Jumping To Conclusions

Despite the lack of interest from consumers, central planners in Washington have been flogging the digital broadcast television horse for quite a while now. But apparently it's not just an American thing; the New York Times reports on the German approach. While American regulators have been trying to convince us that digital television is the next big thing, the government in Berlin simply ordered everyone to switch. And what about the cost -- $175 for a converter box for a single television?

Berlin's hurry-up approach was risky. Mr. Bakarinov worried about a consumer outcry over the cost of the set-top boxes, not to mention tales of aging pensioners deprived of their television. But thanks to an elaborate public relations campaign and government subsidies for people who could not afford the boxes, Berlin kept the complaints to an occasional squawk. In a city accustomed to lavish public services since German reunification, this is no small achievement.

Government subsidies for people who could not afford the boxes?So they forced people to pay a significant sum of money for this pet project of technocrats -- and then forced people to pay even more for television welfare? And people didn't complain? What the heck is wrong with these people?