I agree that we can discuss this and not be mad at one another..I'm certainly not and don't think you are either. I do think you are not focusing on the specific point of my inputs. You still very much miss the point.
At no time whatsoever did I indicate the transition should be called off, did I? And yes, technology changes generate problems. Nowhere did I indicate otherwise.
My point (again) has simply been the lack of making affected people aware of the whole story. Not that transition shouldn't be done. Simply that people should not have been led to believe that the converter box would be all that was required. Then they are hit with the pocketbook surprise that such was not the case. Simple truth up front (full disclosure from the outset) would have avoided the whole issue--and this discussion. And I emphasize in the strongest terms that it is this disclosure failure I am talking about--nothing beyond that.
You have rebutted all my comments with comebacks that do not address my point at all, but rather address technical aspects, etc. Not the point at all. The point is failure to get complete information to the affected people. Not the technology. Not that 'problems always happen.' Not any of that.
Do you assert that people were informed that replacement antennas might be required, or not? Were they led to believe the converter solved everything, or not. That was my issue--my only issue--and not what the replies addressed. Either they were adequately informed, or they were not. Which is it? No technology discussion. Which is it?
I recognize the answer is an opinion, not a fact. But I have explained why I think there was insufficient information. If you have a different opinion (that they did get the whole story), please explain what makes you think so.
The short answer to the question of whether or not the Government did or is doing enough to prepare people for the transition is 'probably not'
The longer answer is that I believe it is the responsibility of the general public to ask questions and actually go out and find the answer for themselves. Relying on the Government to prepare you for this transition is not the right thing to do, it is, in my opinion, the lazy thing to do. Much of the general public acts like characters in the game "The Sims." They sit around waiting to be told what to do next, almost acting like puppets with reliance on Washington to operate their strings. If I was relying on an OTA antenna and had a sh*tbox 1980's Zenith television set (assuming I know nothing about what is going on with this transition and not tech savvy), I would go beyond getting my voucher and getting my free converter box. I would go into Radioshack and ask one of those in your face as soon as you walk through the door clerks whether or not I have what I need. I am sure they would be happy to sell me on a new antenna. I wouldn't just sit back and wait for the Government to tell me how to respond.
In my post I brought up other aspects of this matter because I see you complain about the Government not doing enough to ready people but don't see you offer any solutions as to what they should have done. If they didn't do enough, what more should they have done? I feel that they went too far in offering the vouchers, at the taxpayer's expense. However, somebody said that they were funding those vouchers with the auctioning off of part of the spectrum. That makes me feel better about the matter. Let's say Google buys a good chunk of that spectrum nationally for $50 billion, and the voucher program costs $75 million. I am OK with the vouchers since they are being covered by the auctioning off of the spectrum. This has yet to be verified but if that is in fact true, that is cool. But if it is just another budget item coming out of our already growing national debt, than yeah, I have a problem with it. I just want to know how far you think they should take this thing. I was questioning what you propose they do, not that you ever said they should cancel the transition. I also question whether you think a voucher for a new antenna should be offered up.
I am of the opinion that the Government has gone too far. If you stop and think about it, we are not entitled to television. Television only exists because a group of corporations are making money off of it. If your local ABC affiliate, for example, is so worried they are going to lose you as a viewer, which earns them money from advertisers, they have every right to say "Warning, if you are still using an analog TV set come Feb, you are going to need a converter box and a new antenna to view our station. As a courtesy, we are offering one converter box and one antenna per household." They could then offer to allow the people to come down to the station with a valid ID, utility bill, or something to prove they live in the local TV market, and pick up their antenna and converter. The lay out of less than $100 per household would be made back fairly quickly by means of selling advertising time as they always do. They could get a tax write off for the cost of the giveaways. They could also join together with the local affiliates of all the networks, and offer a central pickup, or split the cost of the equipment they gave away. If they griped about the cost enough, the Government could simply waive a certain amount of the TV station's required "public service announcement" advertisements, of which they make nothing off of. It would all balance out for the station and they would save OTA viewers.
This would make a lot more sense than the vouchers.
We as a nation need to get away from this idea that the Government will take care of everything for us. It is getting horrible. Nobody wants to do anything for themselves these days.
