General Question

richmarshall's avatar

Should the U.S. government give you money to watch television?

Asked by richmarshall (1047points) May 10th, 2008

From USA Today:
“Congress last year passed a law that would provide an initial $990 million, and as much as $1.5 billion, to help Americans buy converter boxes that would keep their old, analog televisions working when the digital transition is finished.”

The switch from analog to digital is coming February 2009.

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7 Answers

judochop's avatar

Good question! I personally feel that they should do what they are doing now and offer a rebate. I think another thing they can do is make it a universal cost across the board so that there is no favoritism for certain companies.

Breefield's avatar

They’re giving the power of the people to the media in exchange for a small converter box!

jrpowell's avatar

How are most of the political ads pushed out? Like they would destroy that. And 1.5 billion is about a week in Iraq. Whoop-tee-doo. And most people don’t need the boxes. If you have cable you are already fine.

kevbo's avatar

USA! USA!

nighttripper's avatar

Well they are the ones that are making the change so i think they should help people adjust to it yes

playthebanjo's avatar

how else would they spoon feed their misinformation to the masses? Its not like people can read anymore!

gailcalled's avatar

I wish that the gov’t (whoever that really is) would pay me not to watch TV. Except for PBS, I watch nothing….

@play: plenty of us still read. Here’s a random Fluther sampling.

http://www.fluther.com/disc/12455/do-you-read-for-fun/
http://www.fluther.com/disc/12907/what-is-your-favorite-19th-century-novel-why/
http://www.fluther.com/disc/1283/suggestions-for-great-books-for-this-summers-reading/

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