Digital vs. Analog

I've been giving a lot of thought to this whole digital turnover that will occur in February of 2009. I am so grateful to the United States Congress in pushing forward legislation that will ensure that every household in America enjoys the enhanced picture which digital television offers its viewers. Words can't describe the overwhelming sense of pride I feel in my government in taking on this social blight known as analog television and with their powers invested in them by the people of this great Nation pass upon legislation to do away with it. What a country!

With everything that we face as a country what possessed our government to think that making it a law that all television broadcast be mandated to switch over to digital would help in any way? I've heard the explanation by the FCC stating that more channels would be available, better quality of broadcasts and better sound. The chairman of the FCC was so excited in NC this past Monday as he was present for the "historic day" in which Wilmington, NC became the first market in America to make the full switch to fully digital broadcasting. First of all, I wouldn't call the government's interference in the personal lives of every American an exciting and historical moment in history. Many people don't have televisions which will support the digital format therefore they will need to either purchase the digital converter, purchase a new television, or subscribe to cable or satellite service. When did the responsibility of spending my money fall upon the government? I understand that they are going to offset the cost of the converter with their $40 voucher with a limit of $80 per household. That means if just 100,000 households (taxpayer or not) take advantage of this offer $8,000,000 will be spent out of the Nation's budget. Not to mention the cost of printing the voucher and sending it out. This mandate to switch over digital broadcast formats will cost this Nation millions of dollars which will be paid back at interest because we are already spending in deficit, meaning we don't have the money but we're spending it anyway.

I heard the argument that the government giving the voucher to every household is an extension of welfare which represents television as a right and not a luxury. This individual then said it would be comparable to the government deciding to give Viagra to every person who needed it. Well, first of all this argument though I agree with the premise doesn't stand on its comparison. If the government were to all of a sudden mandate that the activity for which Viagra was needed was to be performed at specific intervals then you could say that the two were comparable. Government's interference to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity for better television is nothing more than their never ending grab for power, and the ineffectiveness of our legislative branch in governing the affairs of this Nation. They are out of touch with real issues facing America. They say let us debate and pass upon legislation mandating digital television, but turn a blind eye to America's need to move towards oil independence (I will always bring the argument back to this point until they get off their lazy $%@# and do something). How does better television strengthen America? How does better television benefit anything?

Unfortunately there is nothing that can be done. The ink has long since dried and the ball has been set in motion. On February 17, 2009 analog broadcast will cease per the mandate of the Federal Government and every American household will enjoy digital quality television. We will be able to rest assured that our government has our best interest in mind while we sit around our digital quality television picture looking at those digitally enhanced pictures of food while we try and figure out our budget on how to purchase food and fuel.

The digital vs. analog question was not supposed to be decided by the government, but by the people. The Constitution gives no authority to the government to legislate in matters like this one. They screwed up just like they did when they mandated corn ethanol. When government interferes with the daily lives of Americans, the people suffer. Hopefully the Chinese will give us reasonable terms on the loans which we will enter into with them to pay for this mistake.