[Balgair]

Wow, you are the only commentator in this thread to mention the ObamaPhone; I guess most HN readers here don't interact with less well off society. I know a fair few people that have one and love them. The program, from my anecdata, really does help out the less well off get a job, find information and opportunities, and generally interact with the larger world. Yes, some are just wackos and lazy, but from my view of the world, the taxes that are used via Obamaphones are very out weighed by the increased taxes from when people get stable jobs through the program. If the world is becoming increasingly automated, networked, wired, whatever, then a smartphone is the 0th step in getting people at least up to date with today's zeitgeist.

http://www.obamaphone.com/what-is-the-obama-phone