From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!karn
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Title: Re: an open letter to KA9Q/2
Article-I.D.: eagle.852
Posted: Sat Mar 26 14:04:04 1983
Received: Sun Mar 27 05:23:34 1983
References: uw-june.347

To Phil, WB6OHF/7:
Thanks for your well thought out reply.

I would point out that your comparison to pilots being required to read
weather charts is not really relevant either, as being able to do so is
probably a safety consideration.  How much money and time should be
spent on safety measures is an entirely different philosophical issue
that I don't want to get into here.  If the only basis for an amateur
license test was safety, then the theory examinations would be even
simpler than they currently are.

The point is often made that amateur radio would immediately degenerate
to CB if a code free license were made available; my point is simply
that there are more relevant things (such as stiffer theory exams
requiring the same amount of preparation) that could replace the code
requirement as a "test of dedication".  It is only after I saw this
point of view rejected that I began to suspect the "technical
insecurity" I alluded to in my previous comments.

Phil Karn, KA9Q/2