the numbers game

[W3MIV]

Just some food for thought:

According to stats I obtained this morning from www.hamdata.com, there are a total of 735,997 licenses in effect.

The reality of that figures is somewhat deceptive. It includes the SKs whose licenses have not yet been canceled, it includes an unknown number of amateurs who, for whatever reason, do not use their licenses (but, as I did, renew rather than lose them), and it includes some 8,974 club licenses.

The United States House of Representatives contains a total of 435 members, each of which is chosen to represent (at present) 621,000 constituents. "Do the math," as they say (BTW, it's really arithmetic, not math, but I digress.)

As of December 31, 2003, QST listed a total of about 155,000 members, all of whom are not licensed amateurs. Do the m. again. Light coming on yet?

When push comes to shove, with high-dollar imperatives like BPL and RFID and other issues popping up all over the antenna field like dandelions in summer, we need to drop all these smaller issues to come together and stand together. Sitting by the sidelines while the parade passes will just leave you alone in the trash.

"Hey, Rube!" is the call to answer.

[KB9YCO]

Agreed!

Are you sure you wouldn't rather argue about CBer's or code vs. no code?

[KD4LEI]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (W3MIV @ April 14 2004,08:43)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Just some food for thought:

According to stats I obtained this morning from www.hamdata.com, there are a total of 735,997 licenses in effect.

The reality of that figures is somewhat deceptive. It includes the SKs whose licenses have not yet been canceled, it includes an unknown number of amateurs who, for whatever reason, do not use their licenses (but, as I did, renew rather than lose them), and it includes some 8,974 club licenses.

The United States House of Representatives contains a total of 435 members, each of which is chosen to represent (at present) 621,000 constituents. &quot;Do the math,&quot; as they say (BTW, it's really arithmetic, not math, but I digress.)

As of December 31, 2003, QST listed a total of about 155,000 members, all of whom are not licensed amateurs. Do the m. again. Light coming on yet?

When push comes to shove, with high-dollar imperatives like BPL and RFID and other issues popping up all over the antenna field like dandelions in summer, we need to drop all these smaller issues to come together and stand together. Sitting by the sidelines while the parade passes will just leave you alone in the trash.

&quot;Hey, Rube!&quot; is the call to answer.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
HEAR HEAR!

[W3MIV]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (KB9YCO @ April 14 2004,11:00)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Agreed!

Are you sure you wouldn't rather argue about CBer's or code vs. no code?[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Aw, hell--uh, HECK. We can do that, too! I'm always ready for that argument, but I guess you probably figgered that out awreddy.

[af2cw]

I agree with you on working on other areas that are a
bit more important than the CB debate/arguement, and
the no-code vs code debate/arguement. However I am
wondering, why is there so few members of the ARRL?
Why aren't more siding with the ARRL and their way of
attempting to make amateur radio better?

Now I'm not trying to stir up a war here, heaven knows
that's been done and is still on going on other threads.
I'm just wondering why some had been members and
then allowed their membership to lapse. On the same
line of thinking why haven't some not even joined for
the first time?

Could it be that maybe those that are not members, for
whatever the reason, just don't agree with the way in
which the ARRL is going about doing things? Or could it
be the directoin in which the ARRL is attempting to take
amateur radio?

It's nice to say we should band together for the better of
amateur radio. I agree completely. It would seem that
some of the smaller issues is what might be keeping
those non-members from joining and creating a larger
voice for the FCC and others to hear and respect. That's
just my opinion.

[W3MIV]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kg2hg @ April 14 2004,13:03)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I agree with you on working on other areas that are a
bit more important than the CB debate/arguement, and
the no-code vs code debate/arguement. However I am
wondering, why is there so few members of the ARRL?
Why aren't more siding with the ARRL and their way of
attempting to make amateur radio better?

Now I'm not trying to stir up a war here, heaven knows...
Could it be that maybe those that are not members, for
whatever the reason, just don't agree with the way in
which the ARRL is going about doing things? Or could it
be the directoin in which the ARRL is attempting to take
amateur radio?

It's nice to say we should band together for the better of
amateur radio. I agree completely. It would seem that
some of the smaller issues is what might be keeping
those non-members from joining and creating a larger
voice for the FCC and others to hear and respect....[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
In my view, the points in your post are exactly correct. Alas, amateur radio is one area in which slights, large or small, real or imagined, never seem to go away. They only fester with the years and become ever larger in some folks' minds.
Over ninety years, any organization is bound to move through periods of struggle and controversy. Amateurs have suffered changes to bands, modes and privileges that always seem to leave as many people PO'd as are made happy. Old grudges dies hard. Once the CW crowd so dominated radio that phone operators were disparaged and handled rudely, within and without the ARRL. AM ops couldn't stand and would not get along with SSB; then the opposite paragdigm emerged as the bands became more crowded and SSB grew, thrusting the AM folks into second-class status. Digital modes are now all the rage, and the code folks feel threatened. All the while, the ARRL leadership changed back and forth, depending on who was loudest, or which numbers out polled other numbers. Every decision made offended somebody. This is, of course, the way of any and all large organizations; it is perfectly normal and natural, but many won't drop the grudges accumulated over decades.
It's now time to drop the grudges. The threats we face are going to get larger and worse. Lots of people want what we have. As Deep Throat said: &quot;Follow the money.&quot;