A Response to Promoting Amateur Radio

We don't really believe that now do we? someone has grossly misinformed you about recruiting kids into Amateur Radio. The Question is why do you or anyone else have to go after kids to try and force an archaic technogoly upon them. Sure sounds like desperation to me. If there was such an urgency to learn Amateur radio then schools all across the country with the aid of the Government would have instituted programs to continue the growth of Amateur Radio among the young. Again kids will defind their own direction insofar as hobbies are concerned. I saw a movie once where the neighborhood Drug Kingpin explained to his pushers, and I "quote" we need to go out and get them while they are young so we can insure a strong customer base for the future of our business. Although we are not comparing the two it sure sounds to me like you are suggesting we go after the kids to insure Amateur Radios growth in numbers alone to save Amateur Radio. The FCC has already tried that by easing the rules to create a NoCode Tech License and that didn,t work, so what makes you think that teaching them (the kids) CW is going to change anything further? Don't look at children as if they are just another number to insure the continuation of an obselete technology. On the question of Cell phones who told you anyone had to pay for a Cell Phone? last time i looked Cell Phones was free with a service connection fee. HT's, as far as those are concerned they are the Life Blood of Amateur Radio. Some Amateur Radio retail outlets have reported that HT's are 80% of their Amateur sales and if it was not for the commerical retail sales they would be out of business.I just want to address a few more of your issues briefly, you can't compare exposure to Amateur Radios as the same thing with computers, come on be real!! there is not an HT or base station sitting on every tabletop in America. But you might find a computer there. An (HT is all they need?)a Cell Phone, a Pager and a Computer is also needed! How about my Kachina 505DSP Computer-Controlled HF Transceiver. Now that might get the kids interested. Anyway that HF Radio sitting on the desk in your shack (which resembles a Computer controlled Drill Press) will soon be history, some of the big (3) manufacturers of Amateur Radio equiptment don't even make them any more. Whatever models are in the pipeline, when those radios are sold you can say (honntae)to stand alone Rigs and hello to KACHINA. The Public Good? who elected or appointed you to decide what is best for the Public Good? I think we need a Cell Phone or a Laptop Computer. Mobilizing Forces? Organizing groups, thats been tried on a national scale with Police Departments Schools ect. most have disappeared because of lack of interest. It's ok to introduce kids to communications but otherwise leave our kids alone they will choose their own [HOBBIES] So Long CW Farewell Amateur Radio Seven Three LWLongbow