Go to Sam’s or Wal Mart some day and check out the prices of flat screen TVs in the 32” to 42” range. There are quit a few that can be had for under $500 and some that come in under $300. Even somebody with a pretty low income can afford one of those. Indeed, in inflation adjusted dollars, flat screens are really cheap compared to their old CRT predecessors. No way they can be called luxury expenditures.
It still costs the same as feeding someone for several months. Maybe it's not luxury, but it sure ain't poverty.
I don't have a spare $500 laying around to be wasted on a flat screen tv. Our "new" tv is one of those older ones with the big backside that was given to us when someone with a larger wallet than me bought a flat screen. Anything above the utility bill and groceries is considered a luxury item here. Last luxury expenditure I made was for some flip flops on sale about 3-4 years ago. I'd be rich if I were getting government freebies like half the populace I'm supporting.
Oh NOES! I DON’T HAVE A FLAT-SCREEN TV! I IS POOOOOOOOOR!
Absolutely, flat screens can be manufactured and are therfore sold much cheaper than CRT’s. Also, LCD screens are nuch cheaper to produce than plasma.
Remember back in the 1980-90’s when a Sony 27” CRT tv cost $650. Now you can buy a 42” plasma for $499 and a 32” for $249. Of course, these flat screens will not last as long.
I still have a Mitsubishi 13” color tv I bought in 1985. It sill has a great picture. I paid $300 for it. I also bought a 4 head stereo VCR for $400 at the time.