~*~*~
I work just 2 miles from where I live, and with a one-hour lunch, it makes sense to come home for lunch. As a bonus, I get to watch some of that quality day-time TV while I'm here. My favorites? Wife Swap or Cheaters (only because Jerry Springer isn't on until later in the afternoon).
As I was watching yesterday I saw a commercial for ReachOut Wireless. Have you heard about this? It's a government program that is designed to provide discounted or free cell phone service to income-eligible consumers. It includes a FREE cell phone, FREE minutes every month and services like Caller ID, Texting, and Voicemail.
Here's what I find disturbing. Guess how "Income-Eligible" is defined? The web site says you generally qualify if you are currently enrolled in a government assisted program such as:
* Food Stamps
* Medicaid
* Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
* Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
* Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
* National School Free Lunch Program
* Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Really? So now the government is rewarding those on government assistance with FREE cell phone service? Someone please explain to me how this encourages anyone to try to do better for themselves. Lose your food stamps - lose your cell phone. Lose your Section 8 public housing - lose your cell phone. I'm thinking if you want to keep your cell phone you better stay in public housing and on food stamps!
As I was navigating the website in utter disbelief, I started reading the ABOUT US section. In part it read (emphasis mine):
Cell phone ownership is a right? I love my country, but when I read about programs like this, I really worry about the future. We've clearly broadened the definition of right from basic needs and freedoms to materialistic wants.
What do you guys think of this? Is it a good program or is it yet another handout that keeps people dependent on the government?
As I was watching yesterday I saw a commercial for ReachOut Wireless. Have you heard about this? It's a government program that is designed to provide discounted or free cell phone service to income-eligible consumers. It includes a FREE cell phone, FREE minutes every month and services like Caller ID, Texting, and Voicemail.Here's what I find disturbing. Guess how "Income-Eligible" is defined? The web site says you generally qualify if you are currently enrolled in a government assisted program such as:
* Food Stamps
* Medicaid
* Federal Public Housing Assistance or Section 8
* Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
* Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
* National School Free Lunch Program
* Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Really? So now the government is rewarding those on government assistance with FREE cell phone service? Someone please explain to me how this encourages anyone to try to do better for themselves. Lose your food stamps - lose your cell phone. Lose your Section 8 public housing - lose your cell phone. I'm thinking if you want to keep your cell phone you better stay in public housing and on food stamps!
As I was navigating the website in utter disbelief, I started reading the ABOUT US section. In part it read (emphasis mine):
REACHOUT WIRELESS™ believes that cell phone ownership is a right and an important tool for individual success in today’s world. Everyone should have a cell phone without the need for a contract or a high credit rating. People should have the right to always know what their cell phone service will cost and no one should have to pay more than they want or can afford. REACHOUT WIRELESS™ believes in making the cost to own & maintain a cell phone as low as possible.
*shakes head*
Cell phone ownership is a right? I love my country, but when I read about programs like this, I really worry about the future. We've clearly broadened the definition of right from basic needs and freedoms to materialistic wants.
What do you guys think of this? Is it a good program or is it yet another handout that keeps people dependent on the government?
~*~*~
23 comments:
There's an add on our local radio station for Reachout. And it chaps my ass every time I hear it.
I've seen ads for this as well and visited their website briefly, so I really don't know. Here's the things I think about.
I think everyone should have some way of being able to communicate, and the program is not really "free". The user must pre-pay.
And the website says in many places that this program is government "supported".
It doesn't say government "funded", so how much tax money (if any) is actually going in to this thing I have no idea.
There are good people who work and still can't afford to hook up to a phone system be it land line or cellular and if this helps that's cool with me. Although the cell phone being a "right" is goofy.
Cheers Dana!!
...who can decide who has rights to anything? I don't need government telling me what my rights are; I give myself my own rights. It's just a word, thrown around like all the rest. If you believe it is your right to have a cell phone, then it is. If someone else tells you it is your right to have a cell phone, well...who the hell are they?...just because someone tells you you have a right to something does not make it true. Blah blah blah...but I do agree with Matt-Man that communication is a wonderful thing...
Shades of Socialism! Yeah, that's right, I said it! It is very liberal thinking. You have a problem? I have a program, and we will worry about how to pay for it later.
The day I start taking handouts from the government, is the day that we start making preparations to put this Joker in the box!
I've never heard of this program, but like many people I'm very concerned that some people that I've determined are undeserving might be getting something fresh and cool. I mean, a cell phone? With FIFTY whole minutes a month??? Man, those people are living it up aren't they? I mean, if you get 6 year old phone with 50 whole minutes a month your life must be so awesome there's no reason not to stay poor and living in a government subsidized shit hole.
How come nobody ever complains about the gov't paying for Hoverounds for old people? Those things are a hell of a lot nicer than a crappy cell phone and they cost about as much as a good used Toyota.
Haha ... Okay, I'm extra smartassy on rainy Tuesday mornings.
I seriously think my head is going to explode. Why is stuff always offered to many of those who don't even bother to do better for themselves. At least like you mentioned, it gives no incentive to try to do better.
I'm not going to be as eloquent as you.
The first time I saw the commercial it pissed me off. That's all I'm saying on that.
I freaking LOVE Wife Swap and Jerry Springer. And let's not forget Maury because he is just so helpful in find the baby's daddy! LOL LOL
This is a program that should be for seniors on fixed incomes...
Though I can see how someone with those other situations would not have even a landline and living without any communication tool will put you in a spot where you will never move up in your world.
I think some limitations need to be added, as there certainly are many people who 'live off the government' with no desire to move forward.
Those people need to be taken off the welfare rolls after a period of time.
When they add cell phone usage to the Bill of Rights it will become a right... until then it's a LUXURY which means something that should only be PURCHASED once the necessities are met... Damn what will then come up with as a 'right' next?
Real Live Lesbian, I think I just wasn't aware of how many programs like this there are out there. I swear, trying to navigate the governmental programs is a full-time job in itself!
Matt-Man, I tried to find some more info on the program after your comment, which has been no easy task. It appears this is a "Congressional mandated" program that is paid for by the phone companies and donations. Although our taxes are not paying for the program, it appears that as a telephone service consumer, I am paying for the program.
I did find [THIS LINK] from Consumer Watch that goes a little more in depth.
The program is free, but as Jay discovered, minutes are minimal (60 FREE minutes in IL). I agree, communication is necessary. Trying to find a job without a phone (just when was the last time you saw a pay phone?) is next to impossible, but this program actually encourages you to NOT improve your circumstances by keeping even the minimal service free if you remain on a government assistance program.
Phfrankie Bondo, I would say that our forefathers did quite an adequate job in defining our rights as citizens of this country!
Joker_SATX, well, there was a time when I thought I would never take a handout from the government, yet Cam is currently receiving reduced price lunches at school. I'm not entirely against government programs like this, I just think they need to encourage people to do better rather than require them to continue being dependent on the government.
Jay, there you go with your snarky common sense again! Those same seniors getting their Hoveround paid for are getting cell phones paid for too! Honestly, I have a lot more tolerance for government programs geared towards seniors (and no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I can join AARP in less than 5 years)!
I do see your point!
kittykillkill, the lack of incentive to change is what really chaps me about this program.
Bina, I also find it a bit disturbing that I only see this commercial when I'm watching a show like Wife Swap or Jerry Springer. Wait! Maybe that's the solution! Quit watching trash TV and I'll quit being bothered by the commercials!
Bond, I can certainly see a place for a program like this for seniors on fixed incomes. In fact, I'm fairly certain my dad gets some special low-income, senior discount on his cell phone service, likely part of this program (which in IL pays $42/month towards the phone service).
Doc, now, our forefathers had no idea cell phones would be a necessity in life. It's all about that living, breathing constitution (don't get me started!)
I can see it for the elderly or disabled, but just because you get food stamps? There are lots of prepaid cell services that are very affordable and don't require a credit check. We could afford a regular contract, but I've stuck with Virgin Mobile pre-paid for years. I only have to add $20 every three months and I always have plenty of time left over.
WOW! I have seen the commercials, but I never looked into it. How about car ownership and car insurance? Or mansion ownership? Or Nintentdo Wii ownership? I can think of a lot of things I am entitled to as I sit on my ass and don't try to better my life. Isn't America awesome?
Oh, help me. The way I react to stuff like this makes me feel like an old, crabby person. Which I am not. I'll just move on over into the chapped ass line.
Who thinks up this stuff, anyway...
Well meaning people don't always think things through.. Others use stuff like this for write offs, and don't care about the message they are sending...
Ridiculous. Cell phones that include things like TEXTING are a luxury, IMO. Not a 'right'. If you want a cell phone, find a way to pay for one.
this is bogus and the exact reason why peopls STAY on WELFARE.
It's a privlege NOT a right. They can use a payphone if need be.
A right is something you have, not something you make someone give you.
I think you called it. Yet one more thing to encourage some people to stay on government assistance.
And that is highly annoying to me.
peace...
I don't...It's just...It's all been said. I do agree mostly with if you give some folks wont go and get for themselves they will just continue to take.
"no one should have to pay more than they want or can afford."
That is the line that really sticks with me. I sure as hell don't want to pay as much as I do for my plan, and there has been more than one occasion when easily affording it was not a reality either.
I agree with Jay. I do not think having an outdated phone with 50 free minutes will tie anyone down to not being sucessful if they could. Most people that get stamps have kids so maybe there is a need for the phone. I don't know but maybe we can just focus on the fact that we are fortunate enugh not to need the phone.
Post a Comment