The American people all across the nation are in a bit of an uproar according to Laura Vanderkam’s “The Great TV Disaster” column which featured in USA Today last month. We the people have demanded that Congress push back the analog to digital television switch date further than the already four years warning we received back in 2005.

America’s sense of entitlement to frivolous commodities is trampling over more pressing issues such as the poor economic condition of the United States.

Vanderkam believes “the real tragedy is that more of us don’t turn off the sets from time to time.”

Citizens are largely aware the government created a coupon program to bail everyone out of the stress of buying a TV converter box. What the public might not have known is Congress appropriated $1.34 billion to meet the ridiculous demand of an agitated nation.

We are still pouting together as a nation over the pending loss of our analog delivered television programs. “Americans love their TV,” said Vanderkam.

Vanderkam said unhappy citizens are filing their complaints to the government unaware that the coupons expire. Wow, does that surprise anyone? Coupons expire. It is not a new concept.

“It betrays the kind of typical attitude of Americans to not really pay attention,” Cornerstone sophomore Nate Knox said. “There’s a real lack of responsibility for the American people.”

“Congress spending that amount of money for TV converter boxes is kind of ridiculous considering all the other programs that could use the money,” Knox said.

He was not the only one who held such an opinion.

“I don’t think people would know what to do with themselves if they did not have TV,” said junior Dawn Kruis.

“Let’s be honest. Some people use television for news and stuff, but most people do want it just for the television shows,” Kruis said.

No one goes to the store to pick out a television, HD or not, and says to themselves, “Finally, I can get those news warnings I’ve been missing out on with this new television set.”

“I think it is ridiculous that we are spending so much time and so much money on fueling such an unhealthy addiction,” Kruis said.

Cornerstone received donations of many HDTV’s that are placed throughout various halls across the campus. Every day, students can be found tuned into something on a television screen.

Imagine one day walking into the Corum and/or lounges around campus realizing that all of a sudden the TV’s have all been removed! The frustration that would ensue would testify to, and most assuredly parallel that of the would-be rioters had Congress not pushed back the analog to digital switch date.

“A lot of American arrogance comes from our sense of entitlement. We think that we deserve to have TV,” Knox said.

“TV is a preference for the way in which we receive news warnings,” Kruis said.

Let us not forget that TV is not the only way in which we can receive the news. Today people can get news updates via cell phones, the Internet, and of course radio.

“Making people buy their own converter box would’ve helped stimulate the economy,” Knox said.

Maybe we should give our government a break and just buy the converter boxes or at least accept our loss and leave it at that. In the end, we as citizens of the nation will be the ones paying for it anyhow.

Our government is certainly responsible to some degree of the financial hole we currently find ourselves in, but have you noticed the shovel that you are holding in your hand?