89Comments
Dec 7, 2012 11:24PM
Dec 7, 2012 10:18PM
1) Wifi doesn't have to be free, a business pays for it, they can profit if they want, give it to certain people, etc... They do open the risk for hackers, illegal downloaders and just bogging down their network.
2) I "allow" the networks to use the airwaves? Not like I am using them. And you can still get many channels with an antenna.
3) I have never seen anyone charge for condiments. But then you state to "build the cost in to the price", so exactly how is that giving it for free if you build it in? And if it is built in, then what if I don't want ketchup/mustard, I am still paying for it.....
4) Most every restaurant gives free refills, but even if they don't, I can't see why that should be free.
5) Check your car tires before leaving home. And if it is an emergency, just spring for the 50 cents. And when is the last time you saw someone filling a radiator at a gas station, in my 45 years I've seen it ONE time.
6) Most credit cards do not have annual fees, use one of them.
7) I agree on application fees.
8) Tech support usually is free during warranty. Who pays "thousands" for a laptop anymore? Most are $400 and are "throw away" items.
9) Maybe people should go 2 or 3 hours on a plane without eating? Most longer flights do include a free meal.
10) I actually prefer the different options when flying, so long as it ACTUALLY reduces the base cost of the ticket. I'd rather pay for luggage and then pack wisely to save money.
11) Yes, checking accounts are out of hand, fees, minimum requirements, pay to see a teller, etc...
12) ATMs are free if you stay in network, I've never once paid a fee. But if it were a true emergency where I had to have cash, I could care less about the $2 or $3. Plan ahead and have the cash you need.
13) Yes, credit reports should be free, as well as our credit score. Maybe once a month instead of once a year.
14) Same argument could be used that a guy with long hair gets haircut for $15, girl with long hair gets a cut for $50. Then again, why should a guys tailored suit be done for free anyway?
15) Not many use 411 with smart phones or just calling a friend to do a google search.
16) You think K-12 is free in the US? You ever hear of a thing called taxes?
17) Never heard of a restaurant that allows you to bring your own wine. Won't they let you open it yourself?
18) Yes, parks should be free.
19) Tax money to pay for water/sewer/trash does not make it free. If you rent, it is usually built in to the price, if you own a home this is such a small payment that it should not matter.
20) Maybe have a cap for how much politicians should be able to spend.
Dec 7, 2012 10:15PM
i have a retail business with gas and groceries and i bought a air pump which cost me 1200 dollars for people could use it i charge 50 cents for some one to use it there's nothing free in this world do you people work for free ? i have people come into my business and go back and use my restroom and they don't make a purchase as if i owe them a restroom i don't i pay employees to clean that facility they use my toilet paper which i pay for thats whats wrong with this country today theres to many people taking from the tax payers that work for the non producers and it will take us down financially just like greece ireland spain france etc.
Dec 7, 2012 10:09PM
"TV programming
Remember when all you needed to watch network TV was a television set, and maybe a set of rabbit-ear antennas for better reception? We now have hundreds of channels to choose from, and we pay a high price for that, but network television should still be free."
Ummmm....
It still is. I get 3X more channels w/HDTV radio signals than I did with analog signals. All this with a 12 year old UHF/VHF antenna just like the old days.
Writer is either trying to manipulate the facts (bad journalism at best) or is a lazy researcher. Boooo!
Dec 7, 2012 9:45PM
Here we are now a country of people looking to get something for nothing. What has happened? Where did this entitlement society come from. None of our founding fathers would have imagined, even in their wildest dreams, that someday this country would have had an election based on "what is in it for me". People in the past have fought for basic civil rights, children labor laws, free trade, etc... This year part of our election was the fight for free birth control. Unbelievable!
Dec 7, 2012 9:40PM
Dec 7, 2012 9:39PM
Hilariously, nothing in life is free. It is payed for by someone and that someone is a taxpayer. Big problem is that at least .40% of Americans pay no income tax. I would love to pick up the tab for elections every four years, but i am afraid I will have to refrain from paying for college for everyone elses kids, nor will i tell a business that they should make certain things complimentary when they are trying to make it in both the most dismal and hostile market on earth.
Dec 7, 2012 9:35PM
Dec 7, 2012 9:29PM
Its not the politicians or the lawyers, it the citizens mentalities. It’s the citizens who elect these politicians and hire the lawyers (but we do need good lawyers for legitimate things). More and more people are convinced that things should be given to them just because they exist. The reason America was great in the first place was because people worked hard and had morals, and dare I say, a healthy reverence for the Almighty…
In America we are guaranteed the certain freedoms, and these are designed to shore us up so we can work hard to become the best we can be and to buy our own stuff and willingly help others.
Dec 7, 2012 9:24PM
Dec 7, 2012 9:21PM
Dec 7, 2012 9:19PM
Dec 7, 2012 9:14PM
Dec 7, 2012 9:01PM
One of my personal pet peeves is that while most hotels/motels in suburban and even rural areas provide "free" internet (included in cost); hotels in big cities and/or resort locations have the nerve to charge $10 per day for internet if you want it on top of their already significant room rates...
Seriously? Most people who stay at hotels in resort locations or big cities are either on vacation or at a conference...I might at most use the internet for 30 minutes a day with minimal bandwidth useage (since I have better things to do when on vacation or at a professional conference) and they dare to offer me the "great deal" of $10 per day???
Seriously? Most people who stay at hotels in resort locations or big cities are either on vacation or at a conference...I might at most use the internet for 30 minutes a day with minimal bandwidth useage (since I have better things to do when on vacation or at a professional conference) and they dare to offer me the "great deal" of $10 per day???
Dec 7, 2012 8:51PM
Dec 7, 2012 8:14PM
peace holy, they used to be free. so was air, now you have to pay extra to have clean air. just how much do you think they added to a new car price to have it spew clean air, i'd guess, over $2,000.00, same with gasoline, porbably we pay more then 25 cents a gallon what i used to pay in 1970 to go to work, now probably added $2.00 a gallon to make factories spew clean air & water. peace holy
Dec 7, 2012 7:54PM
i once had a boss who told me not to complain about something unless you could offer at least one suggestion on how to correct the situation. So how do we go about starting reform and getting these items that should be free for free? I agree with every item you mentioned and at this time of year would like to add free assembly for toys and other items that now cost the equivalent of a room full of quality new furniture. Add to that free wrapping and sales persons who offer boxes to put your purchases in and assistance to take items to your car. These items and services used to be free and as you mentioned for what these items cost should still be free now. Again, how do we start this reform?
Dec 7, 2012 7:53PM
I would say the number one thing that should be free of charge is Health Care. Bar none. utilize our tax dollars more efficiently. Open more teaching hospitals. Subsidize those who go for medical degrees and set minimum and maximum amounts that services can be charged at. Health care costs will be the biggest challenge this country will have to deal with. It shoudl be free or at least picked up %100 by employers. If you really value your employees, then paying to make sure they remain active and healthy should be part and parcel of the employment contract. I would take less pay if my employer would pay the full shot. As it is, my premium has gone from $67 biweekly in 1995 to $172 biweekly as of 12/1/12. I think i have been to the doctor 5 times in that whole span. Insurance companies should stop using the money of those who rarely utilize a doctor's services to pay for the hypocondriacs of the world to abuse the system. Those who utilize the system the least should be given kickbacks, Just like Alllstate is doing with car insurance when you have no accidents. I am so tired of the greed.
Dec 7, 2012 7:42PM
Dec 7, 2012 7:40PM
Dec 7, 2012 7:25PM
Dec 7, 2012 7:24PM
Dec 7, 2012 7:23PM
Free??? Gimme a break, nothing is free. But a number of things should be made available to everyone - like police and firemen, national defense, education, health care - anything that is necessary for people to realize the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And they're far from free, we all pay for them through an "equitable" system of taxation.
Dec 7, 2012 7:20PM
Dec 7, 2012 7:06PM
With the price of a liquor license and liquor liability insurance, why would a resturant owner allow you to bring your own wine for free? Air dispensors for gas stations cost 1500 bucks plus install and are usually abused by patrons. The autor of this artice knows little about staying in business
Dec 7, 2012 7:02PM
Dec 7, 2012 7:00PM
The cost of using the air and water machines is used to offset the expense of replacing the hoses and fittings on the air/water dispensers. Too many jackasses will just thrown the hose down when they get through with it, then it gets run over. John Q only cares about his property, not anyone else's.
Dec 7, 2012 6:57PM
There are 315 million people in America, (2011 census)
Healthcare in this country cost 2.6 Trillion in 2010 (Kaiseredu.org)
Divide 2.6 trillion by 315 million comes out to 825.39 cost per person for healthcare in the US.
So- Why would it cost me 850 per month for a health insurance policy ( family plan- 3 people) with a 6000 deductible?
Single payer system should not cost the American public more than 1600 per year per person, current system would cost me more than 16,000 per year before anything was covered. A difference of $10,000 per year- only for the lesser amount I would actually get health care.
Maybe Americans need to set up their own single payer system, where every person can contribute a 1% of the group costs- who can we get to organize and run it?
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