Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: So they're planning a system of toll plazas on our nation's highways. [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)72. That's
I don't see it as a "conspiracy"
It is a reasonable extrapolation of what they already do.
I agree that we may have to consider that "tolls" are the "right" way to tax the highway system. We've used gas taxes, but if we get what we want on electrics/alternative/mass transit, other funding sources would be needed. And gas taxes aren't particularly any more "democratic" than tolls. Truth is, with electronic systems, it could make it MORE democratic because of course they could adjust what you paid based upon any democratic factors they wish (income, wealth, vehicle size, time of day....)
But one would be foolish not to consider the OTHER activities to which these technologies could be put. Besides the absurd "toll breaks" that I'm sure republicans could dream up (toll breaks for the job creators!!!) the information on these systems alone could be used for the basis of search warrants amongst other intentions. To be quite honest, it is the divorce lawyers that would be the first to go after this data. When our city first installed all of those intersection cameras, they databased the information for months. The divorce lawyers went after it and they finally started deleting the information within DAYS.
It is a reasonable extrapolation of what they already do.
I agree that we may have to consider that "tolls" are the "right" way to tax the highway system. We've used gas taxes, but if we get what we want on electrics/alternative/mass transit, other funding sources would be needed. And gas taxes aren't particularly any more "democratic" than tolls. Truth is, with electronic systems, it could make it MORE democratic because of course they could adjust what you paid based upon any democratic factors they wish (income, wealth, vehicle size, time of day....)
But one would be foolish not to consider the OTHER activities to which these technologies could be put. Besides the absurd "toll breaks" that I'm sure republicans could dream up (toll breaks for the job creators!!!) the information on these systems alone could be used for the basis of search warrants amongst other intentions. To be quite honest, it is the divorce lawyers that would be the first to go after this data. When our city first installed all of those intersection cameras, they databased the information for months. The divorce lawyers went after it and they finally started deleting the information within DAYS.
...rich. It's not a conspiracy, and it's likely the best way to go, but one would be "foolish" not to consider the conspiracy.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
132 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
So they're planning a system of toll plazas on our nation's highways. [View all]
woo me with science
Mar 2012
OP
May be like the ones in Denver--where you don't stop (and you may well NOT know you've incurred $$)
hlthe2b
Mar 2012
#1
As if we didn't know this would happen. But I remember being told we were 'paranoid' by
sabrina 1
Mar 2012
#115
This is about mass privatization and increasing corporate profits. Simple as that.
Zalatix
Mar 2012
#32
Where's the conspiracy theory? You have not answered the question 'who is going
sabrina 1
Mar 2012
#117
Exactly. This is regressive, and adds an entire layer of corporate involvement
woo me with science
Mar 2012
#97
Was there some reason why you didn't just post a link rather than make it necessary
sabrina 1
Mar 2012
#116
Yup. It is hardly conspiracy to anticipate the behavior of Homeland Security,
woo me with science
Mar 2012
#55
Who is going to profit from this? Who will be collecting the tolls? What about poor people
sabrina 1
Mar 2012
#118
Well it looks like the Toll Amendment has been withdrawn, see downthread. You can stop
sabrina 1
Mar 2012
#121
The interstate system was supposed to be FREE from tolls, paid by gas tax.
Warren Stupidity
Mar 2012
#122
It passed, but the Tolling Amendment is off the table for now. So, I guess the OP was
sabrina 1
Mar 2012
#124