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Set top Boxes for Pensioners

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Julia

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The government has announced it will provide set top boxes for all pensioners.
That seems reasonable enough when we consider they're around for $50 ish, less even.

But no, the government's scheme is to cost $400 per person, including the installation.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8246986/swan-defends-pensioner-set-top-box-scheme

Why on earth should taxpayers be shelling out $400 per person?

There are new digital LCD TV's available for under $300. Surely if they are going to do some pensioner vote buying, it would make more sense to get them a new digital TV. Anyone who is still using an old analog TV is going to have to get a new TV before much longer unless they have some unusually trusty old one.

This has all the hallmarks of pink batts all over again.
 
Typical government wastage.

and then they wonder why people spend so much money trying to avoid paying taxes. Lets just say im glad >50% of my base salary is tax free
 
I actually applaud the government for this initiative.

It will make the roads much safer for my Arnage.

And it is cheaper than "cash for camrys".

Pensioners will be happier, trapped in their houses and units and fed on a diet of Oprah and Ch 7 and 9

George Orwell would be smiling.

gg
 
guys I know charge $50 an hour to install (topish rate) takes about half hour. So including set top box lets say $100. So where is the other $300 going? Oh thats right paper shuffling.
 
Pensioners struggle to buy the basics, food, electricity etc. we cannot help there but we can blow $400 on a set top box, given the choice i think i know what they would prefer
 
Pensioners can't wire up their TVs and some may not be very suitable.

$400 would include organising the delivery, installing it, transport, ect.
I estimate that it would cost $150 to install allowing for travel etc. $50 for the set top box and cables $150 for the organising, tendering etc. Total $350.

The govenrment will have to operate a switchboard to work out which pensioners need the set top box, some will have upgraded to a flat screen, some will have a set top box, possibly supplied by family, I know I have for my parents and parents in law.

Maybe it will come in cheaper but $400 isn't far off the mark.
 

Harvey Norman will suply and install a top line box for $179
 
Julia said:
Why on earth should taxpayers be shelling out $400 per person?

There are new digital LCD TV's available for under $300. Surely if they are going to do some pensioner vote buying, it would make more sense to get them a new digital TV.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I thought when I first heard about the scheme. An LCD TV would be a lot cheaper and, I believe I am correct in saying, uses significantly less power than the old style CRT screens.
 
bellenuit said:
That's exactly what I thought when I first heard about the scheme. An LCD TV would be a lot cheaper and, I believe I am correct in saying, uses significantly less power than the old style CRT screens.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't that be too simple and efficient for this government who seem to have to complicate everything they touch? And as actions speak louder than words, this government seem to show absolutely no sign of being concerned about power usage - it's a case of do what I say, not do what I do...

And, of course they want pensioners to have digital TV - how else will they hear the droning (and lying???) labor ads before the next election...
 
Private industry can do it cheaper. Just send the pensioners $150 each and be done with it. And that would cover travel and delivery. If you can't buy a perfectly decent HD STP for $70 you're not trying.

Or as others have said, a LCD television set with HD tuner built in, for less than $400, no problem.

More taxpayers money blown on (yet another) bureaucracy. Echoes of the health sector.

What about the pensioners who already have a set top box, which might be a surprisingly high number. Old ST boxes coming onto the resale market soon. Watch for them at your monthly village markets.
 
Once again GG has his fingers on the pulse, The Fed's will have to run full page ad's in all newspapers including the Birdsville Times calling for quotes to supply STB , They will be imported from China which keep them buying Coal etc, The feds will have to set up an Office in Collins street to monitor the scheme and appoint a STBO ( set top Box officer) some friend of Gillzard, print cards . lease limo's this help the car manufactures , Unemployment goes down , companies will be given funds to establish training for workers to install, because the feds will take the cheapest quote break downs and repairs will go through the roof more employed, The insulation will upset the signal, workers will be electroplated in the ceiling running cables, undertakers employed, pensioners can sell them off for funds for Bingo, pokies, and as they don't know how or what they are for will never us them, they will try to set it to NTSC and not PAL D and plug in the AV cable when they vacuum or drool on the carpet , work for cleaners, their heart will attack them more funerals , flowers etc, as they will spend the rest of their days trying to find the remote and work the STB they will not be getting their daily exercise more funerals, less cars on the road less Carbon, better educated 90 yr old will know the sex lives of nematodes in Madagascar by watching the History Chanel and the luck one with amnesia will see a new show ever day.

Those who took out reverse mortgage will die early so the bank can cash in the house before the market tanks, the kids get to spend the inheritance early on new play stations games etc, balanced budget
To me it has win win written all over it. you tube my space and I'll goggle your yahoo
Now back to work to pay for it all and enjoy the benefits.
 

Could not have put it better myself Glen.

Life is a drool for this government.

It's a win win mate. This is not government but a massive game show. Everyone is a winner.

gg
 
In my day when mortis was rigger people knew we had to work and save hence the old bank book and some one to write in your balance each time at the bank, and the elected officials came from those who held down a job and knew how the system was suppose to work, now we have a Uni teacher telling us how to run the place and the rest of them on both side never living in the real work and have no idea how money is generated or should be spent.

The only answer is don't vote then they will have to decide on were they are going wrong and start preforming.
The informals in most election get more votes then the Candy dates running.
 
Personally I prefer the Coalitions record on pensioners just let them go hungry..............give them nothing.
 
Much better of giving them Gold except Costello sold it of at $450 and OZ
 

Julia, you are spot on.
It doesn't bear thinking about, news headlines:
"It has been found thousands of set top boxes have been installed in pensioners houses that didn't require them. Also it has been discovered set top boxes were claimed but not installed at all".
No you don't say shock, horror lets form a commitee to investigate, actually I wonder if will be the same perpetrators as the school building rorts and the batts rip off.
In a lot of countries nepotism runs rife, lucky we don't have it here. lol
 

I am sure the corrupt Easter States will rip it of to death...........
 
Get a grip people A digital STB installation that works consistently in 99.5% of weather conditions would include the following.

  • HD-STB $65 > $80
  • Digital antenna $75 > $100
  • 10> meters RG6 Coaxial cable + conduit etc, cable run, fittings etc $40 > $60
  • Call out charge + 2 > 3 hours labour $80 > $110
  • Possible replacement of antenna mount $30 > $50

Above is a typical metro install on a single story house...Km charges 2/3rd story and multiple outlet charges would apply.

Hope this helps give a little taste of reality to the uninformed.
 
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