Posted on 01/02/2010 4:01:49 PM PST by pabianice
Just heard the same thing for the third time in the past two weeks. An Obamatron was just suggesting on Fox that free internet access is the latest "found" new right of everyone in the country. Everyone must have their own computer and internet account because so many libraries are being closed (by mean conservatives, no doubt). She went on to say that "last year 1.2 billion Americans" went to the library" demonstrating the cruelty of shutting them and thus ending free internet access to the masses (not to mention her keen statistical grasp on the polulation). The understated solution, of course, is free computers and internet accounts for everyone (at how many trillions of your tax-payer dollars of course).
> free internet access is the latest “found” new right of everyone
A “right” traditionally meant something the government could NOT take away from you. The libs have twisted the meaning of words to mean a right is something that must be provided for you. Of course, a tacit part of that twisting is that the government must take from one citizen by force (i.e., tax) in order to provide the newfound right to the other citizen.
Actually nothing new about it. Safelink declares that there IS NO OBAMAPHONE”. LOL As near as I can tell the free phone goes back to Reagan and was a very limited plan for landlines to poor people whith potentially dire health issues.
“There is no “Obama phone” or other newly created federal program to provide free cell phones.”
https://www.safelinkwireless.com/EnrollmentPublic/benefits.aspx
That is the future and a way for the PC companies to expand their market.
And, oh by the way... it has to be cheap. Probably means improving the UI.
Ummmm....when did our population get to 1.X billion? Is this a prediction or...another brilliant Government 'statistic'?
per the NYT:
“...The users are not the only ones receiving government assistance. Telecommunications industry analysts said the program, while in its infancy, could benefit mobile phone carriers, who face a steep challenge of their own: most Americans already own a cellphone, so the poor represent a last untapped market....”
I would offer a link but the NYT and FR is like oil and bottled water.
You are fundamentally correct though, the cell phones are paid for by the Universal Service Tax and go to seriously disabled people.
Remind her that the Fascist education system is producing fewer and fewer people who can read and therefore do not need a library.
“Those silly Obama supporters: always counting dead people.”
Hey, if they have the right to vote then they have the right to a computer! /sarc
“Free” internet access.... of which the contents will be determined by Marxists, and will provide a new source of tax revenue for same.
We used to take old hardware and "refurbish" it, complete with fresh O/S install (Win95/98 or Linux), modem and browser, for folks who couldn't afford machines. But the demand for that went to zero several years ago (12/2006 was the last, if I recall correctly) and a couple years ago I wound up hauling a (small) car full of old computers and monitors to a "recycling event" in Seattle.
I think this is just a mis-statement of "there were 1.2 billion visits by Americans to the library." That would be about right for me, low for my wife.
HA! Us too.
Argh. Left out “4 visits/year on average.”
Once again Reagan did something good and liberals want to go hog wild and destroy it.
Our IT folks are really quick to block a site on the slightest complaint (all of Photobucket is blocked for "racy attire; sexual content") but their procedure for unblocking is extremely slow and cumbersome, requiring the assent of several levels of management.
Typical.
Re: photobucket being blocked it's disappointing to know that you can't view my dopey pictures at work when you could be doing something useful instead.... ;0)
Yeah, there is a point of obsolesence that can be reached, especially with older PC’s, laptops tend to stick around longer.
But heck, now a pIII 500mhz laptop can be had for 30 bucks or less, add in a 7 dollar wireless G card and even the poorest can afford to go online assuming there is a wireless spot nearby.
But somehow, I think the Obamao Drone was not thinking of such a humble system...
Free computers and internet could be a good thing. Imagine all of those Democrat voters getting their news from Hot Air, Instapundit, Drudge, Big Government, etc. Maybe some knowledgeable FReepers could volunteer their time to helping these newbies learn how to surf the net. Of course I am against a government giveaway, but I always look for the silver lining. Weening little Dems away from the MSM would be a good thing.
Sure. It’s not fair that poor people don’t have access to all the free speech that rich people do...it’s a Constitution thing. /S
That's the real problem, isn't it.
I personally would like wireless or wired very fast broadband available everywhere in the US. Failing that I'd like an equivalent to the post office system for internet access to communities.
I do not however believe it should ever be "free" just as the post office system and other utilities are not "free" either. The benefit of the technology is useful enough to build into our entire infrastructure but it must be cost efficient and affordable. Charities, etc., can help the poor afford and use this technology as needed, and I suppose that in real life even a conservative administration would have some sort of low level aid just like for lifeline telephones etc.
But a "right?" No, there's another agenda at work here besides technology for everyone.
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