Thursday, March 5, 2009

You have got to be kidding me!

OK, I'm going to start a new feature on the blog, items related to the response of, You have got to be kidding me? You know what I'm talking about, we've all had those moments! Well this is the most recent moment I had this morning. Spread the word we are one step closer to absurdity! What do you think about this new government handout?




Free Government Sponsored Cell Phones

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


Lifeline Benefits

Lifeline Assistance is part of a program that was created by the government to provide discounted or free telephone service to income-eligible consumers. To help bring you this important benefit, SafeLink Wireless is proud to offer Lifeline Service. Through our Lifeline Service you will receive FREE cellular service, a FREE cell phone, and FREE Minutes every month! SafeLink Wireless Service does not cost anything – there are no contracts, no recurring fees and no monthly charges.

Any Minutes you do not use will roll-over. Features such as caller ID, call waiting and voicemail are all also included with your service. If you need additional Minutes, you can buy TracFone Airtime Cards at any TracFone retailer Walmart, Walgreens, Family Dollar, etc). SafeLink Airtime Cards will be available soon.

Your exact benefits, including the number of free Minutes you will receive, depend on the state you live in. Please enter your ZIP code to get the details for your state.

How to Qualify

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.

8 comments:

Jim said...

I agree it sounds a little absurd but it's not new. SafeLink is part of the Lifeline program established by the FCC back in 1984 during the Reagan administration. They added the SafeLink wireless version last August under the Bush administration and rolled it out first in Tennessee.

VoteNovember2008 said...

I too did some research and you are correect but I do not believe this is what they intended! Surely to God they did not expect anyone who has low or no income to get a free cell phone. Only one cell phone per addrees please! LOL. If you live in an apartment it's first come first serve, only one cell phone per building! I can't wait to hear more about this one! BB/VN8

Anonymous said...

This is wacked.

Anonymous said...

"One step closer to absurdity"??? VN8 my friend, we're WALLOWING in it!!!

Yeah, Jim is correct about the FCC proposal, but a little misleading in that "Safelink" is not even mentioned in the 1984 proposal. What was mentioned was support for landlines and subsidizing the so-called "lifeline" service. Safelink, aka "One Phone Per Will-not" was not the intent until we needed a place to pile all that free cash we're billing our children for. It then became a simple legal maneuver to "attach" it. Since cell phones are more hip than landlines, it's a sure thing for buying votes in 2010, unless you're paying for it.

Cellular telephones did not exist to any usable degree when the original lifeline draft was written.

We should label things what they are instead of deceiving taxpayers. As Han Solo said, "I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around!"

VoteNovember2008 said...

Fuzzy, you got that right! I want to know when someone is going to start paying for my Coca-Cola! I needit, I can't live without it! How about you guys, don't you need someone to pay for your coffee? VN8

VoteNovember2008 said...

OM1, that was exactly my point! I'm sure President Reagan is rlling over in his tomb! Aprea the word, "cradle to the grave" is taking on a life of it's own! VN8

Anonymous said...

Yep,I feel better knowing my hard earn tax dollars are well spent.

Okay, not really,but I am mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.

VoteNovember2008 said...

Scalawag, I know that's right! I've always wondered what it would take to put Conservatives over the top! Well it looks like once we get closer to the bottom that we might be willing to "not take it any more!" TGIF VN8