Should Free Cell Phones and Internet be a Civil Right?

Our federal government seems to have the US Constitution all wrong, AGAIN. The Preamble of the Constitution states:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

I wonder of the Founding Fathers had any clue how the phrase ‘promote the general Welfare’ would be interpreted and abused a couple centuries later?

The federal government has a program called the Universal Service Fund that dictates that American’s that are living below a specified income level have the civil right to a free cell phone. Cell phone providers are being forced to provide cell phones and 250 free minutes a month to low income people. The estimated cost to this point is $4B.

And who do you think is paying for this? The cell phone companies have no choice but to pass the cost on to those of us who pay for our cell phones.

In Pennsylvania, Assurance Wireless and SafeLink from Tracfone Wireless are the companies being force to provide the free cell phones and service. Gary Carter, manager of the national partnerships for Alliance Wireless said the program is about peace of mind and that having free cell phone means: “one less bill that someone has to pay, so they can pay their rent or for day care…it is a right to have peace of mind.”

The Declaration of Independence says:

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;…

Note that it lists the pursuit of happiness, not that one is guaranteed to have happiness or peace of mind.

Additionally, some are reading the Universal Service Fund to also mean free broadband internet access to low income families and especially kids. In Chicago, newly elected mayor, Rahm Emanuel is providing free internet service along with netbooks and laptops to poor kids in the city. The FCC forced Comcast, the Chicago internet provider, into providing the free internet service and computers in part of their deal when they wanted to buy NBC-Universal. And since Comcast has been forced into this free service, guess where they intend to get their money from to pay for it? That’s right, their paying customers will be paying more so the poor can have their new civil rights as defined by the socialists in our government.

In the meantime, there are millions of Americans that are struggling to make ends meet that make too much to qualify to receive the same civil rights, but not making enough to enjoy the same rights given to the poor. And if they were able to afford cell phones and internet service, they would be forced to pay more for them so the poor could have them.

I ‘m not against helping the poor and believe in charity, but I am against being forced to help the poor when I myself struggle to pay my way. Even with my own financial struggles, I do give and help the poor in various ways, but let me choose how and to whom I want to give. That’s like going to a restaurant and when you get your bill it already as a 15%-20% ‘gratuity’ added to the total. A gratuity is something that is graciously given. What the bill should say is ‘surcharge’.

I’m also concerned when the government starts declaring such things as free cell phones and internet service a civil right. What’s next, the right to have free electricity, indoor plumbing, cable TV, and transportation? Where does it end?

Lastly, this just adds to the problem of keeping the poor poor. The more free benefits and rights they have given to them, the less incentive they have to find a job and become a contributing member to society. They can lose more in benefits than they gain by working, especially at or near minimum wage jobs.

Tagged with

cell phones, civil rights, Constitution, Declaration of Independence, internet, peace of mind, pursuit of happiness, Universal Service Fund, welfare

kibitzer3

Thanks for this article, Giacomo. I hadn't heard about this Universal Service Fund scam. A "civil right" to a free cell phone? "It is a right to have peace of mind"? What nonsense.

One of two things going on here; or perhaps both. (1) Socialists are activating the Cloward-Piven strategy, to bring the system financially on purpose to collapse, in order that socialists can replace it with their form of governance, read 'redistribution of wealth'; or (2) Socialists-lite just see a way to buy their way into political power, and stay there, by promising 'the people' all manner of freebies. Either way, it's a collapse of morals, and signals the collapse of any decent sense of 'society'.

It's time to get very clear. No person is 'entitled' as a matter of right to the earnings of any other person. In a free society, people are free to practice charity; but they are not free to take from others. Taxes should be limited to the bare minimum of services and purposes. But this business of voting money out of other people's pockets – of allowing people to vote themselves money out of other people's pockets – has gone far enough.

Government Chicago-style – and the worst of Democratic Party style – needs to go out of style like pronto. Like yesterday.

Johnny Bailey

I believe the word we're looking for here is coersion. We'd better find a way to fix this kind of nonsense, and fast! Further, once we regain the white house and senate, we need to go after these liberals tooth and nail. We need to excise their ability to cause any more damage to our economy and our social viability. We must defund them, prosecute certain ones for un-american activities, shut down all their programs designed to drain you and I of our earnings, and make it a crime to pursue ANY activity that runs counter to the US constitution. This isn't about free speech anymore, this is about our VERY survival as a free nation. They've hidden behind free speech for decades and just handed our ass to us the last decade. This must be stopped at all costs.
While this may sound extreme to some, remember; they brought us to the brink this time. If we go back to the "live and let live" mantra after the elections, they will merely continue their Pinko pursuits underground again, where we cannot see them. This is crucial to winning this battle and removing the threat to our freedom long term.

doubting matilda

I'm sick of this lame crap……only a half wit believes this kind of nonsense. THIS IS OUR FAULT….WHEN WE PERMIT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO OVERSTEP FOR VOTES, THIS IS THE KIND OF CRAP THAT SPEWS OUT! STOP IT! STOP IT NOW WHILE WE CAN! If this thinking is given ligitimacy, think of what will be next. You can't satisfy a free loader….they never run out of things they will demand for votes. PEOPLE, GET A BACKBONE….SPEAK OUT AND DON'T BE AFRAID OF OFFENDING OTHERS. NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE THE COUNTRY BACK WHILE WE CAN….THE DAY WILL COME WHEN THERE WILL BE MORE OF THEM THAN US! Call it Tea Party, call it anything you want….don't let them demonize people who are trying to save the country. IT'S TIME TO ACT!
Jean Deason

Another idea to end the generation after generation of government dependence. MAKE SURE that all single moms on welfare are required to be on birth control — they have no "right" to breed like animals if they can't provide for their children! And, of course, must be a TAX–PAYING citizen to vote!!! End un-employment at 6 months absolute max!!! Jobs are out there – they just may not come with all the perks folks are looking for. But any job is better than no job!!!
The Great Ricardo

"HOLLY SHEEP DIP, Batman!!"
nhra95

This country is REALLY F'D UP!
teadog

Is it a civil right to have a big screen tv, or a new car, or a new home, or a $3000.00 suit, or botox injections, or a 2 week vacation every year…………you get the pictukre? Can anyone see where this is going? I'm so sick of the stupid ideas coming out of washington……….