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License Plate Tracking for the Average Citizen
Wired News is reporting that big-brother license plate tracking systems may soon be available to the average citizen. Privacy advocates, however, worry that personal information and associated movement could be used inappropriately by marketing companies. From the article: "Bucholz, who designed some of the first mobile license plate reading, or LPR, equipment, gave a presentation at the 2006 National Institute of Justice conference here last week laying out a vision of the future in which LPR does everything from helping insurance companies find missing cars to letting retail chains chart customer migrations. It could also let a nosy citizen with enough cash find out if the mayor is having an affair, he says."
If you believe the Bush administration, then everyone should provide for their own retirement. To live comfortably you need about $50,000 a year so to retire at 65 and live to 85 you need a million dollars saved up. The idea with insurance is that you pay an administrative overhead to have the insurance company cover expenses that are too large to cover yourself. The thing is, if you're a good Rebpublican and you've got your million dollars in the bank then it makes no sense to insure your car for any normal expenses (replacement due to theft, etc.). Furthermore, the massive payouts for "punitive" damages make no sense because it's not the guilty party that pays the damages - it's the insurance company that distributes the "punishment" to everyone who has insurance.
So, basically, insurance requirements are mostly pushed on people by an intrusive bureaucracy that is in bed with the insurance companies. And that's my concern with technology, it makes it easier for the government to take away your freedom and force you to pay for services you don't want or need.
This would be a great tool to use with http://www.freegashelp.com./ FGH: Sir, do you drive more than 1,000 miles a month? Citizen: Yessirree! I'm a driver for LPR, Inc. We help the government find people who don't want to be found. FGH: You're approved! Here's some free gas, now go keep our community safe! Citizen: Golly! Thank you. Oh by the way, Mr. FGH, you have 2 library books overdue. FGH: AAAAAGH!!