This week, in the Macon Telegraph, I found an article about an idea to charge motorists for every mile that they drive... but it's not coming from Georgia, thank goodness.

"Where, pray tell, is this idea coming from?", you may be wondering. Well folks, it's from the taxation capitol of the east coast... Massachusetts (a.k.a. "TAXachusetts").

Based on a pilot "Vehicle Miles Traveled" (VMT) program conducted in Oregon, some Massachusetts lawmakers are floating the idea of taxing every Massachusetts-registered vehicle a quarter-cent ($0.0025) per every mile driven on their state's roads. Here in the South, North Carolina is proposing a similar measure for its residents.

The rationale is that since motor fuel tax revenues are not as high as they had been, the VMT program would bring in further revenues for funding roads.

"How will they track this?", you may be wondering further. Simple, my friends. By installing a GPS unit on your vehicle, the state government would be able to track your every trip and then calculate your VMT charge accordingly... and that is where I definitely have a problem.

Let's face facts, y'all. Do you really want a governmental body to know exactly where you are at any time? If there is a warrant for one's arrest on any criminal charge, that's one thing. But to allow the government to track you moves all the time... THAT'S @#!$%* LUDICROUS!!!

"And the cars all get tracked in Massachusetts... In Massachusetts, your big brother's watchin' you." (With apologies to The Bee Gees.)

In the meantime, please read the article and decide for yourself. Please also take into consideration what Benjamin Franklin said back in 1759...

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
(Source: The Quotations Page)

That's it for now. Thanks for reading and please come back again.

 

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