Centralization of the Means of Communication and Transport in the Hands of the State

Our good old buddy Marx here has evidently been giving tips to the Obama administration.  Here, we find out that there is currently an undated memo that creates a "Surface Transportation Revenue
Alternatives Office".  Now, what would be the purposes of said office?  Well, let's take a look...

"1) create a study framework that defines the functionality of a mileage based user fee system and other systems, including those suitable for vehicles using fuel not taxable under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
2) evaluate system design alternatives for such systems
3) conduct field trials to demonstrate and test such systems;
4) increase public awareness regarding the need for an alternative funding source for surface transportation programs and provide information on possible approaches; and
5) provide recommendations regarding adoption and implementation of a mileage-based user fee system or other system."

In particular, I like bullets one and four.  It's just good, wholesome fun.  First of all, the admin is sick and tired of people being able to escape taxes.  And secondly... they need to let us ignorant rubes know what's good for us.  Of course, that's pure conjecture on my part, but it seems pretty par for the course.  "Shut up, they explained."

Also, it doesn't seem this is being spoken of as a replacement to a fuel tax; that would be too damned convenient, they want a whole new tax on top of the already existing fuel tax that penalizes people for driving anyway.  Better yet, this is an even more inefficient way to tax people for driving.  Consider just a few points here:

1) How are they going to track people's mileage, GPS or just ask people to honestly report their mileage from their odometers?

2) If they use a new system to track mileage (such as GPS), how are they going to come up with the funding to implement such a system?  How many millions (if not tens or hundreds) will it cost to put a GPS in every single car in the nation--even assuming they can use existing systems like OnStar and such to supplement that need?

3) How will the taxes be collected and who is going to enforce the veracity of the data?  Also, will this actually result in an increase of revenue, based on all the operating costs associated with creating an entirely new arm of government?

On top of that, the one basic principle that politicians seem to forget is the fact that people respond to incentives (or disincentives in this case).  If you tax them relentlessly for driving, guess what's going to happen--people are going to drive less.  It boggles my mind that, while normal people grasp these concepts, these political geniuses that are supposed to be our intellectual betters that watch over and nanny us because we're not nuanced enough to understand the complexities of this world.

H/T: Ace of Spades