is unfreaking believable!!!!!! Why not just use a pay phone??? Oh, wait, I know why, that would require you to get off your deadbeat *** and walk to the phone!!!!

Socialism at it's best!!!!

The number of pay phones has diminished greatly in recent years, and the accessibility may be a problem for those needing 911 service.

Blessings,
Bill

[Indecision]

Um, land lines are still around as well.... and cheaper... and way more reasonable. Notice I said more, not to insinuate this is is any way, shape, or form reasonable.

[mrjarrell]

You're already being taxed to pay for phones for the "poor". That's what the Universal Access Charge on your bills are for. Cell phones may actually be cheaper than providing a landline for them.

[Joe Williams]

Originally Posted by Pami

Pay phones still exist? They've removed most of the ones around me.

That's what I was going to say. Try finding a pay phone. And try getting a job without a phone of some kind. If we're going to hand out out money, handing out a tool that is vital to finding a job in today's world at least makes some sense. Landlines are on the way out. By the time you get home and find a message offering you a job, someone with a cell has already answered the call and taken it. Reality is that you need a cell in a job market this competitive.

Of course, the real question is how many of these are actually going to be used to land a job, and how many are just going to provide free phones for drug dealers and welfare queens?

[hornadylnl]

This is unfair because the homeless can't get one.

[model67a]

https://www.safelinkwireless.com/Enr...blic/home.aspx


I couldn't believe this was true but apparently it is and Chicago is covered all the way!!!