RadioBanter - View Single Post

September 17th 03, 05:27 AM

In article , (N2EY)
writes:

In article ,

(Larry Roll K3LT) writes:

In article ,
(N2EY)
writes:

With all due respect, Larry - were you there?

Jim:

Obviously not. Point?

That the same complaints you have about today's tests can be made by some of
those who came before you.

Jim:

All that proves is that everyone's complaining about something. Nothing
new here.

Did you have to take a sending test?

No, but I could have easily passed one.

"could have" and "did" are not the same thing.

Except in this case, Jim, because if a sending test had been required,
I would have passed it with ease. This is a matter of absolute certainty,
no speculation, no doubt, no question about the outcome. End of story.

Did you have to pass all of the elements to upgrade at the same time?

No. You got me there.

Did you have to wait 2 years to even try the Extra?

No. Ditto.

See?

All I "see" is that I readily succeeded at the requirements which were
in place at the time, and those requirements were a far sight more
comprehensive and challenging than those of today, or those proposed
for the future. If MY requirements had been the same as yours, I'd
still be here today as an Extra Class radio amateur, albeit I'd also be
a QCWA member (for whatever that's worth).

Challenging licensing requirements and
uncompromising testing procedures.

They've been "compromising" forever. Back before WW2 the exam was all
blue
book essays. Before 1960 there was diagram drawing. The tests I took in
1967-70 were "dumbed down" compared to those because my tests were all
multiple choice.

Yeah, I know, and that's my point. However, the level of "dumbing-down"
that has occurred just in the last few years is way out of porportion to
that
which took place from the beginning of FCC testing and the time you and I
became licensed.

Those who had to do essays and draw diagrams might disagree.

Well, it's not the fault of those who didn't that those requirements were
reduced. As stated previously, if those had been the requirements I faced,
I would have been up to the challenge. I readily accede to the fact that
those hams who faced more challenging requirements than I did are
better hams than I am for having had that experience. All I have is
the same license class.

Of course, all that is waaaaay too
PoliticKally IncorrecKt today, since someone with a particular ethnic
origin, skin color, religion, "gender," or a hangnail might not be able
to pass the first time or two. This certainly won't do in these
enlightened times.

None of that had anything to do with the license test changes.

Oh, really? Prove it.

Just look at the records and the old regs. Nothing in there about ethnicity,
skin color, religion or gender. I dunno about hangnails.

The bit about ethnicity, skin color, religion, and gender is just a part of
the typical whining of the NCTA. Hangnails notwithstanding.

Incentive Licensing came about in LBJ's time

Dick Bash did his stuff (and got away with it) when Nixon and Ford were in
office

The change to the VE system happened under Reagan

We got medical waivers because a "king" wanted a favor from George Bush 1.

We also got a nocodeham license because of GB 1.

Etc.

Damn those Republicans! OBTW -- who was President when the
"Restructuring" took place?

That would be Slick Willy Clinton.

Ah HA!!! The ultimate dumbing-down was, as usual, presided over by
a liberal, socialist Democrat!

After all, it might "exclude" someone who is, in
reality, a nascent technical genius who just needs the ability to talk
on the HF phone bands in order to find the inspiration to create the
next fabulous new invention which will revolutionize electronic
communication for the rest of all time!

Or something like that.

Don't hold yer breath waiting for it, tho.

Trust me, I'm not.

Me neither.

So, have you commented on each of the 7 petitions now before FCC?

Just the BPL and NCVEC petitions so far, but I'm working on it.

73 de Larry, K3LT