Free digital TVs in Mexico come with political strings attached

[Judi Lynn]

Free digital TVs in Mexico come with political strings attached
Date June 6, 2015 - 10:53AM


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A billboard for the campaign of Indalecio Rios, the mayoral candidate in Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico from President
Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party. Photo: Rodrigo Cruz
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Ecatepec de Morelos, Mexico: - Isabel Valdez Rodriguez is expecting to pick up two free 24-inch digital televisions - one for herself; the other for her mother - courtesy of President Enrique Pena Nieto's government.

Her windfall, just two coupons printed with a promise at this point, is part of the government's effort to switch the country to digital television. To help Mexico's poorest citizens keep pace with technology, officials are vowing to give away 10 million free televisions.

But here in Mexico's most populous state, the handout has merged with something else: an election campaign.

While the government describes the television plan as the way to bring all Mexicans into the digital age, opposition parties on the left and the right call it old-fashioned vote buying.

More:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/free-digital-tvs-in-mexico-come-with-political-strings-attached-20150606-ghhjgy

[Joe Shlabotnik]

1. yay consumerism!

Neo-liberals rejoice!

[yeoman6987]

2. The sound of a 24-inch TV sounds so little

I'd just give back the cupon and buy my own. The smallest TV I have is 36 inch in one of the guest bedrooms and even it seems tiny compared to the other 3 in rooms throughout the house.