Subj : Re: So.......
To   : alt.tv.farscape
From : Nick
Date : Wed Sep 14 2005 17:47:47

From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape

weirdwolf wrote:

> Nick <nickSPAMMENOT@snurcher.com> wrote in
> news:Xns96D17711B9D96ndtcm@204.153.244.170: 
> 
>> Steve Brooks wrote:
>> 
>>> Nick wrote:
>>>> Steve Brooks wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>> Nick wrote:
>>>>>> Steve Brooks wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> <snip>
>>>>> 
>>>>>>>> What road pricing proposals?
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> Basically - rather than paying a flat rate road tax each year we
>>>>>>> will be charged depending on how much we drive, when, and on
>>>>>>> which roads. Busy roads at 8.30 am will cost a lot more per mile
>>>>>>> than quiet roads at 2.00 am (these will probably be free.)  In
>>>>>>> terms of social justice I see this as entirely reasonable.
>>>>>>> Unfortunately it is also hellishly complicated and difficult to
>>>>>>> implement. The government's plan is to use transponders in
>>>>>>> vehicles combined with GPS and software. I think they've got
>>>>>>> absolutely no chance of making this work. It's many times more
>>>>>>> complicated than IT tasks they've already completely screwed-up.
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> Yeah, that sounds kinda hard.  Personally, I like the road tax
>>>>>> being incorporated in the gas tax. 
>>>>> 
>>>>> It's nice and simple and cheap to collect. But our government does
>>>>> have a point when they say some roads are in higher demand are -
>>>>> therefore - a premium product.
>>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> I dunno about that.  The government is the one who made the road.
>>>> If they had made attractive alternate routes then it may not be that
>>>> way. They could decide that they are going to do a lot of work on a
>>>> particularly busy road and neglect all the rest of the roads making
>>>> them less desireable to drive upon. 
>>> 
>>> I guess that's the difference between living in a country the size of
>>> a continent and one the size of a postage stamp. In many cases our
>>> high demand roads are so because they're the only viable route from A
>>> to B - and A to B is a journey many need to make. In many cases
>>> alternative routes could be constructed but it would mean losing
>>> precious open space and our experience is that building more roads
>>> ends up creating more traffic. 
>>> 
>>> There's also the time factor. If a road is very crowded during rush
>>> hour but relatively clear at other times then making it more
>>> expensive at rush hour will encourage those who can to change their
>>> hours and travel at different times.
>>> 
>> 
>> I'm also not too crazy about the idea that the government knows where
>> you are at all times.
>> 
> 
> Think thats bad, you should see the scheme they have for mandatory ID 
> cards, the reduction of trial by jury rights and the rise in cameras 
> around towns.
>  Ted
> 

Ironically, I am very fond of having the government know where YOU are at 
all times.

.