"Alun L. Palmer" wrote in message
.. .
Mike Coslo wrote in
:

[big, big snip. Do you have to quote EVERYTHING??]

Well, it is a problem. No-coders may have been in the hobby, but
they
couldn't do everything that they wanted to do. Not that I'm saying
that the Tech theory should get you full privileges, but there have

always been many Techs who could pass Extra class theory. Herding
them above 30 MHz is a problem, not for you perhaps, but still a
problem.

No one can do everything they want to, not even the Extras. We must

comply with the mode regulations, special power limits in the old
novice subbands, and we should comply with the band plans.

Certainly, but that doesn't stop us from advocating that those rules
be
changed. A rule that those who can't read on/off keying by ear can't
refract their signals from the ionosphere is lacking in logic of any
kind.

Quite true, Alun, but that isn't the real subject for morsemen.

The morsemen insist and insist and insist on keeping the
morse test because that is what They had to undergo. If
They had to do it, then all others must do it.

U.S. amateur radio was never chartered to be a living museum of
archaic radiotelegraphy skills. There is no need to maintain any
morse telegraphic skills through federal subsidy of any kind in
this new millennium.

But, to most morsemen, having developed the telegraphy skill,
they have a bragging right to show their "superiority" in radio.
Never mind that such "superiority" is one of myth and fantasy
and exists today solely in amateur radio. Morsemen have
bought into their Belief system that the federal government Must
support/defend/cherish morse skills because that is the way
They believe.

In a few it is the fear of loss of their "greatness" in radio
(of the amateur variety) as they age. They desperately want
to preserve their status and their Beliefs that they bought
into long ago. They dare not change anything in their
hobby...such change is perceived as a threat to their
survival...so they rationalize the radiotelegraphy "need"
and bitterly condemn all who seek change.

There is no "herding" involved. The "gate" wide open.

No. The gate is shut and only those who can jump over it can get in,
but
jumping is purely optional once they get in. (More weird metaphors,
although I suppose I started this one).

Alun, you didn't "start" that. You have to understand that
morsemen (and morsepersons) MUST retain all regulations as
they are now. To change them might result in loss of the
morse test andthat is something they cannot abide. Ergo,
the rationalization that LAWS MUST BE OBEYED and, by very
strong inference, those laws cannot ever be changed!

Of course laws must be obeyed. There would be no reason to
have them if they weren't. However, there is NO reason to
prohibit CHANGE of law by established, rightful democratic-
principle action. However, CHANGE is anathema to
morsepeople for, if some laws on amateur radio are changed,
then the morse code test necessity might be changed.
They can't have that.

So, there is this self-righteous insistence on "legality" of
obeyance and the rejection (an illegality itself) of the
ability to change law.
[by any means possible, apparently...:-) ]