HDTV: another triumph of the free-market economy

[shereads]

Huzzah.

Yesterday, while at Best Buy to replace a dead TV remote (purhcase price: $12; price of extended warranty strongly suggested by salesperson: $6 ) I stopped to admire the LCD and plasma TV's and overheard a discussion of High Definition TV during which I was reminded of some rare good news:

Thanks to landmark legislation signed into law last year by President George W. Bush, Americans can look forward to a day when families will no longer have to settle for primitive, third-world analog TV signals.

Of course, not every family will own a high-definition monitor and tuner in time for the big day, just two years hence. Welfare moms, crack whores, wetbacks and other drains on society won't bother to upgrade their cable TV contracts, much less purchase new equipment.

Fortunately, the few slackers won't be allowed to hold back progress. Our federal government has plans to subdidze the purchase of analog-to-digital signal adapters so that everyone can benefit from the new TV technology.

In times like this, when our nation is divided politically and confused by the new bathroom-sex hand signals, it's good to be reminded of what makes America work: free market capitalism, federal subsidies to benefit essential industries, and television.

 

[Liar]

We've altready shut down 90% of the analog TV network over here, and the remaining 10% are to go the way of the dodo next year. It's not a HDTV issue really, so people don't need to invest half a year's salary in new gear. But you'll need a digital reciever in addition to your old TV, which is about 50 bux for a basic one.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Entertained citizens are happy citizens.

 

[shereads]

But you'll need a digital reciever in addition to your old TV, which is about 50 bux for a basic one.

My government will buy me one. I'm self employed now and will need every penny for medical insurance.

 

[jomar]

Entertained citizens are happy citizens.

Exactly. Reality TV is the opiate of...oh wait...Survivor's on!

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Meh...

 

[Belegon]

Bread and Circuses, baby, bread and circuses...

 

[JamesSD]

"Read a book, read a book, read a goddamn book!"?

Seriously though, free broadcast TV is barely worth the price anyway these days.

 

[Lee Chambers]

This is why I choose to play violent video games on my computer.

 

[MagicaPractica]

I haven't turned my TV on in four days except to watch a movie on a DVD. It's pissing my dog off royally.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Huzzah.

Yesterday, while at Best Buy to replace a dead TV remote (purhcase price: $12; price of extended warranty strongly suggested by salesperson: $6 ) I stopped to admire the LCD and plasma TV's and overheard a discussion of High Definition TV during which I was reminded of some rare good news:

Thanks to landmark legislation signed into law last year by President George W. Bush, Americans can look forward to a day when families will no longer have to settle for primitive, third-world analog TV signals.

Of course, not every family will own a high-definition monitor and tuner in time for the big day, just two years hence. Welfare moms, crack whores, wetbacks and other drains on society won't bother to upgrade their cable TV contracts, much less purchase new equipment.

Fortunately, the few slackers won't be allowed to hold back progress. Our federal government has plans to subdidze the purchase of analog-to-digital signal adapters so that everyone can benefit from the new TV technology.

In times like this, when our nation is divided politically and confused by the new bathroom-sex hand signals, it's good to be reminded of what makes America work: free market capitalism, federal subsidies to benefit essential industries, and television.

Oopsie, sorry to burst your bubble, but this law has been on the books since the administration of the Enlightened One himself, the Blessed Bill. Actually, his FCC under his chairman, Reed Hundt. The original analog shutoff date was to be - March 2007. What the Great Satan himself-himself signed in 2006 was legislation setting a "hard" shutoff date of Feb. 17, 2009, and authorizing a billion of our tax dollars to subsidize the purchase of converter boxes by low income households saavy enough to navigate the bureaucracy likely to surround that program.

 

[Joe Wordsworth]

Oopsie, sorry to burst your bubble, but this law has been on the books since the administration of the Enlightened One himself, the Blessed Bill. Actually, his FCC under his chairman, Reed Hundt. The original analog shutoff date was to be - March 2007. What the Great Satan himself-himself signed in 2006 was legislation setting a "hard" shutoff date of Feb. 17, 2009, and authorizing a billion of our tax dollars to subsidize the purchase of converter boxes by low income households saavy enough to navigate the bureaucracy likely to surround that program.

This is why I advocate free-markets... the federal government really should just leave people's TV's alone.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

This is why I advocate free-markets... the federal government really should just leave people's TV's alone.

Well, to be fair there were plenty of hardware and entertainment industry moguls ratting the government's cage on this one. And it's very likely that five years from the event everyone will look back at the transition and with 20-20 hindsight conclude, "Duh!"

 

[elsol]

*yawn*

HD Kung-Fu Channel... 'nuff said.

 

[mikey2much]

I agree

This is why I advocate free-markets... the federal government really should just leave people's TV's alone.

I think they should stay out of the bedrooms, bank accounts, back yards, school yards, libraries,and our private conversations.

 

[shereads]

Oopsie, sorry to burst your bubble,

As if you could.

 

[shereads]

I think they should stay out of the bedrooms, bank accounts, back yards, school yards, libraries,and our private conversations.

And our bathtubs.

 

[shereads]

Well, to be fair there were plenty of hardware and entertainment industry moguls ratting the government's cage on this one.

Ya think?

 

[Stella_Omega]

And our bathtubs.

I've put a camera-blocker in my toilet.

I made it out of tinfoil, like the voices said.

 

[shereads]

I've put a camera-blocker in my toilet.

I made it out of tinfoil, like the voices said.

What if the voices are on Reynolds Aluminum's payroll? All those hats, and now this...

 

[shereads]

I haven't turned my TV on in four days except to watch a movie on a DVD. It's pissing my dog off royally.

My dog is in the other room watching paint dry on CSPAN. Go figure.

 

[S-Des]

*yawn*

HD Kung-Fu Channel... 'nuff said.

ELSOL!!! I long for the day I get to see 'The Legend Of Drunken Master' on a 60" plasma. *drool* Jackie Chan rules!!!

 

[shereads]

Things I won't watch until they are offered in thrilling high-definition widescreen format:

1. Televised poker

2. The View

 

[Fantazmaster]

Yes and it now takes two layers of tin foil to stop a digital death ray!

 

[S-Des]

Yes and it now takes two layers of tin foil to stop a digital death ray!

I thought that blocked the mind-reading waves?