Living in downtown Burbank has distinct advantages. Clean streets and buildings offer professionals a great environment to work at by day, and a safe, vibrant nightlife after dark. Also, everything that I need is within walking distance…even down my own hallway.

That last comment is a reference to the free wireless internet Burbank offers its downtown inhabitants. All you do is sign your name on their online guestbook, and Voila! You’re connected. A smart move, I think, for this will entice residents and businesses alike to move to Burbank. It also got me thinking. Suppose the day comes, and it will, that a city (let’s say Los Angeles) decides that they’re going to have free internet throughout the entire metropolis.

You’re sitting at home watching the news when you see this. What crosses your mind initially is…

Paris Hilton did what?!

…from an earlier news segment. But right after you figure that Rubick’s cube out, you’ll ask yourself…

How are they going to cover an entire city with wireless internet?

Not an impossible feat, due to the advent of WIMAX, which can cover several square miles with wireless. And technically it’s already being done in bigger cities with a vast number of networks. Stand just about anywhere on Manhattan and chances are you’ll be in range of a free wireless network, albeit a low signal. Entire city-wide free wireless just hasn’t been done by a government authority…yet.

The real question is not if, but when, or more importantly, how will it be paid for? There are several manners in which it can be done. The government will probably contract a private company to install it, secure it, etc. But this wouldn’t be a cheap proposition by any means, so where will the government get the money.

“You” guessed it. Get it? “You” is the answer, and you probably guessed it. It’s a double entendre of sorts. But I digress.

It’s ok, though, it’s not like the government has ever raised taxes before, right? (sarcasm)

So here’s the juicy question. The ‘everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die’ type scenario. Would you rather pay the new taxes so you could have access to free internet? Or simply pay a monthly bill of $50-$100, whatever the case may be.

Aside from the presidential race, Wall Street fallout, war in Iraq, oil/energy crisis, immigration issues, foreign relations, natural disaster relief, this season’s box office offerings, the Associated Press College Football Top 25, and last, but certainly not least, getting paid, this to me is one of the pressing issues of the day.

To free, or not to free. That is the question.