99ers, EBT, TANF, Obamaphones, Section 8, WIC, SSDI, yadda yadda.
That’s why the country doesn’t look like it did in 1930, even though the economy may actually be worse.
The Baraqqis are spending $1.40 for every $1.00 in income. Just like the 2007 family riding a wave of false prosperity based on maxxed out credit cards and helocs on houses with negative equity.
It's a Potemkin façade;
The modern bread line is over 48 million people long now, it's called "Food Stamps".
They've only modernized it and 'Potemkinized it' (removed it from view).
48 million people wait in that bread line every month for their food stamps.
Roads are a public convenience subject to government intervention. We do not have a right to them, per se. Phones are not much different in terms of their ability to facilitate commerce. But . . . the Feds like to do favors for those who pay to play. In the scheme of things, I’m trying to figure out where it is an inherently bad thing to make it possible for everyone (within reason) to have a phone, just as we have made it possible for everyone (within reason) to use roads. Phones, like roads, are good for business and commerce. No, they are not “free.”
I would expect, with government issued phones there would be government restrictions on the manner and degree to which they are used. The ability to speak to a fellow citizen instantly over long distances is of benefit not only for commerce, but also for defense.
I’m playing the devil’s advocate here. Do you see any inherent harm in faciliting wider and better communication of, by, and for the people?