Big Brother Never Sleeps

pwd72s · 07:07 PM

......

Joeaksa · 11-24-2007, 09:48 PM

If I am not sleeping, then why should anyone else be in bed? Get out and get to work!

968rz · 968rz's Garage

I was sleeping (at work) until you woke me up!

livi · 11-25-2007, 12:37 AM

My youngest daughter never sleeps in.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I think I'm sleep typing

motion · 11-25-2007, 05:58 AM

If you drive more than average, you're already paying more taxes due to more consumption of gasoline. What's missing, is a tax on heavy vehicles, versus light vehicles, although one could generalize and assume that heavier vehicles consume more gasoline anyway.

frogger · 11-25-2007, 07:07 AM

Good stuff.

Neilk · 11-25-2007, 07:20 AM

Paul,

A little too quick on the retraction on a Saturday night.

My main problem with gas taxes, etc, is that in many states, gas tax revenue gets spent on other projects. If 100% of gas tax revenues were actually spent on transportation, then perhaps perhaps voters might be more inclined to pay higher gas taxes.

What's the math on the program? Will drivers who driver 1,000 miles per month end up paying about the same with the GPS meter as they would under the current scheme? I hope it's not a way of penalizing fuel efficient cars, which it does sound like.

Main problem with this program is the tracking. Have an accident in which you were doing 5 over, here come the lawyers... The end of privacy.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I am not inclined to pay higher taxes. I am inclined to stop all of the friggen hidden taxes, and make 1 big tax. Then everyone can see how much it really costs to live here. Maybe some sanity will then come to our taxing and spending policies.

Racerbvd · Racerbvd's Garage

RoninLB · 11-25-2007, 10:57 AM

the politicans should propose higher taxes only during election periods.

pwd72s · 11-25-2007, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogger

Good stuff.

The best album art ever!

pwd72s · 11-25-2007, 11:15 AM

For those wondering WTF...my original post was a cut & paste from THE OREGONIAN...despite the test program being full of glitches, ODOT officials are still calling for GPS units to be installed in all cars...the guise being this is a way to switch from a per gallon gas tax to a road use tax based on mileage.

Of course, these officials claim they would NEVER use such a system to track where and when you drive, your speed while doing so, etc.

Ron...your comment is brilliant! Yep, there is a reason the IRS filing is in April, while elections are in November...

Christien · Christien's Garage

A GPS unit tracks location. There are plenty of other devices that can track mileage and gas consumption. Satellite connections are not required for that.

Quote:

I am not inclined to pay higher taxes. I am inclined to stop all of the friggen hidden taxes, and make 1 big tax. Then everyone can see how much it really costs to live here. Maybe some sanity will then come to our taxing and spending policies.

You think you got it bad? Try Canada. I calculated a while ago exactly what percentage of my gross income goes to taxes - not just the obvious ones, but hidden taxes too. For example we pay tax on tax with gasoline - taxes are included in the base price then sales tax is added to that. Most people don't realize that in Ontario there's a separate sales tax rate for liquor. I figure something like 65% of my income goes to various taxes, and I'm not in the highest tax bracket.

911Rob · 911Rob's Garage

I'm not sure about where you live, but in my Province (BC) they just announced that their budget includes $50Million in revenue from traffic tickets.

If big boy comes up with a way to prevent us from speeding, then how are they going to replace that income?

This kind of stuff scares the crap outa me though; much like the disfunctional use of 'cash' these days. Everytime I go into my bank and take out thousands in cash, I get interigated.

Mooooo
(thats my conformance cheer)

pwd72s · 11-25-2007, 11:42 AM

I don't think a GPS unit would prevent speeding...it would merely allow them to simply mail the ticket...much like red light cameras. A USA based rental car company used this system for a while...they'd merely "fine" the customer for excessive speed when he turned the car in. I think they stopped doing this...something about losing customers?

The bureaucrats wouldn't care...

tabs · 11-25-2007, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwd72s

For those wondering WTF...my original post was a cut & paste from THE OREGONIAN...despite the test program being full of glitches, ODOT officials are still calling for GPS units to be installed in all cars...the guise being this is a way to switch from a per gallon gas tax to a road use tax based on mileage.

Of course, these officials claim they would NEVER use such a system to track where and when you drive, your speed while doing so, etc.

Ron...your comment is brilliant! Yep, there is a reason the IRS filing is in April, while elections are in November...

I told you all about this 3 years ago....I invested some money in a company in the UK that does this very thing...can you say KCHING!