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In the Drudge Report today, the "headline" is an article about the record number of Food Stamp recipients; it shows a picture of a long line of people waiting for their stamps. I happen to notice that one woman is using her phone, 'looks like maybe a Blackberry. That struck me as odd.
I wondered why she had a nice phone, and was collecting food stamps. Then I thought I could not simply infer that she was on welfare. Maybe it is a company issued phone.... but then why is she collecting food stamps if she's employed? Then I thought maybe she's just holding the line for someone else? Then, I thought maybe the Federal Government also pays for one's phone bill. 'Must be the latter, everyon is entitled to a phone in the US, yes? I wonder if she has Satellite, or Cable TV too?
Last edited by HookTheBrotherUp; 08-05-2010 at 06:48 AM..
You can get a pretty nice looking phone for free these days with a cell phone plan. I think it's pretty hard to argue that in today's America one can live without a phone.
Would you feel the same way if she only had a landline? Phones are a necessity if you're working or looking for work and lots of people opt for cell phones over landlines. Prepaid plans don't cost much at all.
In the Drudge Report today, the "headline" is an article about the record number of Food Stamp recipients; it shows a picture of a long line of people waiting for their stamps. I happen to notice that one woman is using her phone, 'looks like maybe a Blackberry. That struck me as odd.
I wondered why she had a nice phone, and was collecting food stamps. Then I thought I could not simply infer that she was on welfare. Maybe it is a company issued phone.... but then why is she collecting food stamps if she's employed? Then I thought maybe she's just holding the line for someone else? Then, I thought maybe the Federal Government also pays for one's phone bill. 'Must be the latter, everyon is entitled to a phone in the US, yes? I wonder if she has Satellite, or Cable TV too?
Yeah, I kinda wondered something along those lines myself. I remember seeing a couple of people pulling up in new Cadillacs when I was a kid(my mom had to go on them for a short time back in the early 80's.) I thought they were the owners of the place(I didn't know the government gave these out at the time). Sure enough, those two people got in line behind us and got theirs too.
Would you feel the same way if she only had a landline? Phones are a necessity if you're working or looking for work and lots of people opt for cell phones over landlines. Prepaid plans don't cost much at all.
My feeling technique would not change, but I probably should trim my nails.
I guess Cable TV, or Satellite a necessity too these days? 'Don't want people to get bored when they are not working, oh no. How insensitive that would be!
My feeling technique would not change, but I probably should trim my nails.
I guess Cable TV, or Satellite a necessity too these days? 'Don't want people to get bored when they are not working, oh no. How insensitive that would be!
Do you have the ability to place yourself in another's situation? Would you deny someone food because they fell on hard times with little mouths to feed and a goddamn cell phone they need in case that future employer was to call this person for an interview? Are you that narrow minded? Stay employed, stay healthy. Get wise because you sound like you don't have an ounce of common sense.
Hardship in this country has come to be redefined as being unable to afford a Cadillac Escalade (or at least the first three payments, then you default and park it at a friends place).
I wonder if people realize just how cheap one can get a cellphone. Many years ago, a friend of mine needed a cellphone because he was... well... homeless. Kicked out of his parents' house with no place to go, he bounced around between the houses of his friends. I found a Verizon Pre-paid branded smartphone on eBay for a grand total of.. wait for it... wait for it.... $7 + $3.99 shipping. It had a scratch across the battery cover, so it was sold as a "damaged phone".
He was on a "plan" that was like $1/day only on days he actually used the phone. We all pitched in to get him started with 30 days on that plan plus texting and data.
I can see someone needing foodstamps or being classified as poverty when owning a cell phone.
Modern game console, flat screen TV, blueray player, etc. not so much.
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