So exactly why are we paying for the “DTV transition” anyway? One can argue that taxpayers have a moral obligation to subsidize lower-class people in times of economic change. Obama urges Congress to postpone DTV transition [CNET News]. But did we pay for folks in the 1920s to switch from horses to automobiles, or in the 1960s to switch from B&W to color televisions? No way.

In my view, having taxpayers foot the bill for “DTV converter boxes” would be like sending everyone a check from the Treasury so they can subscribe to cable or satellite television. It’s completely absurd and a waste of money.  Sorry, Rachelle Chong, but that’s how I see it.