Before we start, let’s have a moment of silence for Molière, who died 326 years ago today.Do any of you know how it feels to have the government steal the flavor out of your birthday?I do.Today, February 17th, is my birthday, and the government has been planning a huge present not just for me, but for everyone watching cable television.Today was supposed to be the day the analog signal died as the country switches to digital television.It felt good for a while to see commercials for the transition, especially the one where they display the date “February 17th” stretching across the entire screen over a major metropolitan skyline.The voiceover would then bellow, “Are you ready for February 17th?”It felt really good to know so many people cared.Alas, it wasn’t for me — or Michael Jordan, Lupe Fiasco or Paris Hilton, whose birthdays also land on the 17th — it was for television.Meanwhile, I finally have my own “less than 1 percent” issue to anger me about President Obama’s economic stimulus.The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — known to most as the economic stimulus package — provides an additional $650 million for coupons for those still watching television on analog sets. The digital converter boxes — between $40 and $80 — were initially funded by the Department of Commerce, but customers were still short of coupons, according to the Senate Web site.The Department of Commerce reached its $1.34 billion spending limit, potentially leaving millions with snow on their sets after the transition. The House of Representatives followed the Senate’s lead in postponing the digital switch until June 12, saying many weren’t ready for the switch.Regardless of the necessity of coupons, as anyone purchasing cable or satellite television is already prepared for the switch, another question is raised from the postponement of the transition.Do we really need cable television anymore?Aside from watching live news or sports events, there’s no point to watch cable in the Internet age.Many Web sites, like Hulu.com, provide free television shows and movies with ads interspersed. As a product of last year’s Writers’ Strike, networks and Web sites have created a means for artistic products to be properly compensated with one 30-second ad between scenes.Instead of a three-minute commercial break, viewers are treated to one 30-second commercial dividing the scenes.With some appearing at least 12 hours before the original airing, major network Web sites stream their television shows on their sites with the same ad model, capitalizing on revenue from the ads and providing TV watchers a free, legal way to enjoy their favorite television shows.This move in the correct direction will naturally reduce piracy, as many will log on to their favorite show’s Web site and watch it there, in lieu of illegally downloading the series from a torrent Web site and risking disconnected Internet or even a lawsuit.In short, there’s no reason to pay for cable television anymore.As pleasing as it may be to have Ren and Stimpy available on your DVR, chances are you can find it online for free.Congress and the president should work harder to make this more of a reality. The Internet provides a tremendous boon in terms of consumer content, and our new direction should reflect ever-changing, yet ever-present, realities.While I finally have an issue with an item in Obama’s stimulus package, he’s giving me a silver lining.He’s signing the entire bill into law today in Denver.On the 22nd anniversary of my birth, a new America is born.Be sure to tune in.—-Contact Eric Freeman Jr. at [email protected]