Alphabet Soup

How would you like a free cellphone, no activation fee, no annual contract, and 250 free voice minutes per month?  There is yet another government program for U.S. indigent people called Assurance Wireless which is administered by Virgin Wireless (a British company.)  This program entitlement is sponsored through the Universal Service Fund (USF), yet another vote-buying perk given by our Congress to "assure" its members even greater perpetuity (see: Universal Service Fund).  If you are not indigent but merely indignant and want to learn more, please visit the Assurance Wireless Website. Here is a quote from this website regarding Massachusetts residents with an alphabet soup of qualifying programs:

You may qualify for Assurance Wireless if you participate in any of the following government programs: 1) MassHealth or Medicaid Food Stamps/SNAP; 2) Supplemental Security Income (SSI); 3) Low- Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); 4) Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC); 5) Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) [and for] Individuals or Families Living in Tribal Lands Only: 6) Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) General Assistance Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); 7) Head Start Program [HSP] (under income qualifying eligibility provision only); [and finally] 8) National School Lunch Program [NSLP] (free meals program only)

It would be easy for one to pay over $35 per month ($420 per year) for such a cellphone service.  Is there no end to largess that is lavished upon those who have found their way back into our welfare system?  Apparently, Bill Clinton, his Presidential successors, and our 535 members of Congress have found even more creative ways to "fix welfare" and "not end welfare as we know it."