1984: Thread

[grarpamp]

https://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2022/08/the-smart-phones-role-in-dumbing-down.html
http://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02mIRnPJm6g

The Smartphone's Role In Dumbing-Down America

Bruce Wilds via Advancing Time blog

The smartphone has begun to play a huge role In dumbing down America.
Rather than being a source to move us forward, it has become an
albatross around the necks of many weak-minded souls that depend on
them. People turn to these devices for all kinds of unneeded updates
including performing simple math problems so they don't have to think.

Originated in 1933, the term "dumbing down" was movie-business slang,
used by screenplay writers, meaning: "to revise to appeal to those of
little education or intelligence." For those with little drive or
purpose, the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant
realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy
find great comfort in the constant flow of dribble a cell phone can
provide. In short, dumbing down is the deliberate oversimplification
of intellectual content in education, literature, cinema, news, video
games, and culture.

It should be noted this is being written just as the world is on the
cusp of being offered a whole new recipe that may lead to more social
dysfunction. That comes in the form of "virtual reality" which offers
an even stronger form of escapism that may result in damaging the
ability of people to relate to each other in the real world.
Especially worrisome is the effect it might have on children that
experience and embrace it. Their ability to separate this fake virtual
world from reality could become impaired.

A great deal of the problems with smartphones are rooted in the idea
everyone deserves one. Yes, I said deserves, not needs. Smartphones
are now considered by many people as an extension of their being. A
government program started years ago has mushroomed in size and
transfers a huge amount of wealth down the social ladder. Years ago I
wrote an article that outlined a government program supplying free
phones to people with low incomes or that have been declared needy. At
that time these phones have become known as "Obama Phones." Below I
give some of the details about the program including who qualifies. If
you want to be popular with the voters give them free stuff and let
them know that they should not bite the hand that feeds them.

The term "Obama phone" is not a myth as an online search rapidly
confirms. This popular government program explains why we see so many
people that would appear to not have a dime in their pockets walking
along or driving down the street talking on a cell phone. What exactly
is the free Obama phone? It is a program that is meant to help the
financially unstable who cannot afford access to a cell phone. It
seems that communication should not be limited to people based on what
they can afford. The Lifeline program started decades ago to help
low-income families have access to landlines has been expanded. Over
the years the cost of cell phones and cellular service has decreased
and the program has been extended to cover cell phones.

So who qualifies? It appears little has changed over the years, it
seems that if you or members of your household are, receiving the
following benefits you automatically qualify for the Lifeline program.
The best way to know if you qualify is by filling out an application
for a Lifeline provider in your state. Those interested in the program
must have an income of less than 135% of the Federal Poverty
Guidelines or about $22,350 per year for a family of four.

    Food Stamps or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

    Medicaid

    Supplemental Security Income – commonly known as SSI

    Health Benefit Coverage under Child Health Insurance Plan (CHIP)

    The National School Lunch Program’s Free Lunch Program.

    Low-Income Energy Assistance Program – LIHEAP

    Federal Public Housing Assistance ( Section 8 )

    If you are a low-income Eligible Resident of Tribal Lands

    Temporary Assistance to Needy Families – TANF

Lifeline is a government-sponsored program, but who is paying for it?
Some people claim that the government is using taxpayers’ money to run
this program, however, the claim is false. The clever clowns we have
sent to Washington found a backhanded under-the-table sort of way to
make it appear it is not taxpayer money. Universal Service Fund (USF)
which is administered by the Federal Communication Commission along
with the Universal Service Administration Company (USAC), pays for the
Lifeline phone assistance program. The Universal Service Fund (USF)
was created back in 1997 by Federal Communication Commission to
achieve the goals set by Congress under the Telecommunication Act of
1996. According to the Act, service providers are obliged to
contribute a portion of their interstate and international
telecommunications revenues. In short, paying phone customers are
paying for it.

It is written that if you are one of those people who have lost their
jobs due to the recession, then probably you’re having a hard time
with your daily expenses. On top of that, paying telephone bills is
just another pressure. You can get rid of this burden by applying to
the "Lifeline Assistance Program" run by the government. To get a
phone contact the provider of this service. The government has
approved many companies at the national and regional levels to provide
this service to eligible people.
 Just how much might one of these free government cell phones change your life?

    An employer can more easily reach you with a job offer if you have
a free government cell phone.
    You can stay in touch with your doctor and other emergency medical
professionals more easily with a free government cell phone.
    A free government cell phone can help you keep in touch with
family and other loved ones.

And the good news is that while a government-assisted cell phone
provides you with up to 250 monthly minutes to go with your free cell
phone. While that’s a generous contribution from the government, it’s
barely enough airtime to last many people a month. But good news is
they can easily buy more minutes for the phone from each of the major
Lifeline cell phone companies. You can see this is what has happened
when it has gotten to the point where people carry their phone in
their hand as they go about their business. Apparently, if you use a
promotion code, you can get some very good deals.

Smartphone Have Become A Major Distraction

A great deal of attention has been given to some of the ideas and
visions the World Economic Forum has floated. A powerful and very
visible glimpse was contained in the public relations video entitled:
“8 Predictions for the World in 2030. Its 2030 agenda promotes the
idea that  by 2030, "You will own nothing. And you'll be happy."
Smartphones dovetail with edging the general population towards such
an existence. With the government transferring the costs for millions
of customers to those that pay full price, another face of corporate
welfare is exposed.

Over The Years This Addiction Has Only Grown Stronger


Interestingly while many people admit they are addicted to these
phones that seem to offer a form of escapism from the real world, some
users are moving back to dumbphones. A video by ColdFusion
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02mIRnPJm6g), an Australian-based
online media company, looks into this "Anti-Smartphone Revolution." It
points out how the dumbphone or what is sometimes called a brick is
far less intrusive in our lives. Surprisingly, it is those users
between the age of 25-35 that are leading this charge.

Are Smartphones Making Children Slaves To Big Tech?

We should never underestimate the role of the smartphone in dumbing
down America. We can only hope people will begin to take a closer look
at these society-changing devices. When a phone will provide the
answer to simple math problems many people no longer feel compelled to
learn or memorize the things which give us perspective and help us to
understand the world around us. It has become apparent, that
smartphones change more than society. They change people, too. Being
able to push a few buttons does not necessarily make you smarter.