June 3, 2009
By Chuck Hustmyre
Investigative reporter, author and former federal agent Chuck Hustmyre has seen the ugly side of life, from A to Z. Here he gets the last word on politics, crime, local government and pop culture.
With State Rep. Austin Badon's House Bill 146 seemingly sailing through the Legislature, on its way to making it a crime to talk on a hand-held cell phone while driving a car, I want to beat the rush and get my free government coupon right now.
What free government coupon, you say?
The one that will get me a free hands-free device for my cell phone.
Is the state giving away hands-free devices, you ask?
It better be.
I've heard for at least two years how the federal government is giving away coupons for free (read, tax-payer funded) TV signal converters in anticipation of what the bureaucrats call "The Big Switch." You know, the great change, when over-the-air TV signals will switch from analog to digital.
The government's multi-million dollar PR campaign has been going on and on, explaining ad infinitum that how after a certain date -- which is ever shifting -- televisions not connected to a cable or satellite box will no longer receive a signal.
As an aside, I'm curious how much of our money the federal government has spent notifying the 25 people in this country who still get their TV signal through rabbit ears that they need to buy a converter box or they won't be able to enjoy their favorite afternoon soap operas, much less their daily dose of Jerry Springer.
I'm also curious why the federal government feels compelled to buy the converter boxes for the digitally challenged. When television signals began to be broadcast in this country back in the late 1940s, did the federal government go out and buy everyone a TV?
How about when FM radio began? Because the new signal couldn't be picked up on standard AM radios, did the government jump in with a coupon program to buy everyone a new FM radio?
When I was a kid there were only three television channels in Baton Rouge, and one of them could only be picked up with a small circular UHF antenna. I'll have to check with my parents, but I'm pretty sure they had to buy their own antenna.
The same thing happened in the 1970s when cable became available. We had to get our own cable connection. Again, there was no free government program.
So why now, when yet another technological evolution is upon us, does the government feel the need to spend so much time, effort, and money to notify everyone in the country that we're moving to a new type of signal? For the vast majority of the TV watching population, absolutely no action will be required. For the rest, the only thing they'll need is an inexpensive signal converter. But the government isn't stopping there. The bureaucrats (read, "we") are not just notifying, they are actually buying the converters for everyone who needs them?
Why can't those who need a converter buy their own? When I needed a car, I bought one for myself. When I needed a place to live, I rented my own apartment. Later, I bought my own house.
Could it be that "the poor" is now a protected class in this country, one that depends exclusively on the government for everything from food to shelter to clothing to, yes, even television?
Could it be that Democrats rely on that same government-dependent class to gain and maintain power, and that Republicans live in abject terror of offending the deadbeat and the downtrodden for fear of being accused of being mean?
No. That can't be it. It must be that the government is just using the money generated by one group to pay for goodies for another group. After all, that's what the government does, right, redistributes wealth from those who earn it to those who are entitled to it.
Meanwhile, I just bought a new cell phone and now Rep. Badon is poised to make it illegal for me to talk on my phone in my car unless I buy an extra gizmo, so I want a coupon for a free hands-free device. Surely, all those people of leisure to whose care I regularly contribute can afford to help a brother out, just this one time.
So, where's my coupon?
What do you say?
Chuck out.
Share your tips and opinions with Chuck below.
Comments
Posted by lsutiger67 on June 3 at 4:10 p.m.
Chuck, when you pick up your coupon, please get one for me, too. I'll be busy buying the groceries we need since no one gave me a coupon for them. Merrilee
Posted by lola on June 3 at 4:37 p.m.
I take great offense to this. I am one of the "25 people in this country who still get their tv signal through rabbit ears". I am not a deadbeat. I work 40+ hrs a week. I have a college degree. I don't watch Jerry Springer or soap operas. PBS is my family's favorite station. I am on a tight budget with 2 kids- which is why i can't afford extras like cable or satellite. I do not depend on the government.
My husband is a Gulf War Vet, who is also gainfully employed. It would be most disrespectful to him if I did not respect YOUR RIGHT to free speech. But why do you insinuate that everyone who uses rabbit ears are lazy morons?
The point you are trying to make about all the $$$ being spent on vouchers is very valid. But your point is overshadowed by your ignorance and arrogance.
Thank you for your time.
Posted by Being_Stupid on June 10 at 1:52 p.m.
I have a pair of rabbit ears on my head.
I am also tired of people calling me a moron too, just because I like to wear my rabbit ears on my head.
People with rabbit ears have feelings too. Except for Spock from Star Trek. Even though Spock has rabbit ears, I find Spock to be sort of a cold and non-emotional being. But then again, Spock is also very smart and I don't think anybody would dare call him a moron for having rabbit ears.
There are a lot of productive rabbit eared people in this world. We should really watch what we say about rabbit ears.
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