George Orwell's "1984" might arrive 25 years late if Sen. Barbara Boxer gets her way. She and her friends in Congress want to pass a law that puts a federally mandated global-positioning system in every vehicle. Why you ask? To track and tax every mile you drive, regardless of gasoline consumption. Put aside "big brother is watching" for now. Boxer wants to raise money for highway funds by taxing those who tread softly on our roads.
If you own a fuel-efficient vehicle, an idea highly encouraged during the recent gasoline crisis, you'll pay toward highway taxes the same as heavy gas-guzzlers. Guess what, lighter cars cause less wear and tear on our roads than large SUVs, heavy pickups and tractor-trailers. Here's a question for Boxer: How much will it cost the government to develop, distribute and enforce a GPS device in everyone's car? Perhaps she knows a company that has all the answers. Regardless, how much will it cost to retool all the gas pumps to read those devices?
Let's revisit George Orwell's "1984." If Boxer and her friends have their way, the federal government can track every mile you drive, every place you visit and every friend you meet by way of your vehicle. Read Orwell's book, and you might think twice about the government's need to serve from womb to tomb. For those with stamina, read Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged." Then choose to put a federally mandated GPS in your vehicle.
Deb Welch
Hilton Head Island
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