This may be old news to lots of TV watchers, but I understand that by midnight Feb. 17, 2009, millions and millions of televisions across America won't be able to receive signals. That's the date broadcasters are mandated by law to switch to digital television signals as part of the move to bring high-definition TV into the mainstream.
The same government agency that mandated this change "for us" has appropriated a limited number of millions to help defray converter box purchases should you decide to keep what you've got. You can get up to two coupons worth $40 each for free.
It is just me, or does anybody else think it's unfathomable that the U.S. government should be so invasive as to mandate what kind of TV signal we should receive? Who decided it? Congress? Executives at all the electronics stores in America? Maybe it was everybody's favorite scapegoat, President Bush.
Just imagine the financial burden to all the motels. What about the ubiquitous TVs in hospitals, airports and restaurants, let alone the homes in America? Is there any way to stop the insanity?
In these days when everyone is talking about economic downturns and recession, there absolutely has to be a better way to spend our money ... such as for food, fuel and other essentials.
