Hello? Hello? Can anyone hear us complaining about this outrageous abuse?
Today we ran the story of Michelle Obama serving risotto at the soup kitchen down the street from the White House. She was surrounded by poor people frantically snapping photos with their cell phones.
If you’re anything like us you wondered, how can the poor afford cell phones? The monthly bills on these things can eat you alive.
Free Cell Phones from Safelink
We were tipped off to theSafelink Wireless website. But please be warned that if you visit this site you are likely to walk away pissed off. Here’s what it says:
“SafeLink Wireless is a government supported program that provides a free cell phone and airtime each month for income-eligible customers.”
“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.”
How to Qualify for a free cell phone from Safelink Wireless
“The process to qualify for Lifeline Service depends on the State you live in. In general, you may qualify if…
- You already participate in other State or Federal assistance program such as Federal Public Housing Assistance, Food Stamps and Medicaid. OR
- Your total household income is at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines set by your State and/or the Federal Government. AND
- No one in your household currently receives Lifeline Service through another phone carrier.
- 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.
Un-freakin-believable. Outrageous. Shocking.
The way we read it, this program gives you a free phone, free monthly service, and free minutes. You qualify even if you make 35% more than the designated “poverty” level or if you’re already getting additional freebies from the government. And we see nothing that indicates you have to be a legal resident of the United States to qualify.
The site is also available in Spanish, leading to the not-too-unreasonable conclusion that a significant percentage of the applicants conceivably could be, may be, might be undocumented aliens.
And, for God’s sake, we don’t even want to know how many of the applicants are currently stiffing a bank on a mortgage they never really qualified for in the first place.
We think we’re going to have strokes. Would someone please call 911 on their free cell phone?
Update: TracFone Wireless wants to give free cell phones to Coloradans who receive public assistance.
Update II: Posted a new article, Wireless welfare: Free-cell-phones-for-the-poor scam expands. All you fake poor people can go make some comments over there now too!
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If the government made its own money I wouldn’t have too much of a problem with this. I am okay with giving free cellphones and services for a short time span like 3-6 months even IF and only if the person has a contractual obligation to get a job within that time frame AND with once the paychecks come in at least (very least) 30% of the bill is paid back to the taxpayers. Then they can take that money they are earning and pay their own bill from that point on, that way the phone is being used by a future taxpayer who in turn is making it possible for someone else to get a shot at having a free cellphone and service that can help get a job. Given someone a free phone just because they don’t have one is not right. I have to work very hard to pay the bills I pay and be able to live. Cellphone service is expensive no matter the plan and if you don’t have a job because you just don’t feel like it or whatever other excuse, you shouldn’t have a phone. Period.
Lifeline is NOT paid for with tax dollars it’s a fee added to everyone’s phone bill. There are similar charges on other utility bills to help the low-income pay them as well. You complain about people not working, it’s hard to find a job if the potential employer cannot call you because you can’t afford a phone. Don’t forget; not every one can get access to the internet, so e-mail is out of the question for some. Yes there’s the library but not all libraries have internet and some can’t afford to get to the library in the first place. I myself am unemployed due to a greedy employer and am at the point of having to turn off my home phone because the bill is to high. If you still think helping the disadvantaged is wrong then try living without money and raising a child. It’s next to imposable without others helping. I would ask family for help but the economy has affected them as well.
Well damn Hank, what I have to take care of you and everyone else that is out of work? What about my family, I have to take care of them, they come first.
I am so tired of the sob stories, that I read on this site. Everyone has been effected by the economy, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from trying. Go pick up cans on the side of the road, the Illegals do it, and they pick up cardboard too, they seem to make a good deal of money from it.
Well Whipper, I hope you loose your money and your job so you can experience reality. Its GREEDY people like you that put nice people like us in the situations were in. Our economy is screwed up because of GREED. If certain people and corporations cared more for there employees then profits, people like me would still be working and our economy would be better then ever.
Whipper,, how does a few dollars from your phone bill keep you from taking care of your family? I have paid as much money as you and now I am benefiting from my contribution. I earned the phone and am going to use it to find another job. At that point I will proudly be paying the fee again to help out others in my situation.
Thanks Hank, its because of people like me, you can even write that crap. Its not about the money, its about taking from one to give to another. Its about modern day slavery. My people where slaves already once I refuse to go back. I got one better, why dont you just take all my income, would that make you feel better.
Its because of people like Hank I don’t want to help. Hank wants me to lose my job, you are a great American Hank, keep up the good work.
Whipper, do you believe that Social Security and Medicare are modern forms of slavery? If you do, you can file IRS Form 4029 to opt out. However, if you do become disabled or live to retirement age, then you will not benefit from either.
Also, I know you can make piddly amounts of money with aluminum cans, but cardboard? Where do you live? I’m interested to know about these “illegals” living high off the cardboard.
Lee you can’t opt out of Social Security, the loop hole is closed, sure you can never apply for benifits, but you still ahve to give.
Hank
If you are trying to find a job how do you have time to rant about greed on this website? Shouldn’t you be working on getting a JOB with your free phone, instead of posting liberal rants on the internet?
Hank I so agree with you. And I too hope that he gets a taste of reality.
And WE’RE so rude? I don’t think anyone here (against this program) is hoping anyone goes through a rough time. Yet, you hope because your life sucks, we get a taste of reality? Thanks, I’ll pass.
BTW, my ‘reality’ is what I made/make of it. I don’t rely on anyone, or ‘hope’ to get something without earning it.
DONT HAVE KIDS YOU CANT AFFORD! I WORK WITH NO PROBLEM EVEN IN THE 70′S WITH NO PHONE AND STILL NO PROBLEM!
You are so rude. Some people have kids and at some point could afford to take care of them, however, some times things happen and this is how you uppity people treat them.
I agree with you Hank!! I am a unemployed (not by choice) mother of two. A year ago I was making over 40K a year until the company I worked for closed. I have a child that was born prematurely and is in need of Developmental Services. I currently have my two children and myself on Medicaid for MEDICAL INSURANCE ONLY!!!! I am not SUCKING OFF THE SYSTEM, although I am quite eligible. I receive WIC, as a supplement to what I can afford to feed my children. I take hand-me-down clothes to help out with that cost. I am very frugal, and live very much within my means. My unemployment is due to expire next month. I CANNOT find a job right now that will pay me enough money after taxes to cover the cost of daycare for two children full time. My new career would have to allow me the time to leave work to transport my child to his Occupational, Physical, and Social therapies. I do not have a home phone, I do not have cable TV, I do not have internet (I use a family members or the library), and my cell phone is prepaid. I currently am looking at turning off my cell phone because I cannot afford it. THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT SAFELINK, as a means to help NEEDY families stay safe and connected. Should there be a problem at my childs therapy program, what would they do??? Who would they call?????? I’ve been to the DSS building. I’ve seen the “welfare scammers”. They piss me off too. They dress better than me….hell, they can even smile….because they have it made!! I am a “would-rather-be-working” welfare receipient.
My family, too, is unable to help. They need to work to support their families as well.
Good luck in all you do!
I am a female in her 30’s with 2 kids. I am on disability and unable to work. I’ve never worked either since I have a brain injury from childhood and Multiple Schlerosis later. I receive TANF and food stamps temporarily and Social Security for myself ongoing. I know there are people that lie to just get a free go at things and that’s sad. But there are some that need help, like my family and I. I tried for a application on here, and I am suppose to print and fax the application. But I can’t do either. I don’t have a printer/scanner. So, I’m going to call later and see what else can be done.
Let me get this straight. You’re single, you’re 30ish, you have two kids. You’ve never been able to work (through no fault of your own), yet you have children that you can’t support – and believe it is up to the government to support them on your behalf?
I see nothing wrong with this, expect for the last line. If you can’t afford kids, if you can’t work, and you still want to have kids, build your own support structure – i.e. family, charity, etc. But don’t have kids and expect the rest of the working class to pick up the tab!
See this comment by Tabi, this is why I don’t want to pay for any of this crap, why is Tabi having kids and disabled. Am I supposed to feel sorry for her? Well I don’t, I feel for her kids, for having being birthed by a dumb person.
If you had kids then I guess you can work, oh yeah I forgot, you can just lay on your back, and expect the rest of America to give you a free ride.
You guys are some cruel idiotic people. Have you been in love? Have you been in a relationship? Are you married? She only mentioned a little about her situation and you assumed everything. Maybe she was once married, or maybe she was with a guy for a very long time and he ditched her or whatever. She is half the parrent here, what about the father? If he was doing his part she wouldn’t be on cash assistance. Or maybe he is providing child support but he government is taking it to payback for costs of the birth of his kids. The government takes what is due to them first before releasing it to the mother.
For one she didn’t have to write her story on this site to begin with. She should expect some criticism for having kids and being disabled, knowing in full well she would have a hard time caring for them.
You can call me all the names you want, I dont see you taking care of her kids, open up your, big spender.
How is Obama working for you now….LOL
Wow, comments like these make me want to see if I qualify for a frre phone just to piss you off little whippy. I’ll let you know what that good ol’ Obama can do for me.
Byter, Bite me, it doesn’t piss me, I refuse to pay for it. So go ahead and get a phone.
Yeah i can tell by all your sweet comments that free phones don’t piss you off. Are you going to refuse to pay your taxes because i think you will pay for my phone. The only two things you can count on are death and taxes.
Peace baby.
What does ‘love’ have to do with any of this? If she was in love, why doesn’t her ‘babies daddy’ pay for the cell phone? Why is it that certain members of society feel that certain things are a RIGHT? Having kids is not a right, when you have no means to support those children. It is a priveledge. Having a phone is a priveledge, not a right. Where are MY rights to say that I don’t want my tax dollars spent on programs like this? If she can’t work or pay for her own phone, how does she have internet? Where did she get her computer? Why a cell phone and not a home phone which is about 10 times cheaper than a cell phone? I have a blind friend and she pays her cell bill with her disability money. I understand SOME people are truly in need. The sad part is MOST people are just trying to get things for free that isn’t really free at all. It’s all of us who work and pay taxes that fund dumb programs like this.
You people just dont get it do you? You are obviously poor excuses for Americans if you could ever find it acceptable to talk to your fellow Americans in this manner. Not everyone just sits there and says “Hm, I think I am going to have a few kids so that my neighbor can pay for them to live.” The reality is that most people today dont actually PLAN to have kids, or know that its going to happen for that matter. And just because we are disabled does not mean that we are not fit to raise children. I am on disability right now, and yes I am only 20 years old. Does this bother you? People dont ASK to be disabled, I myself would also much rather be working right now than stuck at home receiving a check in the mail. I dont have friends out there waiting for me, most of my family is gone, and people with mean hearts have it in their heads its okay to tell me that the government pays me to stay out of sight because Im “crazy”. That’s right, I’m on disability because I am bipolar. Does THAT also bother you? If you think that I am just sucking off of the government, then why would they agree to send me money in the first place? You people dont realize the fact that you have to prove to the fullest of extents that you deserve this money. And by no means do they give you enough to live comfortably on. They give you just enough to scrape by. I am so very sorry that it costs you a few bucks to provide the elderly, disabled, and homeless with some way to keep their heads above water. I just love that you people would find it enjoyable to round us all up into a fenced in field and watch us all die slow and painful. And speaking for the people telling you heartless mistakes for Americans that they wish that you would lose your job and income, I can see where they are coming from. You are all stuck up as all get up and lack the ability to put yourself in other people’s shoes. Im sure that if you were unable to work, and unable to keep yourself alive, you would sit there and wish someone would come along and help you. Before you have the right to sit here and have the attitude that you do, you should try taking one outfit from your closet, rubbing it in mud, putting it on, and spending a day on the side of the road collecting cans, with no money in your wallet and no credit cards, no cell phone, and walk everywhere you need to go. Get your tails downtown to the food banks, stand in line at a shelter. sleep on the sidewalk in the rain, snow, watch all the people drive by in their nice little cars. Sit in your own stench because you dont have your cozy little warm showers and fuzzy slippers and warm robes to cover up with. Feel the hunger pains in YOUR stomache for once. Try to find the strength to look YOUR kids in the face and tell them that Mommy or Daddy cant afford to get them something to eat. THEN maybe you have a right to say something to us! But will you do that? the answer is HELL NO. because you really dont CARE about what other people go through, you are all about the drama, you just love to insult people and watch them wriggle under your fingers. You make uninformed assumptions about things you know not of. If you were in the same boat as the people you are complaining about, then you would feel much differently about things. But you arent in the same boat as us, you are somehow in your pathetic little minds better than us, higher than us, and for some reason you think we should be graveling at your feet. Forget that! I will not thank someone like you for paying your taxes. Because the reality is, the government would find some other way to help the unable out. Otherwise, we would all die. It is one of the obligations a government has, is to keep the people alive, keep the economy working, even if it sucks, its still working. And guess what, no matter what your ta dollars go to, its being used for exactly what it should be used for. Keeping this country a free country, and keeping this country alive. It is people like you that would cause the entire human race to eventually bring itself to its own demise. Because once we are gone, those who “depend” on your “kind” contributions, people like you will be left. And all you will do is take all the money you can get, stick it in some savings account somewhere, buy all the material items you could ever want to make YOU HAPPY, and guess what would happen to the economy. Like a ticking time bomb going off. If you want to get technical with it, that money is going to a good cause, if you were to keep the money, it would be sitting in some bank somewhere collecting dust, a few dollars hereand there going to the people that need it more than you do is helping to CIRCULATE THE MONEY. in turn helping the economy stay afloat.
~Kitty~
I just wish that people wouldnt make assumptions until they REALLY knew what they were commenting on. These threads are sick, pointless, and filled with idiots that cant make an informed decision. I feel the need to STRONGLY apologize to my fellow disabled persons for the madness this thread has brought upon us. We all know the truth of how hard we work every day. These people do not realize that we are not just sitting around on our asses doing nothing. I hope everyone I am now speaking to, may your situations improve, and may you always be able to find some sort of happiness no matter what situation you are put under.
<3 Kitty.
Kitty, with all due respect… not everyone who is against this program is judging those who are receiving its benefits.
You make a great point, however. And that is, IT DOESN’T MATTER. Whether the person accepting the benefits is legitimately in need, or some freeloading crack whore is irrelevant.
What DOES matter is that those who are struggling to pay their own bills, feed their own kids, and simply get by on the little money they make are being ROBBED by government to pay others.
No matter how bad off the recipients are, it does not justify theft from those that have. If you’re that full of hope and compassion, get more like minded individuals like yourselves, and start a non-profit organization to go door-knocking asking for donations. WORK to get those who share your passion to WORK to find others WILLING to pay for it.
Or, you could just take the easy way out, and have the government steal it for you.
I was homeless at 17. I did what I needed to do and now I stand on my own 2 feet, with no help from anyone. I’ve felt hunger pains, I’ve been so cold I thought I was going to die. I’ve did things I regret but I had to do to survive. But I learned from my mistakes, I struggled, I fought my way back. I sacrificed because I had my priorities. Some people do need the help, and it’s good that they can get it. But I ask, why does it have to be at the expense of others and with their money? It’s like being forced to pay a tithe when you’re not even religious.
Don’t always assume that everyone bitching on forums was born with a golden diaper and a silver spoon in their mouth. And because I don’t like this program that makes me fall into your unfair and disrespectful generalization of “You are obviously poor excuses for Americans if you could ever find it acceptable to talk to your fellow Americans in this manner.”
Really, how many years of your life did you spend it the armed forces, serving your country and protecting the rights of Americans? How many wars have you fought in? How many of your friends have you watched die while serving your country? You might want to watch calling people “poor excuses for Americans” until you know THEIR full story. That’s the type of thing that could get a person hurt if they do it in the wrong company.
Fedup, great points you make in your posts, I just don’t think some people can comprehend what the real issues are at hand.
Seriously?! I re-read your post and I truly think your meds aren’t working. There are so many unsubstantiated claims and fragmented thoughts spewing from your 20 yr old mouth. What have YOU accomplished in your life to make the world a better place? To serve your country? To serve those in that country and protect their rights? To help those in need? To sacrifice year after year after year only to watch your compensation for hard work and sacrifice be taken from you and given to someone else? Your main problem is that you think “It is one of the obligations a government has, is to keep the people alive,” I don’t remember reading that in the Constitution. You seriously need to pull your head out of your ass and go back to school. I’m going to hope that you don’t vote and for everyone’s sake, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t breed!!!
Hi Tabi, No scanner or printer either, so I asked if they would mail the application and they did. Hope this helps you & good luck, Noela
GIRL QUIT HAVING BABIES YOU CANT SUPPORT AND WHERE IS THE FATHER OF THESE KIDS? WE’RE TIRED OF SUPPORTING PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND OCTO MOM! BECOME A GREETER AT WAL MART AND STAND ON YOUR OWN FEET! I RAISED 2 CHILDREN WITHOUT THE WELFARE LINE, BUILT MY OWN HOME AND BUSINESS WITH MY OWN HANDS, ITS CALLED WORK SISTER! IF YOU CAN LAY DOWN TO CREATE BABIES THEN YOU CAN WORK.
Whipper,
As you are quick to assign negative causality to anyone on SSI,ect. ,I feel compelled to defend myself at the beginning. For the record, I had a paper route at age eleven and worked outside the home until my disability completely prevented me.The final years of eligibility, was only due to profound flexibility within my mother’s family to jointly fulfill our contact. For the next SEVEN YEARS,I was able to fulfill duties of wife /mother and Erroneously FAILED TO SECURE SS DISABILITY AT THAT TIME. I have since been abandoned and divorced by default. There is such a think as cost vs. benefit ratio.Redress would be pointless. The fantastical turns in past 15 years could have in no way been anticipated or planned for.Yes,my current situation is I’m “single” EVEN EX SAYS NO FAILURE ON MY PART.Summary: His1st marriage court dramas lasted 13 years into OUR marriage
A man, so destroyed by cruelties of a women visited upon him AND their children, coupled with foul legal system that exists on loopholes vs. justice or welfare of children. These Horrible abusers of “public Assistance ” YES! THEY EXIST. Sad truth is of the 30 units in the “income based” apt I now live in, NO ONE WANTS TO BE HERE.YES,we get young mothers,but CONTRARY to what my own preconceived ideas were, too many were once married,part of the now needed EVIL of “dual-incomes” to keep morgaged paid. These women workmbut $10 per hour doesn’t keep you and your children above poverty line. We are older; many of us had developed expensive medical co-pays for our spouse to grumble over. Custody was NEVER fought for by use,it was left TO US. EVEN THOSE WHO RECEIVE SUPPORT, TO WOMAN~ NONE OF US RECEIVE FULL LEGAL % due. Just enough the cost to go after it isn’t worth expendature WE DO NOT HAVE. GOD FORGIVE ME IF I EVER SPOKE OR DID WRONG BY THESE HUMILIATED, ABANDONED WOMEN AND CHILDREN. May you only learn of your ignorance on judgment day,dearest Whipper.Just one question, given your views, and my disability, I’m left with the impression euthanasia is to be the right and reasonable course for someone such as myself. At what time do I submit to this? When my youngest child is HOW OLD?
IM GOING TO TAKE VIOLIN LESSONS SO I CAN PLAY YOU A TUNE FOR YOUR SAD STORY, STAND ON YOUR FEET AND TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
You guys should be a shamed of your self. Who are you to tell anybody not to have kids or not to get help. Be great full that god has gave you ability to work and provide for your family. keep in mind he can take all that away. and then what? you will have noughing. the same as those people on the welfare line. trust me with the way i have read all this crap on here u willl end up like that.
That is where you are wrong. I’ve worked and I saved and I’ve made many sacrifices. I have insurance that I pay out the A$$ for. I put money aside for ‘just in case’. I put off having children and getting married to get a education and a career that would allow me to do so in the future if I so choose. I was SMART! I planned ahead. I wore a condom! I didn’t start a family until I knew I was ready financially. ‘God’ doesn’t have jack to do with any of this. If he did, maybe all you should pray to him and see what kind of cell phone plan he can work out for ya! Yes, sometimes bad things happen to good people, there are people out there that need help and don’t abuse the system. However, by the time my tax dollars get spent on welfare, free health care, distribution of wealth, free cars, free rent, free utilities, free food, free diapers, free this and free that, there is no money left to pave the friggin roads I have to drive on to get to work. Therefore, my car gets beat to death and I’m forced to buy/repair my car which I cannot afford to do because the government is taxing me in the 38% – 40% tax bracket. All this so they can continue to pay for the ‘free’ stuff. So it’s MY money paying for YOUR free stuff which gives me ALL the right to come on here and voice my grievances.
THIS IS BULL WHEN I AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE HARD WORKING PEOPLE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OTHERS THAT WANT A FREE RIDE.
Don’t make him come down here you guys are not ready for armageddon I’m talking about GOD’s WAR not like the movie armagdeddon we all need to love each other because GOD’s GOVERMENT his KINGDOM will set all matters straight just like Noah’s day don’t for get Lot and what happen to his wife.
Really, Happy? Can you have Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny come first, please?
You’re god is an Awesome god, isn’t he… torched Lot’s wife, placed a trivial bet with the devil over Job’s family and belongings – torturing the guy to see how far he’d bend before he breaks. Wow, what love. Please, give me a helping of that @#)@.
Just a note to let you know that there are no camera phones, you do not have voicemail, call waiting or anything other than so many minutes a month. If you go to the Safelink site, you’ll see that words were added to the quote. It says nothing about your phone includes the extras as this person says. This phone is a lifesaver for me, I was in a serious accident, disabled and no longer can work. I’m a 54 year old widow and while working had Verizon and of course with my income drastically reduced from being unable to work, my cell ph was the first thing I discontinued. Was pleased to find out about Safelink through a newsletter I receive from Social Security. Along with low cost recipes and tips to save money on a limited income, it included info on the free cell phone. It is an old style phone that arrived, but I was so happy to have it in case of an emergency while driving. It allows me to call and receive calls and that’s it, which is all I need. The ones taking pictures of Mrs. Obama must have borrowed a phone w/camera, as it sure wasn’t a Safelink phone. Thank God for this program, it gives me a lifeline. Shame on the person who misquoted from the Safelink site, making it appear as if the phones are loaded with perks.
Thank you Noela. I was directed to this site after a friend of mine found out I got a safelink phone. While reading the comments I was ready to throw this effing computer right out of my friends’ room window!! But you have said pretty much what I been thinking. I’m 25 yrs old, and I have worked my ass off 40 to 50 hrs a week at my dream job and one day some idiots outside my store were putting fire-crackers into people’s exhaust pipes. My boss asked me to go tell them to get lost and they attacked me. I am permanently disabled, not able to have kids, half blind and can’t walk. I was young and never thought much about saving. I had about 40k saved and that ran out real fast barely covering the medical costs leaving me not enough to even pay for my modest 400 sq ft one room apt at only 500$ a month. Both of my parents died when a month after my attack and I have had no one to help me. I try to do as much as I can, but I will never be able to fully pay for just the basic needs like transportation or a comfortable wheel chair that doesn’t give me nasty blisters. I refuse to be on gvnt asstistance feeling as a lot of people do thinking I am not “one of those people” and I work as much as I can, writing articles, talking to groups about womans safety but it doesn’t pay well and its been hard and I finally took food stamps. But it wasn’t enough. I don’t have cable, no land phone, internet, no game systems, no fancy car, no name brand clothes because i cannot afford any. I signed up for safelink when I heard about it and I am greatful, its been a lifesaver. First of all its a shitty little motorola tracfone; refurbished W175g (look it up its shitty), no cam, no downloading anything, cant even type in caps! and I only get 68 min a month… and that goes so quick especially calling anyone “important” cuz being put on hold could use all those minutes up and im screwed for the month unless i can dishout money for more minutes to buy which i can’t or i wouldnt have this phone to begin with. So yeah no perks, but a lifesaver. I can’t believe the people on here who have nothing better to do than tear people down and judge and assume they know what they r talking about. Its obvious they don’t. It’s sad that some abuse the system and honestly those people PISS ME OFF, but not all of us are. And as for illegal aliens… you have to have ssi, tanf, food stamps or some over form of government asstistance to even qualify, a social security number and identity so its obvious no illegals are using this service. So before people write bullshit articles like this or copy them from the source of this bull shit article and help to spread the bullshit you should do your research and have some common sense. You know who u r and I pity your patheticness. Thanks Noela and the others who are not afraid to speak up and put these people in their place!
“I was young and never thought much about saving”
Decisions have consequences. Life sucks, and you want us to pay for your decisions?
so you would pick out a FRAGMENT of my comment and assume you know what ur talking about. figures.
Out of all the things you listed, it’s the most relevant part. The other stuff is just consequences resulting from the FRAGMENT I pointed out.
WOW YOUR HALF BLIND AND POOR? BUT YOU HAVE A COMPUTER? YOU CAN TYPE? DID THE GOVT GIVE YOU THE COMPUTER? TO GO WITH THE PHONE? GET REAL
“it’s a shitty phone”….what did you expect for free an iPhone
I find your story hard to believe in ways. I’m sorry for your unfortunate circumstances and you would be one of the people whom I, and most the rest on this forum who think along the same lines, would agree that need the help of government assistance. However, if you were attacked at work, why didn’t workman’s comp pay for the hospital bills? If you’re employer did not carry workman’s comp for his employees then that is a felony in most states in America and you would have had a clear cut lawsuit for you in your favor. (More than likely, I’m not a lawyer)So, why didn’t you sue your boss? He should have called 911 and not sent an employee into a situation where you could be injured. Did your boss step in to help you while they pummeled you outside? Why didn’t you sue the people who assaulted you? Might have gotten something to help you throughout your hardship life.
Listen, it’s not that we don’t want you to have a phone, rather we are bitching that the government, instead of giving people a cell phone (which is a priviledge not a right!) which I’m sure they pay (with tax money) a handsome contract for the service to the cell phone provider, let’s say $50 per month per cell phone.
So INSTEAD of the government wasting tax dollars on a shitty cell phone with only 68 minutes per month, why not change the current plan to one that would work better. Let me give you an example.
Phone companies still have regular home phone service in most places of the country for under $10 per month. You know the kind that hang on a wall or sit on a desk and we used up until about 20 years ago when cell phones began becoming ‘main-stream’. Well hey, lookie there!! Now 5 people could have phones where only 1 could before. Wouldn’t that be a much better solution to the problem? And if it’s a shitty phone, I’d take an older style land line phone over a shitty cell phone ANYDAY. I had a landline 2 years ago, cost me $9.95 a month, unlimited local calls and I bought a $30 cordless that works perfectly even when I’m a block away from my house in the city. Also included in my $30 phone was a ANSWERING MACHINE. You know, the things that record messages when you’re not available, it was what was used with MUCH success for so many years BEFORE voicemail. This means the phone companies might even be able to cut the price for the taxpayers (I say taxpayers because the government doesn’t have any money of their own) and in the spirit of ‘why doesn’t everyone chip in’ mentality the phone companies could give their customer’s a great deal. Seems like a much better idea to me all around.
5 people get a phone were only 1 used to, you get to keep your phone service, the service itself is better, the phones are better, the phone companies could get a tax break for giving the ‘government’ a ’special rate’ on their regular phone service, millions of taxpayer dollars could be saved, or used for more programs that would benefit EVERYONE not just a particular segment of the populous, AND by making people spend money to buy a regular phone, it would help to stimulate the economy moreso than just giving away phones. Everyone wins!
So if you all would quit being so ignorantly defensive and look at what most of us are REALLY bitching about, you would be enlightened to the fact that we are bitching more about GOVERNMENT WASTE than trying to eliminate programs that are, in fact, being managed poorly, and widely abused and only able to help a select group. (I say abused because for every person I know that ‘TRULY’ needs government sponsored programs there are at least 10 that could get off their ass and make ‘it work’ somehow, and another 10 that will ‘milk it’ for all it’s worth because they think “someone owes me somethin’ and I’m gonna get mine!” You may not believe that’s true but I’m well over your age and have seen it, lived it, and watched these people leech off the system for almost as many years as you’ve been alive.
So yes, it pisses me off that society continues to elect and support these pathetic, lying, thieving politicians into the government. And yes it pisses me off that the government wastes, steals and earmarks more money than most people can truly comprehend. And yes, it pisses me off that I’m taxed nearly 40% on everything I make, another 9% on everything I spend and I get ZERO breaks from the government, And lastly YES, I feel I have every right to bitch and complain being I am a veteran and a taxpayer for nearly 4 decades!
When the day comes that you have contributed and sacrificed as much as I have for this country, then you can tell me to shut up. Until then, you can shut up (maybe learn a thing or two) and listen to me bitch and complain in hopes that eventually enough people will pull their head out of their asses and we can make this country what it used to be… GREAT!
I’m not going to explain everything and i’m not looking for sympathy. I’ll just say that I have tried my best to do things better for myself and family. Pretty soon my baby’s father is coming back to live with us and i will no longer be on welfare. i already let go of tanf. I plan to go back to ged classes, even though i have difficulty learning new things. I have always wanted a family and i love my kids dearly and give them the best i can. anyways, you can take that however u see it. I respect people too much to cram crap on them. I do need assistance for the time being. oh, another thing. Thankyou, Noela for ur help on what to do about an application and for your understanding. I think I might’ve made a mistake at leaving a remark on here though since it’s mostly for hateful people who hates the media. no disrespect intended for anyone though. I know that crappy people that cheat the government messes everything up. I do hate that happening in the media. So I do agree somewhat on some things that are said. I’m done on here. I have alot of things to do. God bless all of you and take care.
I just reread a few comments on here. I wanted to thank the few others that were kind. Sorry for leaving u out of the first message. I didn’t remember those few messages. God bless.
are…you…freaking…kidding me.
po as shlt, can’t find a nickel to rub together…but needs a phone.
WTF is wrong with this country?
Let’s also not let TRACFONE off the hook, they are the one selling this nonsense.
These people crack me up! They have been on this site for months, spewin out the same ol BS about refusing to pay for it! Well guess what, you do, and will pay for it, there is nothing you ca do about it. So just sit there at you computer and chew on it!
Or maybe you can come up with some other BS like poor people shouldn’t have light bulbs cause the government subsidizes there electric bill?
You guys are idiots. Nothing else need be said!
With all the the crap wrong with this world this is what you waste all your energy on! This is the reason our country is all jacked up!
PRIORITIES PEOPLE!!
This is a $13.50 subsidy per person, paid for by everyone who owns a home phone! Meaning that alot of the people that get this subsidy, help pay for it!
Dont you think that their are bigger issues in this country that you should be addressing? Health care, hunger, crime, corporate greed, war, terrorism….
Or how about the fact that every time there is a budget crisis we take the money from our schools??
You guys have been bitchin about a twenty year old program on here for way to freakin long!!
A) Cell phones were not around (in prevalence) 20 years ago.
B) This country is dying a rapid death of 1000’s of tiny papercuts like this program. To dismiss it because bigger wastefulness exists is a stupid argument
The program has been around since 1984. Regan enacted. The only difference is now it is being used towards cell phones instead of just land lines. Pac Bell gave away home phones then, just just TracPhone gives them away now. The subsidy has been the same!
Pull your head out and look at bigger issues!
Wait a second. So the logic should be that because billions are wasted else where, and we’re vocal about this $120M/yr (for FL alone) subsidy our priorities are screwed up? How many of us anti-cell-phone bloggers are ONLY concerned about this issue? Just because IHTM.COM has such a nice public forum, make it an easy target. That does not mean we aren’t bitching at all the other forms of waste. I can’t speak for others, but I am able to multi-task and spread my bitching to all things that erk me. And they include Military, government deficit spending, excessive and stifling taxes, and lack of accountability of our elected officials.
Sorry if you feel that a 20-year old wasteful program is no longer eligible to be ‘bitched at’. As long as it’s still sucking money from me when I’m barely treading water, you can be I’m screaming.
Those who have not problem sucking on my dried up, shriveled up taxpayer tit, please let go now.
WISE UP PEOPLE. EVERYTHING FREE ISN’T GOOD ANYWAYS. DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE APPLYING WITH THIS SO-CALL COMPANY, “SAFELINK WIRELESS. 1ST, THIS IS NOT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, THIS IS A COMPANY OUT OF THE PHILIPINES, SO JUST TRY TO CONTACT THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE OR TECH SUPPORT 1-800-378-1684, AND THEN ASK, WHERE IS THIS CALL BEEN TAKEN FROM, YOU WILL GET SINGAPORE, OR THE PHILIPINES, ALSO ASK FOR THEIR COPORATE ADDRESS & YOU WILL RECEIVE INCORRECT INFO, SUCH AS: P O BOX 22209 MILWALKEE, OREGON 97269 WHILE DOING “MY” RESEARCH I ASK THE FOREIGN SPEAKING REP (WHO’S NAME WAS SUNSHINE #81622, YEAH RIGHT.)TO REPEAT THE ADDRESS 3 TIMES JUST TO BE SURE SHE WAS REPEATING THE INCORRECT ADDRESS. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS ASKING, I ALSO HAD THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ON MY COMPUTER WHICH PROVIDES THE CORRECT ADDRESS: P O BOX 220009 PORTLAND, OREGON 97269. ALSO, BBB Accreditation: Safelink Wireless is not a BBB Accredited business. WHY NOT, IF THEIR SUPPORTED BY THE “GOVERMENT” THIS INFO COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU WEBSITE. IF YOU GO ON SAFELINK WEBSITE, CONTACT US; IT GIVES A MIAMI ADDRESS. 2ND, IF SAFELINK IS FUNDED BY THE GOVERMENT, THE ONLY WAY TO APPLY IS THE INTERNET, OR FAX, NOT OVER THE PHONE. IF SAFELINK WAS SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERMENT, THEIR COMPANY WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO VERIFY YOUR INFORMATION WITHOUT YOU FAXING OR VIA INTERNET. YOU ARE SENDING ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. WISE UP PEOPLE. ALSO, FROM THE BBB WEBSITE. Marketplace Experience for Safelink Wireless
BBB Serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington does not process any complaints against this company. Any complaints are directed to BBB serving West Palm Beach, FL for processing.
IS “FREE PHONE” & A FREE 68 MINUTES WORTH YOUR IDENITY. IF YOU DON’T TAKE A STAND, YOU WILL FALL FOR ANYTHING. SAFELINK IS HIDING BEHIND TRACFONES
This nonsense is exactly why the world is the way it is now ! Its unbelievable how heartless and greedy we have become ! United ? Really ! Are we anymore ? I shake my head in disbelief ! How could you say such horrible things about the less fortunate …. until you really walked in there shoes ! You dont know the circumstances and the situations that others have been put in ! Who gave you the all mighty power to judge anyone else ?
I think you’re confusing compassion with responsibility. No one here – certainly not me – is advocating people suffer intentionally. But, if you feel so passionately the donate YOUR time and money. If I feel the same, I’ll help. But to FORCE (i.e. steal at gunpoint) money from the working class is an even greater injustice. It doesn’t matter how sad the story is on the other end. If you’re taking money from someone against their will, it is stealing. So what if government does it to fight wars, or to develop weapons. All of that is wrong too. That doesn’t make stealing to feed the poor any more right than Robin Hood.
Who is anyone to judge when you have no idea how these people are living?You all think it’s just your tax money paying paying for these things? I think not.I’m a married woman with children and my husband works his ass off to pay our bills.AND WE PAY TAXES TOO. We had a bank account but do you realize you have to pay to keep your account? The crap the bank feeds you about”free” checking accounts is bullshit.Yeah,we might have internet and cable but we don’t own a house, a car or any other luxurious thing.We have to walk everywhere and yeah in addition to what we can afford each month to buy food, we get help from the state.We pay for everything we can but things have changed in the past few years. We never had to recieve help and now we do.I applied for a safelink phone awhile ago and was approved but I only recieve food stamps and that is it.Dss does not help me in any other way.We’ll we’re finally making a little more money so I cancelled my phone with safelink.We bought our own phone now. It’s really sad when others don’t want to help other people that need it.Especially when they are hard working,tax paying people as well.Yes people may lie to get services but just because they do doesn’t mean everyone does.Sometimes people need help for awhile.Being that we pay taxes too it doesn’t seem like bad a thing to get a free phone when needed.Of course it upsets me whne people feel they don’t have to work at all and get everything handed to them because it hurts others who actually need it. There is nothing wrong at all with getting the help you need.Everyone making nasty comments,maybe one day you’ll find yourself in the postion asking for help as well. I feel for you all.
for all you well to do people if the goverment will not help the under privilege
fellow american how can we as well to do american say that we truely care about the old , disable , not so well to do people. Makes me think that we live in a bonk state of polictical lier that all they wants to do is say bad and ugly thing about them like G. Bush did all his life about people of america. And when he became something he could never ever do ham us the way safelink is scam us now . So do worry they’ll never give a poor person anythingI’m sure of.
for the recored i dont have one of the free cell phones…But if i can qualify for one why not getting the damn thing ..and we all bitching about for the same reason..which is we cant get one…dont give me the bull crab that you refuse to take free stuff..Get real people.
Safe Link has been a life saver for me and my children! I am a tax payer who do not make enough with one income to make ends meet. Can’t afford a home phone or internet so by the kids getting home from school before I get off work, this phone provides them with the ability to call me especially during emergencies! I have peace of mind knowing that we can communicate without worrying when the phone will be disconnected because I can’t afford to pay it. Thank God for You Safe Link!
IF you cannot afford a home phone then why in the hell do you have kids? Thats right, that fat tax return in January with a child credit. What do you get? 3-4 grand back? I bet you have a 42 inch flat screen t.v. like everyother “poor” person. Walmart is amazing in January.
Have you ever been poor?So poor you didn’t know where your next meal would come from,or how to feed children,have basics heat ,rent,shoes for school.If not, then you don’t know what being poor is.The free phones don’t have cameras.
Why is everyone using the starving children and being dirt poor excuse to justify STEALING from others? Does that make it OK? If was on my last leg dying of starvation, I would ask, beg, do whatever is necessary to feed myself or my children, but I would not want someone else to be forced into helping me.
All you compassionate people who want to help people in worse positions, GOOD FOR YOU! HELP THEM! But what is worse? Having no volunteers to help a starving child, or stealing money from someone else? They BOTH wrong.
Yet, somehow it’s socially acceptable to steal from those that have (as opposed to asking for help). How is that right? How do you justify that?
Funny how you wanna call poor people getting subsidies stealing, but rich people manipulating the system and destroying our economy is ok!
They are not stealing anything! It is a system set up and enacted by our government.
I mean really, they pay a CEO who drove a company into the ground millions to resign, and layoff all the hard workers that kept the company afloat! And you wanna bitch cause they get a $13.50 subsidy every month!
I’m “fedup” of people like you who are so blinded by propaganda that you cant even think or see for yourselves!
well safelink i hate it and it bites i wish i never got it i got it when i lost my job so i had a phone to when i found one they could call me i am about to send it back it not worth my time its like a scam to me
Do what I did. Call your local congressman and have them mail you documents in regards to how much federal money is being spent on this program then turn it over to your local news station. Bitching and crying will do nothing, but letting tax paying citizens know how much of their money is being pissed away is a start. I actually have a interview with my local ABC news this afternoon as I have faxed them the information on this program. I’m sorry, a cell phone is a privilege not a right. People have done just fine with out a cell phone for hundreds of years. BTW…. This program has nothing to do with feeding your kids unless you feed them cell phones. This is a seperate federal budget OUTSIDE of the foodstamp program.
hey heres something for you people that get on here and waste your lives…no one cares about you…and no one listens to you… the sooner you wake up and realize this…the sooner you will not be wasting yours and everyone elses time…you people that get on here and talk shit to each other are at the bottom of the barrel of society…the rich man gets on here and talks shit about the poor man and vice versa …but guess what…we’re all gonna die with the same last breath…just hope we all have something to go to when we die…if we live together we may die together…ill stop ranting right here before i get started…i guess the moral of my story is worry about your own problems…and don’t talk about every one elses….we have enough fighting/famine/hate/war going on in this world…you people are just pushing us closer to the edge……don’t mind replying because ill never be back on here…i’ve got bigger fish to fry…p.s. i don’t care about spelling or punctuation….you people aren’t worth my time
I am SOOOOO sick and damned tired of seeing all you people calling paying your TAXES theft!!! OMG You guys must be complete retards. YOUR PAYING YOUR EFFING TAXES! Who cares if it goes towards social security, the homeless, SAFELINK… its your taxes. YOU HAVE TO PAY THEM. Especially with our economy like its been going the last few years its not going to decrease just cuz the needy become LESS. Then you would just have to find something else to bitch about. These people who are manipulating the system I think are damned smart, it really is not easy to do. Trust me I am a lazy mofo and if I could I would sit on my ass and recieve all the free money I can, but guess what I have NO AID and am forced to work because it is not EASY to get aid. So yeah they r smart and geez again they are NOT stealing from YOU or ur next door neighbor or the guy in the state next to him. Once you pay your taxes, THAT IS NOT YOUR MONEY< ITS THE GOVERNEMENTS. They aren't STEALING from you. And again its not theft, u have to pay your taxes anyway, so go complain to your congressman and president, don't bitch at us. God you guys are so effing stupid. Pull your half a brain out of a** and find something productive to do with your time that maybe will HELP others, or hell go out and start killing off the con artists, but you can't complain if you aren't gonna do anything, now ur just bitching to bitch. And if you hate this country so much and think its so messed up, then why don't you take advantage of another freedom we have that most forget about, THE FREEDOM TO LEAVE!
interesting point of view. taxes are not stealing. gosh, ive had it all wrong all this time. now i can relax.
let me ask you, mr. annoying… at what point does it become theft? when the gvmnt takes 50%? 75%? 99% if you agree that at soe point it becomes theft, then we agree and all we’re haggling on is the price…
i lived on a farm growing up and we didnt have a phone and it was no problem walking 4 blocks to use a pay phone ! we did just fine
I’m not sure how these cell phone are paid for or how they are free to low income people, but I have one. I am a mom of two trying to go to college and support my family, I pay all my bills including a home phone which I think is just as valuable as a cell, and I did want a cell phone to carry with me to school because it’s so far from my house and I need to stay in touch just in case but really couldn;t affoerd a high dollar plan. For those that don’t abuse the system this is a great thing. Besides they only give you 68 minutes a month and the phone you recieve can be purchased at Wal-mart for about 10 bucks. But I guess I don’t have a point other than some people down on their luck can get some use out of a deal like this… it’s not a totally useless plan… idk?
Screwtape – GS is definitely the man behind the curtain, but that doesn’t lessen the egregiousness of the social handout program this Safelink is. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
And, while GS may in fact be the ‘bigger guy’, it is the handouts like Safelink that lulls the constituency to sleep.
Yeah I always wondered who was behind the financial problems of the United States for the last 100 or so years. I had my ideas and theory’s but with only ominous connections like the “Fed” and such. If it seems like things have just been getting worse and worse for no apparent reason for everyone, it’s because it has. Screwtape has a valid point, if the cell phones for “the poor” pisses you off then check out this article about Goldman Sachs and there “rape job” on the American public
Find it here:
http://www.correntewire.com/great_american_bubble_machine_0
fedup you’ve probably already read it
OMG. I just realized that you have been posting about this for months now. Maybe you need anger management. Or a pill. Let go and let God.
Britton, I don’t think we shoul dhave bailed out anyone. Goldma Sachs are criminals just like AIG. You have to ask yourself why where certain companies given bailouts but other where left to fail. AIG holds Congress’s pension plan so of course they got money.
The bottom line is I am tired of seeing money get wasted on social programs, bailouts, and stimilus bills. Enough is enough. Time to implement the Fair Tax.
No Violet, I don’t need a pill and I sure as hell won’t look to God for support and back up on this issue. I’m not even going to waste my time with a lengthy response to your banter.
????
Yeah its a sad day when ultra elite and rich business owners can get better assistance than a homeless man on the streets. I guess the human race still needs a few hundred thousand more years of evolution, because from my stand point it looks like the whole world is being run by neanderthals. I don’t like to see money wasted on useless programs any more than the next guy. The cellphones for the poor deal, useless, and I don’t care what any of you say. They are a waste of money, now food assistance, yes that is a good one and I can see putting money in a pool for that as useful. Section 8, its good as long as its not just some lay around looking for a free home, when they know good and well they could afford something.
But ultimately the finger pointing can always go back to the greedy of society, the ones who still have way to much silver-back DNA floating around in there genetic cores. They have it all and will step on anyone to make sure they keep and get more.
I have never been rich, and I have nothing of value to my name, credit is shot and the only thing keeping me from being homeless on the streets at this time is minor side work here and there and support from my family. I’ll go live under a bridge if I must, but I really hope that America’s job market is not gone forever. I’ll never be able to afford to move to China and find a job there, nor would they let me.
Don’t you see, each race takes care of there own, and its been this way for centuries on top of centuries, and the mixing of so many diverse cultures in one spot on the globe is creating more problems than it fixed. Internal fighting and squabblling amongst the regular folks while the federal, state, and local governments turn a blind eye and hope you don’t notice them stuffing there pockets with your money (aka hard work).
It’s like talking to a brick wall with some folks, they just never get it. Mental limitations I suppose, but those that are ignorant are doomed to be slaves of those that know better.
Enjoy the ignorance
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