For the last time... TV is NOT a right.

[Xellos2099]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/0...gital.delay/index.html

Is it me or some people just can't let go of the TV for even one minute? Come on.. people should know that the digital TV switch is happening for quite a while yet they are too lazy to go to store and buy a new TV or a converter box. TV is not TV so why should people expect to get the converter box is free. Government is never obligated to ensure everyone have access to a TV. You got a coupon? Good for you but people are taking it for granted that they deserve the right for TV. Or is it the parents are too used to let the TV to be the baby sitter and they are worry they actually NEED to start parenting if the TV is out temporarily.

Enough with right and fair. If you want those right, EARN it. There is no such thing call free lunch, even a high school student should understand that. If people have no money for converter box and no money for newspaper, they can always to go a public library and read free newspaper. Don't made other people suffer for your mistake.

 

[StageLeft]

If they keep delaying until every moron without a clue or $40-60 gets his converter it will NEVER EVER happen.

 

[Atreus21]

Destroy your television. I did, and I'm a better man for it.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
If they keep delaying until every moron without a clue or $40-60 gets his converter it will NEVER EVER happen.

Look at the history of this. It was supposed to happen back in 2005, I don't know the exact year or date because it's been drug out for so long.

THE YEAR IS 2009.

Cut it off.

 

[venkman]

TV is how politicians and main stream media control the ideas and opinions of the unwashed masses. It is very important to keep that going on to maintain the status quo.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

For the last time, the government is pocketing about $20 billion from this change, and they have an obligation to make citizens whole. I can't believe the people that want to let the government off the hook for doing a lousy job handling this and ensuring people are no worse off from their actions just because "TV is not a right."

And does this really need another thread?
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=52&threadid=2265321

 

[frostedflakes]

I'd tend to agree, but unfortunately the delay will probably go through Wednesday. I'm assuming only a simple majority will be required (I still don't understand why the bill required a 2/3 majority the first time through the House).

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
For the last time, the government is pocketing about $20 billion from this change, and they have an obligation to make citizens whole. I can't believe the people that want to let the government off the hook for doing a lousy job handling this and ensuring people are no worse off from their actions just because "TV is not a right."

And does this really need another thread?
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...id=52&threadid=2265321

Thank you!

God am I sick of the ignorant fools who want to punish the perceived laziness of their fellow human beings.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Xellos2099

Always good to go to the library and read about the tornado alert for your town. Or the flood warning; including evacuation instructions and routes. Or the contaminated foods you just bought at the grocery store. And I'm sure that they build lots of extra libraries so they are convenient to to everybody in say, Appalachia, where they may not have "clear access to the Southern sky" and the cable companies have no interest in running cable to.

Most people with antennas get so many channels, they can count them on one hand. Not much of a range of content to hold the little tykes interest and be a "babysitter".

If you picture of people living in a different physical and economic environment is a little fuzzy, please adjust your antenna.

 

[theeedude]

I am still waiting for my coupon, dammit. I am not going to buy a converter box until I get one.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: senseamp
I am still waiting for my coupon, dammit. I am not going to buy a converter box until I get one.

What's this about a coupon and how do I get one?

 

[theeedude]

https://www.dtv2009.gov/
There is waiting list until it gets funded again.

 

[palehorse]

I'm still left wondering why the fuck the government just "had to fund" the changeover at the consumer level to begin with.

Yet another waste of my dollars so that joe dipshit (senseamp) can get another free handout... yay. It would have been much more productive to see millions of "poor" people get the fuck up off the couch and go outside! Crazy thought, I know...

:roll:

 

[ZzZGuy]

I have not watched TV for almost a year now. Internet/radio/news paper & PC for movies. Though I am in Canada, we are making the switch as well (but later IIRC).

 

[Moonbeam]

Hold everything till I get my God Damned Coupon.

 

[fskimospy]

Originally posted by: palehorse
I'm still left wondering why the fuck the government just "had to fund" the changeover at the consumer level to begin with.

Yet another waste of my dollars so that joe dipshit (senseamp) can get another free handout... yay. It would have been much more productive to see millions of "poor" people get the fuck up off the couch and go outside! Crazy thought, I know...

:roll:

Yeah, when the government destroys the function of my TV and pockets billions on the sale of increased bandwidth for my trouble, they should have no obligation to anyone whatsoever!

If this were a private company people would be screaming for their heads, why it makes the slightest bit of difference because its the government is beyond me.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: palehorse
I'm still left wondering why the fuck the government just "had to fund" the changeover at the consumer level to begin with.

Yet another waste of my dollars so that joe dipshit (senseamp) can get another free handout... yay. It would have been much more productive to see millions of "poor" people get the fuck up off the couch and go outside! Crazy thought, I know...

:roll:

Yeah, when the government destroys the function of my TV and pockets billions on the sale of increased bandwidth for my trouble, they should have no obligation to anyone whatsoever!

If this were a private company people would be screaming for their heads, why it makes the slightest bit of difference because its the government is beyond me.

Don't blame the govt, blame the people who are ordering coupons when they don't need them or could afford to pay full retail for the converters. The way I look at it, the govt held up their end. According to the estimates I've seen, around 10-15 million households rely solely on OTA broadcasts. The CECB program had enough money for about 33 million coupons.

One thing I think the govt screwed up was allowing people to order two coupons, though. If a person is going to make an argument that TV is a necessity, then one coupon is enough.

 

[Craig234]

Thank you!

God am I sick of the ignorant fools who want to punish the perceived laziness of their fellow human beings.

Not about this topic, but in general - '+1'.

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: senseamp
I am still waiting for my coupon, dammit. I am not going to buy a converter box until I get one.

I got two coupons I'll sell em for 5 bucks a pop!

 

[mect]

Originally posted by: frostedflakes

Originally posted by: eskimospy

Originally posted by: palehorse
I'm still left wondering why the fuck the government just "had to fund" the changeover at the consumer level to begin with.

Yet another waste of my dollars so that joe dipshit (senseamp) can get another free handout... yay. It would have been much more productive to see millions of "poor" people get the fuck up off the couch and go outside! Crazy thought, I know...

:roll:

Yeah, when the government destroys the function of my TV and pockets billions on the sale of increased bandwidth for my trouble, they should have no obligation to anyone whatsoever!

If this were a private company people would be screaming for their heads, why it makes the slightest bit of difference because its the government is beyond me.

Don't blame the govt, blame the people who are ordering coupons when they don't need them or could afford to pay full retail for the converters. The way I look at it, the govt held up their end. According to the estimates I've seen, around 10-15 million households rely solely on OTA broadcasts. The CECB program had enough money for about 33 million coupons.

One thing I think the govt screwed up was allowing people to order two coupons, though. If a person is going to make an argument that TV is a necessity, then one coupon is enough.

But why was the money so limited? It seems this should have been funded directly from the auction of the open spectrum. If the other figure in this thread is accurate, they should have had 20 billion. At $60 a pop, and lets just round up to 100 coupons, tripling the number they gave out, that would still only put it at 6 billion, leaving them with an extra 14 billion. Obviously, this isn't how the situation was handled, but does anyone know why (before my knee jerk reaction makes me say "because its the government").

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: palehorse
I'm still left wondering why the fuck the government just "had to fund" the changeover at the consumer level to begin with.

Yet another waste of my dollars so that joe dipshit (senseamp) can get another free handout... yay. It would have been much more productive to see millions of "poor" people get the fuck up off the couch and go outside! Crazy thought, I know...

:roll:

"Waste of your dollars?"

So you're saying that you own part of the electromagnetic spectrum, but those people who watch broadcast TV do not, and as such are getting a "free handout"?

If the government wasn't making tons of money selling a public good I would be just as pissed about the "free handouts". But if they're gonna sell taxpayer property to private companies, they'd better make sure that the taxpayers are happy with it.

Honest question: If the government were to chop your tax rate to 2% by selling the assets of people whom you don't know and will never meet, would you be OK with this?

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: senseamp
I am still waiting for my coupon, dammit. I am not going to buy a converter box until I get one.

So out of principle you would go without tv? Considering you easily have the money or a box and the coupons were first available a dog's age ago, that's simply stubborness.

We all know that when this delay comes through there will be many people without converters at the next deadline.

 

[heyheybooboo]

New Slogan:

*AT Forums*
Where endless stoopid arguments go on and on and on and ...

 

[palehorse]

Government handouts FTL... oh, and look at that, there's more money budgeted for this mess in the "stimulus" garbage. yay!

Why is the changeover being forced by government in the first place? Shouldn't it have been a strictly private sector decision? Oh yeah... fuck the FCC. As far as I'm concerned, their "control" should end after the division and assignment of bandwidth space. There only goal should be a lack of interference. Period.

Ginormous Government FTL.

 

[Atreus21]

Originally posted by: ZzZGuy
I have not watched TV for almost a year now.

I applaud such rebellion.