Congress Mulls Research Into a Vehicle Mileage Tax [OR Rat author's donors benefit]

Slashdot ^ | 9/15/9 | kdawson

[Clint Williams]

BJ_Covert_Action writes to let us know that an Oregon congressman has filed legislation to spend $154.5M for a research project into tracking per-vehicle mileage in the US, and asks: "Do we really want the government to track our movement and driving habits on a regular basis?"

"US Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) introduced H.R. 3311 earlier this year to appropriate $154,500,000 for research and study into the transition to a per-mile vehicle tax system... Oregon has successfully tested a Vehicle Miles Traveled fee... the [Oregon] report urged a mandate for all drivers to install GPS tracking devices that would report driving habits to roadside RFID scanning devices."

Here is the bill (PDF). The article notes that the congressman's major corporate donors would likely benefit with contracts if such a program were begun.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Mull it all you want you bunch of jackasses!....NEVER!

[Logical me]

Are we getting closer to being a slave to our Government? How much more should we tolerate big daddy intruding in our lives? Time to replace all of them in Washington. The box we are in is getting smaller and smaller. Wonder if they will put a meter on our toilet to register flushes and weigh the deposits to charge us a fee.

[omega4412]

And if we had a miles-driven tax now, the Greens would be arguing for a gallons-of-gas-used tax on the grounds that taxing gasoline would penalize both gas guzzlers and excessive driving. A gas tax is after all a carbon tax.

[Da Coyote]

If it happens, good EEs like me and others will easily defeat it. GPS? Easily jammable from within the car. Other techniques? Come on, we’re talking something junky enough to be provided by the govt. Heh. They’re toast.

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

A “study” like this does not cost $154 mil. Most of this must be a payoff to somebody. And if they try it there will be a real revolution.

[maine-iac7]

"Do we really want the government to track our movement and driving habits on a regular basis?"

and one of the reasons is that they will then decide how many miles for each of us is "necessary" - like to work to make the tax money - and maybe a trip a week to the grocery store...then they'll give us each an allotted number of miles - like the old gas ration books of WW11 (I still have one) - to control our movements - but they will say it's to save the environment.

Think they wouldn't do this?

They've already mandated what kind of light bulbs we MUST use - the mandate date is, what, 2011-12?

And they have the Super Grid ready to turn on that will allow them to actually control the thermostat in our houses...

I surmise that questions in the illegal census being conducted by ACORN this year are geared to give them the info they need to calibrate how much you will be allowed to heat your house - questions like: "How much is your electric bill?" and "How do you heat your house?" (Remember, Obama said: "You can't have your thermostat on 72!" ( as he runs the oval office at 77 in winter and walks around in shirt sleeves.)

I suspicion that things like the mandated light bulb was a test run to see if We the Sheeple would lay down and take it.

We did.

So why should they not think we'll quietly go along with having our movements documented.

[vikzilla]

.If it happens, good EEs like me and others will easily defeat it. GPS. there is s no doubt a cottage industry would spawn overnight to stop these intrusions into your life. But a large fine if caught, along with asset forfeturer(sp?) would also go along ways in stemming the tide and lining the bastards pockets.

[Buckeye McFrog]

I guess the reaction to “Death Panels” just did not create quite enough excitement for them...

[Buckeye McFrog]

on second thought....the first time GPS data from a taxing authority gets leaked and reveals how many visits certain Members of Congress have made to their favorite mistress or brothel, this idea will get deep-sixed quicker than Teddy’s Oldsmobile

[RoadTest]

Why do they propose only things that are HORRIBLY WRONG?

[Americaneedsyoou]

put Aluminum over the transmitter it stop very thing going to the satelite.

[Albion Wilde]

Taxman
by George Harrison; sung by The Beatles

Let me tell you how it will be;
There’s one for you, nineteen for me.
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don’t take it all.
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

If you drive a car - I’ll tax the street;
If you try to sit - I’ll tax your seat;
If you get too cold - I’ll tax the heat;
If you take a walk - I’ll tax your feet.

Taxman!

Don’t ask me what I want it for,
If you don’t want to pay some more.
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

Now my advice for those who die,
Declare the pennies on your eyes.
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

And you’re working for no one but me.