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Vanity: New Entitlement: free computers and internet access for "all 1.2 billion Americans"
Fox News Channel | 1/2/10

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).


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To: pabianice

> 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.


21 posted on 01/02/2010 4:23:26 PM PST by XEHRpa
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To: padre35

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


22 posted on 01/02/2010 4:23:59 PM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: Dumpster Baby
Lol. Actually, there is some merit to making PCs easier to use and extremely intuitive. That way someone who has never used one can pick it up in a couple of hours of tinkering.

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.

23 posted on 01/02/2010 4:27:40 PM PST by dhs12345
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To: pabianice
*Headline Only*

Ummmm....when did our population get to 1.X billion? Is this a prediction or...another brilliant Government 'statistic'?

24 posted on 01/02/2010 4:28:35 PM PST by Outlaw Woman (If you remove the first Amendment, we'll be forced to move on to the next one.)
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To: cripplecreek

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.


25 posted on 01/02/2010 4:31:56 PM PST by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: pabianice

Remind her that the Fascist education system is producing fewer and fewer people who can read and therefore do not need a library.


26 posted on 01/02/2010 4:34:31 PM PST by depressed in 06 (Tea parties today, Lexington tomorrow.)
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To: matt1234

“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


27 posted on 01/02/2010 4:34:31 PM PST by Twotone (Marte Et Clypeo)
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To: pabianice

“Free” internet access.... of which the contents will be determined by Marxists, and will provide a new source of tax revenue for same.


28 posted on 01/02/2010 4:34:51 PM PST by workerbee (If you vote for Democrats, you are engaging in UnAmerican Activity.)
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To: padre35
The problem is *gasp* the wouldbe internet user has to learn how to work on the hardware and install software that works on those older boxes and laptops, that would be marketable skill to earn

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.

29 posted on 01/02/2010 4:36:11 PM PST by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|Remember Neda Agha-Soltan|TV--it's NOT news you can trust)
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To: pabianice
She went on to say that "last year 1.2 billion Americans" went to the library"

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.

30 posted on 01/02/2010 4:38:10 PM PST by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|Remember Neda Agha-Soltan|TV--it's NOT news you can trust)
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To: sionnsar
"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.

31 posted on 01/02/2010 4:39:23 PM PST by paulycy (AMERICA: Less safe. Less free. More broke.)
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To: sionnsar

Argh. Left out “4 visits/year on average.”


32 posted on 01/02/2010 4:40:24 PM PST by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|Remember Neda Agha-Soltan|TV--it's NOT news you can trust)
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To: padre35

Once again Reagan did something good and liberals want to go hog wild and destroy it.


33 posted on 01/02/2010 4:42:37 PM PST by cripplecreek (Seniors, the new shovel ready project under socialized medicine.)
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To: paulycy
Yah. About half my visits lately have been for travel guides for European cities. At least once I went to get around the corporate firewall, which had blocked a site I needed to access for work.

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.

34 posted on 01/02/2010 4:46:44 PM PST by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5:SONY|Remember Neda Agha-Soltan|TV--it's NOT news you can trust)
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To: sionnsar
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)

35 posted on 01/02/2010 4:50:18 PM PST by paulycy (AMERICA: Less safe. Less free. More broke.)
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To: RightWingConspirator
So is this clown saying that whites are smarter than people like him?

No, man, de whites and de Chinese, deys de Man, man. And don't you know, man, de Man he gives de bros de hard computers, man, and de Man he gives de easy computers to de whites and de Chinese, man. Don't you know nuffin’, man? Ain't you seen dat Winnos 7 commercial wit' the lidle Chinese gurl doin' all dat stuff on her easy Winnos 7 computer, man? Wat more you need to know, man, the Man he conspirin' to keep us bros down, man. By givin' us de hard computers, man.
36 posted on 01/02/2010 4:50:57 PM PST by Cheburashka (Lesson #1 from Battlestar Galactica: Never turn your back on your toaster.)
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To: sionnsar

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...


37 posted on 01/02/2010 4:51:54 PM PST by padre35 (You shall not ignore the laws of God, the Market, the Jungle, and Reciprocity Rm10.10)
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To: dhs12345

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.


38 posted on 01/02/2010 4:55:24 PM PST by sportutegrl (I was for Sarah Palin before being for Sarah was cool.)
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To: pabianice

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


39 posted on 01/02/2010 4:56:25 PM PST by socialismisinsidious ( The socialist income tax system turns US citizens into beggars or quitters!)
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To: padre35
But somehow, I think the Obamao Drone was not thinking of such a humble system...

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.

40 posted on 01/02/2010 4:58:59 PM PST by paulycy (AMERICA: Less safe. Less free. More broke.)
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