This weekend, I tried to help my parents get a new converter box, so that they’ll be ready for the federal switchover from analogue to digital TV next year (February 17, 2009). The government, in its infinite wisdom (yes, that’s sarcasm), is issuing $40 checks to help with the expense for people who don’t have digital T.V., or cable.

The catch is that those coupons have to be used in 90 days, or the coupons expire - and the stores are having trouble keeping the “coupon eligible converter boxes” (CELB’s) in stock. I tried several places online, and they were also out of stock. So, what are you supposed to do, if you can’t buy a converter box before your coupons expire?

Well, you can re-order the coupons, and try again. That’s what we’re doing. We’ll keep you posted on how that goes.

What we don’t understand is why the coupons expire. We all know that the government has no money of its own, so it’s using the money it gets from us, the taxpayers, to give us either $40 or $80 (depending on whether you ask for one coupon or two - two being the limit per household) of our own money back to help pay for something it decided to do without asking us in the first place. But we only have 90 days to use our money - whether or not the stores have the merchandise. Then the oh-so-generous “offer” expires.

Good grief. Will Rogers was right when he said,

“Be glad you’re not getting all of the government you pay for.”

Thankfully, if you’re using cable, satellite or the phone company for your T.V., you won’t need one of these boxes. Everyone who’s stuck with roof top antennaes or rabbit ears, however, probably will. U.S. Rep Tom Cole (R-OK) has some very helpful information on his site, here, and the official coupon site is here (retailer list here).

(Also on GCV)