Posted on 05/29/2016 12:24:45 PM PDT by Red Badger
The push to enroll people in government welfare programs gives new meaning to ‘the land of the free.’ ======================================================================================================================
Last week, I almost got my very own Obamaphone—by accident.
I own a Tracfone; it is one of those prepay plans. The carrier was upgrading from 2G to 3G, and I was sent a new phone to replace my old one.
I called the service department to get my number reassigned to my new phone—and that’s when something went wrong. A series of transfers between various representatives left me wondering if I would ever have a working phone. Turn the phone off, then back on; punch in this code; try calling now; look up this number; lots of never-ending, mind-numbing background music, etc.
Two days later, success!
And then the discovery! My perfectly good Tracfone had been mysteriously transformed into an Obamaphone.
It happened by accident, I think. “Thanks for finally fixing this phone,” I sincerely told the fourth service representative. “While you are on the line, can I sign up for auto refill.” I simply wanted Tracfone to automatically bill my credit card and save me the hassle of having to call in or go online every three months to renew.
Imagine my surprise when the service representative told me there was no need: “It’s all free.”
What’s free?
“The phone.”
I know the phone’s free; it was a replacement. I want to sign up for auto refill: $20 every three months.
“I understand, sir. But you are enrolled in SafeLink Wireless.”
What is that?
“You get free domestic calls and free texting and Internet access. You don’t have to pay anything.”
I don’t have to pay?
“No you don’t. Is that all?”
I get free calls and text and how much Internet? … My old phone didn’t even have Internet.
“That’s right, sir; it is SafeLink. You don’t have to pay.”
But I normally pay every three months.
“Yes, but you are enrolled in SafeLink now.”
I know, you told me that. But I have a Tracfone plan. How did I get this SafeLink?
“You signed up for it.”
No I didn’t.
“Yes you did; you filled out an application.”
No I didn’t.
“You must have. … Oh wait, the computer doesn’t say.”
And had I stopped there, I might have had a tax payer-provided phone with free monthly minutes and unlimited text messaging for life! Plus a whole lot of free Internet access too!
That’s how close I came to my very own Obamaphone.
It’s a testament to the efficiency of the United States’ welfare industry—and it gives new meaning to the concept of “the land of the free.” A person doesn’t even need to sign up for a government-sponsored social program; they can simply end up in one.
That’s what happens when you combine the best aspects of American-style capitalism with government-mandated socialism. Together they are creating the biggest welfare state in American history. And it is going to come crashing down in spectacular intensity.
Politicians create social programs funded by taxes on industry—then corporate collaborators on the government dole employ capitalist efficiency to make the programs the biggest possible.
From what I can tell, here is what happened: Tracfones are often used by people with low incomes, since the phones are inexpensive and you don’t need good credit in order to finance the latest expensive model. Since Tracfone’s clientele is mostly low-income, the government contracted this successful phone company to expand the Obamaphone program. As I found out, SafeLink and Tracfone are both owned by Mexico’s América Móvil. The service reps for Tracfone appear to be the same ones for SafeLink. All it took was a wrong transfer—and voila, free calls and texts anywhere in America, including Puerto Rico, Alaska and Hawaii, courtesy of Uncle Sam.
I would have been part of a very big club. Approximately 20 million Americans have received Obamaphones through government programs like SafeLink. That’s the equivalent population of Nevada, Nebraska, New Mexico, West Virginia, Idaho, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Montana, Delaware, South Dakota, North Dakota, Alaska, Vermont, Wyoming and the District of Columbia combined.
In fact, if rumor is true, entire inner cities have Obamaphones.
Remember the “Obamaphone lady?” Her YouTube rant went viral and was watched by millions in the lead-up to President Barack Obama’s reelection.
She explained: “Everybody in Cleveland, you’re a minority got Obamaphone. Keep Obama in president. … He gave us a phone. He going to do more.”
And “do more” he did. In 2013, the government spent $2 billion on Obamaphones, although that wasn’t even enough for many people. Following President Obama’s reelection victory, Florida resident Peggy Joseph made national television for her comments: “It was the most memorable time of my life. … I never thought this day would ever happen. I won’t have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won’t have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know, if I help him, he’s gonna help me” (emphasis added).
America is ripe for socialism. But does socialism lead to freedom?
Although the government never quite went as far as paying people’s mortgages or gasoline, it did use taxpayer money on mortgage modifications, first-time buyers programs, and cash for clunkers. These programs were really more corporate welfare than social welfare.
In 2013, the Washington Post ran a story titled “In Florida, a Food-Stamp Recruiter Deals With Wrenching Choices.” It showed how even Republican states had become active promoters for the federal government’s food stamp program, because states had become addicted to government welfare money.
States hired recruiters to go out and convince people that they “deserved” food stamps. They would hold food stamp parties at local senior citizen’s homes, golf courses and community centers. They would hand out gift bags with cookies and croissants, doggie toys for dog people and cat food for cat people. The government even produced a recruiter manual with techniques on how to “overcome the word ‘no.’” Recruiters were trained to disarm any hesitation: “You are an American, and this is your benefit”; “Applying is easy”; “Every $5 in snap generates $9.20 for the local economy.”
It became patriotic to join the food stamp program!
That last reason is why the states have become the biggest promoters of food stamps. It is free money from the federal government that flows directly into local economies. Each dollar of federal money supposedly generates $1.84 in local economic activity. What is never said is that $1.84 in activity gained by Paul comes at the expense of Peter who lives somewhere else.
A decade ago, only about half of people who could technically qualify for food stamps signed up. After intensive recruiting, those numbers have been boosted to around 75 percent.
Almost 45 million Americans now rely on food stamps. That is more than one in seven people.
Today, approximately 60 percent of America’s budget goes to social welfare programs (including social security, which some people incorrectly argue is not a welfare program). This has doubled since 1960, when many welfare programs were established.
Stated another way, social welfare-type programs consumed an astounding 12.2 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (gdp) in 2014. The Congressional Research Service predicts that it will hit 14 percent by 2025. It is actually even more than it sounds because gdp also includes government spending. Compared against private consumption, production and trade—the other components of gdp—social welfare spending is already above 14 percent.
According to the conservative Heritage Foundation, there are now 80 means-tested federal welfare programs providing cash, food, housing, medical care, social services, training and targeted educational aid to the poor. Add in non-means-tested programs and the number rises to 93. States and cities have additional programs.
Nearly 110 million Americans live in households that receive some form of means-tested government welfare. And many of these households include more than one person on assistance. These numbers do not include Social Security or Medicare. Count these programs, and there are over 150 million Americans—almost half of the nation is dependent on the government in some form.
Many of these people actually need help. And if people do, they should use those programs. That is what they are for. But what does it say about America when half the nation is reliant on government for survival. Is this what freedom is?
As greater numbers of people rely on these welfare plans, it will become increasingly difficult to cut the programs back.
Regardless of motivation, the result is a population that becomes progressively reliant on government—and thus reliant on increasingly powerful politicians who hold sway over increasingly large portions of the economy.
As certain states just found out, if a state doesn’t support the federal government’s decision to let transsexuals and transgenders use bathrooms and locker rooms of their choice, then the federal government will cut the state’s education funding. In like manner, various local law enforcement agencies are threatened with having their access to surplus military equipment cut when they won’t implement Justice Department demands.
The end result of socialist policies is always the same: a big, oppressive, freedom-reducing government—and less overall prosperity. Conversely, in socialist regimes there tend to be fewer rich people. There are also fewer poor people, at least at first. But society as a whole is also less prosperous, as inefficient governments penalize the producers to subsidize the users. It is basic economics: If you want more of something, then subsidize it.
This might sound harsh, but by subsidizing the poor, you will eventually end up with more.
Ask any Greek. Talk to someone from Puerto Rico. Eventually, there simply aren’t enough taxpayers left to support tax takers. Where are Puerto Rico’s doctors and lawyers? Where are the wealthy? Why have they left the island? When the money runs out—and it always does—the welfare recruiters turn into street demonstrators. The people revolt. Chaos reigns. And then real hardship and poverty set in.
Argentina, Venezuela and Greece are going through that process today.
Will America learn the lesson before its industrialized welfare industry completely transforms the nation?
The end of my phone conversation is enlightening:
Well how do I get out of this SafeLink phone program?
Silence. … Long pause. … More awkward silence.
“Out of it?”
I just want my old Tracphone plan back.
Another pause.
“Yes sir. I will just need you to … give me the phone id number again … and then .…” ▪
Seen a couple of "free phone" booths around the city here....so will put on my gardening clothes, and with 2 days unshaved and unshowerd will see I I can geyt one.....good to be hooked up to receive free info from the enemy.
I think if Bernie or Hillary get Elected POTUS I will explore every Gibsmedat Program the Government offers to see if I can qualify.
It will become my new Career. I’m tired of pulling the Cart. Might be time to hop in and enjoy the Ride to Armageddon.
So they know when to flash riot.
Cause it’s a massive shakedown. Plain and simple.
Don’t worry, you don’t qualify.
I finally gave up on resisting enrolling in SNAP because my current job pays so poorly and new jobs are so godd@mn nonexistent. A man can only pull for so long...now instead of ~$60 a month for food I have $300. And I’m a single WASP, for crying out loud. Might as well use it to stockpile nonperishables for the inevitable...now to find a job paying cash to buy guns...
I think every hard-working person has that fantasy. I’m always amazed when the moms who I know are not employed or employed & not making a lot come to the school w/ phones the size of a doll house door. Until you work in the private sector you have NO idea of all the freebies out there.
I recently told daughter to get everything she can. We paid for it and are still paying even more since we retired. We’ll never get a dime of it so she might as well.
I really don’t see all the poor folks with Obama phones. I see them with I phones, Samsung 5 or 6. My phone currently has a crack in the screen, leaking on the screen, out of contract with sprint now and was looking for a new phone and about had a heart attack. 500-700 for a freaking phone. And I make great money and I just am having a hard time paying that for a phone.
Just not sure what to do. I was looking at straight talk but there are good and bad reviews.
I take that paying customers pay for the service.
Virgin Mobile has unlimited talk, text and data for about $40 a month. If you’re lucky, you can find a phone on sale.
No, you might not have the super-phone but mine plays videos, has a nice screen, long battery life. My Tracfone is a backup rarely used. It worked in some places in Whereami, Kansas where the Virgin couldn’t.
I was behind a lot of them in Whereami, Kansas, with kids, no guy seeming around, paying with checks that didn’t look like personal accounts.
All while working a job that was never intended to actually last.
Oh, and you can find the Virgin Phones discounted at Walmart, Best Buy and other places.
Good luck.
"FEE" my old aching ass.
You know the key to the fraud here is ones SSN.
These ‘gatekeepers’ or salespeople you get on the phone will probably make more commission of the sale of an Obama phone than what you wanted to buy.
What stops them, after they get your SSN, from turning around and using that ‘key’ to submit you for the govt subsidized ‘free’ service(s)??!?
I bet this goes on 1000’s of times a day.
I've wondered if an Obamaphone is designed to never be without service . . . just in case Obama needs to activate his zombie army.
I recommend Republic Wireless. In July, they will have 7 new phones. Service Plans start at $10 to $40 dollars.
Oh thank you for the recommendation. I will look into it. I currently have an HTC One 8- but had it for a two yrs. It was given to me by Sprint Manager because they couldn’t fix my old phone after 3 tries and 2 hours.
Ok, will look into Virgin. Have a Walmart and Best buy near me.
$500 - $700 for a phone?
Just picked up the new Samsung Galaxy J7 through TMobile... about 90% of the S7 features, for $240. Love it!
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