Obama's Transportation Secretary Eyes Mileage Tax for American Motorists

AP via CNS NEWS.com ^ | Friday, February 20, 2009 | By Joan Lowy, Associated Press

[Cindy]

Washington (AP) - Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he wants to consider taxing motorists based on how many miles they drive rather than how much gasoline they burn -- an idea that has angered drivers in some states where it has been proposed.

Gasoline taxes that for nearly half a century have paid for the federal share of highway and bridge construction can no longer be counted on to raise enough money to keep the nation's transportation system moving, LaHood said in an interview with The Associated Press.

[biff]

There will be not revolution. We will be let to the slow motion slaughter just like sheep. All for the betterment of society. All for the betterment of the government. All for the safety of your fellow men. All for you children.

Now, for all those over 50, follow the green line. At station #1 take your clothes off. At station #2 be sure to breath deeply while taking shower so as to dis-infect nasal passages.

lots of /SS’s

[GoLightly]

Gasoline taxes that for nearly half a century have paid for the federal share of highway and bridge construction can no longer be counted on to raise enough money to keep the nation's transportation system moving,

Weasel words highlighted. If the Fed stopped taking gas tax funds to finance mass transit projects & things like bike paths, they'd have plenty of money to maintain & build highways & bridges!

[abishai]

The system would require all cars and trucks be equipped with global satellite positioning technology, a transponder, a clock and other equipment to record how many miles a vehicle was driven, whether it was driven on highways or secondary roads, and even whether it was driven during peak traffic periods or off-peak hours.

This idea alone PROVES that these people are not fit for public office in any democratic society.

[MrB]

That last part is probably the whole goal...

They want to track (and control) your movement.

They want to control our energy usage,
our food intake,
our travel & movement...

well, every aspect of our lives.

[MrB]

See the FUBO thread...

[tractorman]

I’d like to see a politician tax. A quarter cent for every word – written or spoken.

[stockpirate]

I think it is also coming very soon. And I don’t think it will be ignored by other patriots, which is what counts.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Do we really want to live this way — monitored and taxed at every move we make?

[DB]

The politicians would use “public” money to pay the tax...

[Dustoff45]

A few years back, I had a blown fuse affecting the instrument panel. It happened on a trip. Later when I replaced the fuse, I noticed the odometer had not changed.

I was able to duplicate the condition at will. Pull the fuse, drive, no change in odometer when fuse reinserted.

Then I understood why car rental companies were renting with an unlimited mileage rate. A simple pulled fuse would be the way to go for a long trip on a local rental.

[Cindy]

UPDATE:

WASHINGTON TIMES.com (AP): Washington - "OBAMA NIXES MILEAGE TAX" by Joan Lowy (February 21, 2009)