Sometimes it seems as if there is a controlling force determined to snuff out every vestige of individuality remaining to us.
Does that sound paranoid?
Maybe so.
But the pressure to conform, to do, be and behave like everyone seems close to irresistible.
Take news for just one example. You can’t get the full story from TV news anymore. Every news item ends with “To learn more, visit our website.”
So, you have to buy a computer – if you can afford to.
Now, that controlling force is after your telephone.
AT&T is backing legislation that would allow the communications behemoth to no longer provide landline service.
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Too expensive, AT&T says. That money could better be used for research to provide better communications technology and thus better service to customers.
You might want to ask, though, if spending money on research will result in better products, hence more customers and thus more profits, why doesn’t AT&T do it whether it supports landlines or not?
I don’t see how eliminating landlines and conducting research are necessarily joined.
And there are other factors to consider when talking about landlines.
It is estimated a million Illinois residents and businesses rely on landlines. That is a substantial number of people from which to take what they say they need.
From a customer’s point of view, landlines are inexpensive when compared to costs for internet-based phone service or wireless service.
So, eliminating landlines is going to hurt the poor, people on fixed incomes.
Landlines are reliable.
Which is more than I can say for my cellphone. It’s always down with something like a Romanov prince.
Thank heaven for my landline. My cellphone has decided it doesn’t want to work. And when I finally do get it to work I might forget to charge it.
Some day cellphones (or their future incarnations) will be as affordable and reliable as landlines.
This is not that day.
And Illinois lawmakers should not disgrace themselves by ignoring the wants and needs of a million Illinois residents.
Paul Sassone is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.