Global rePositioning System

Atrios analyzes a potential way to tax gas consumption. Based on a separate analysis by Charles Kuffner here, the idea basically suggests using GPS to measure mileage driven instead of gas consumption. This would enable a finer control over where to put digital tollbooths, allowing municipalities to adjust rates according to time and location (which GPS does very easily).

But overall the argument rests on a false premise: that as we add more energy efficient vehicles in the future, we will quickly reduce the expected tax revenue that a mileage-based system would keep relatively intact.

As more hybrid and alternative-power vehicles are built, Forkenbrock said, gas-tax collections will suffer.

Hah-hah! So that's the ticket. Well, I am waiting for a bureaucrat to go nuts with this; how about placing GPS on these forms of transportation:

1. Bicycles
2. Baby Buggies
3. Horses
4. Pogo Sticks

Which counteract damage and productivity reduction due to:

1. Redneck Anger
2. Rubberneck Slowdowns
3. Poop
4. Circular Tar Indentations