[Boatanchors] The ARRL's next move

[David Stinson]

I don't think some folks appreciate our hobby's 
fragile position.  At this point, anything elitist
or exclusionary is self-defeating.  One cannot 
overcome societal trends.  Like it or not, 
Instant Gratification and entitlement attitudes 
have won the day.  Insisting on a CW skill today
is suicidal.  I don't like it either, but we must
deal with FACTS, not our wishful fantasies or
demands.  If we want our hobby to survive in 
this environment, we must open the doors wider
and do the best we can with the material we get.

There is this:  No matter how distasteful we may
find many modern operation ideas and practices,
there is (at present) nothing stopping us from 
operating the way we think fit and associating 
with those we deem "worthy."  
We aren't the only group that is faced with 
a stark choice:  Accept that 80% of the ops
are going to be "Repeater Beepers" or worse,
and be grateful we still have 20% "cream" that
"floats to the top" so we can still enjoy
our hobby.  It's a big price to pay, but
the alternative is sure and certain death for
the hobby we have known.  

We aren't going to live forever, gents.  
Most of us aren't going to be here even 20 
more years.  Be exclusionary, and the hobby
will die from lack of interest and the spectrum
will be sold-off forever.  

As a wise Drill Instructor once said to 
a recruit who would not accept facts:
"Boy, Adapt or DIE!"

73 Dave S.