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Re: Proposed Government Driving Restrictions!



cvc411@aol.com (CVC411) wrote:
>Attention Motorists!
>
>Big Brother is about to tell you what you can drive, how far, and most
>important, how much more you’ll have to pay for it!
>
>Did you know that your taxes are paying for a Presidential advisory
>committee that is trying to force Americans into smaller cars and to drive
>them less.  Even though fewer than two percent of the public buys
>high-mileage sub-compacts and most people rely on a motor vehicle for a
>variety of reasons, your government wants to change that.  

And for a variety of reasons, my government is right. Contrary to the 
strong language posted in those introductory paragraphs, the remainder of 
the posting shows what is being discused are mostly mild incentives and 
disincentives to encourage more efficient and less environmentally 
destructive automobile transportation. Many are already in place in one 
form or another. For international business competitiveness, for the public 
health, for local traffic relief, and for the global environment it makes 
sense to be efficient about our use of fossil fuels. 

For example:

>•	Road Use Pricing:  New taxes on motorists and businesses based on
>how much they use public streets and highways.

Seems like a great free-market idea. Pay for what you use rather than have 
the taxpayer pick up the tab uniformly.

>•	Congestion Pricing: additional taxes for use of highways during
>peak rush-hours.

Another free-market idea -- supply and demand pricing. Utilities have been 
doing this for years.

>•	VMT-Based Registration Fees: registration fees based on Vehicle
>Miles Traveled -- how much a particular vehicle is driven.  (The more you
>drive, the higher the fee.)

Kind of like the first proposal -- pay for what you use.

[other good ideas already being implemented deleted]

>One of the most devastating policies in this group is the least understood
>by the general public: Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. 
>CAFE standards were originally enacted to reduce reliance on foreign oil
>and save consumers money.

But in reality the CAFE standards have been a great success. Although over 
the same old objections reiterated here -- the increasing standards have 
pushed technological changes to make cars safer and more efficient. Car 
manufacturers will haul out their lobbyists, lawyers, and ad agencies to 
tell you it can't be done (as they always do -- remember air bags?), but in 
reality, the technology exists and ought to be encouraged to be put to use. 

terry.harris@jhuapl.edu
my opinions only, not necessarily those of my employer.




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