Author Topic: Big brother watching your every mile (Read 910 times)

SOB · « **Reply #30 on:** February 16, 2005, 02:52:01 PM »

I understand the reasoning, but there's still no excuse. I guess I'll let you off with a warning this time. Next time, I'll let loose with my full BBS Hall Monitor powers!

And no offence taken...there are plenty of bozos in Salem. Just a couple of weeks ago, one of our fabulous state senators gallantly heeded the call of voters who were, for some reason, upset over the braindead law creating the 24hr 20MPH speed zones near schools. She was, of course, in the paper touting the fact that she was introducing this bill to get it reversed, and that she was the first one to do it. Of course, she also voted for the braindead bill in the first place, and upon the initial public reaction after the braindead bill passed and was publicised, she was quoted in the paper saying "duh, we uh didn't really read enough into this bill before voting it in" (I'm paraphrasing).

Another genius in the state senate is trying to change the drivers licenses again, and to require fingerprints on 'em.

Too bad that guy with the knife didn't have more modivation.

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #31 on:** February 16, 2005, 02:57:10 PM »

If we just required legal resident status for a driver's license, we wouldn't need to change, but I think we are one of the 10 or so states that the new bill going thru the Fed congress will affect.

If we do not change the security of our state ID's, we won't be able to use them to get on a plane. We will have to use a passport to fly out of state.

JB73 · « **Reply #32 on:** February 16, 2005, 03:10:53 PM »

Oct, it's more than that, that is just an "effect" phrase.

notice what i said about the freeway flyer. 16 mile trip. about a 1/2 gallon of gas to drive it, and i dont have to go to work @ 6:30 AM when i start at 8.

the whole thing about the milwaukee public system is a crock. there is nothing fast about it, there is nothing that is more convinenent about it like they try and say, there is nothing clean about it, and other than giving money away to hassel your life i see no reason to consider it as a viable option.

other large cities have train systems. i have used the train in atlanta many times, and it is quick and easy, and generally clean and safe.

the real problem is in milwaukee a system like that would not work. everything is too spread out to make it feasable. you'd need 10 different lines, and 50 stops on each line for the usage to be a moderate volume.

if you were to make it like that, the ammount of stops and number of train changes would make it a longer commute then and it would not get nearly the ammount of usage.

i tell you milwaukee is one weird, backward-arse, annoying city compared to most of the other major metropolis in the country. every where i have gone, the people who travel say milwaukee is "nice" but too hard to get around, not enough accomdations for business travlers, and dirty.

OneWordAnswer · « **Reply #33 on:** February 16, 2005, 03:13:26 PM »

Surprise!

Vipermann · « **Reply #34 on:** February 16, 2005, 03:22:50 PM »

The only way I'm up for a tax on driving is if it gets all those slow drivers out of my way. I could get so much more done on the weekends if I didn't have to sit behind ma and pa kettle as they figure out which road has less bumps and a better view.

AWMac · « **Reply #35 on:** February 16, 2005, 03:25:27 PM »

Why don't we leap and bound to the enivitable and shove these Ground Positioning Devices up everybodys prettythanges. That way BIG Brother will know where everybodys been....it would solve kidnappings, help solve homicides, runaways... wild orgies.

Sandman · « **Reply #36 on:** February 16, 2005, 03:37:14 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by FUNKED1
****ing communists

This is the opposite. The communist way is to make everyone pay the same amount for using the roads. Making people pay taxes relative to the amount of roads they use is something else.

...and oh by the way, if the state wanted to tax you based on your odometer they could do so today and without using GPS. Your odometer is read for each smog check and this data is sent to the state.

Elfie · « **Reply #37 on:** February 16, 2005, 04:49:13 PM »

Quote

Public transportation may blow goats, but it *is* an option that may people depend on, not only the poor that 73 speaks of. But there isn't anything I hate more than the Milwaukee County bus drivers. Why even have turn signals and gigantic mirrors if they're gonna cut you off and force you into oncoming traffic anyway?

Don't get me started on the RTD bus drivers here in the Denver metro area.

john9001 · « **Reply #38 on:** February 16, 2005, 05:26:17 PM »

how about trying something really radical, like living closer to where you work?

hawker238 · « **Reply #39 on:** February 16, 2005, 05:27:45 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Octavius
Holy **** 73, that is assinine and you know it. Screw your stereotypes. Here's another one: You are a sheltered-suburbanite-racist moron. Take off your black and white goggles. Non-urban *******s think they see the big picture oh-so easily. And you wonder why racism and class segregation exists... of course not with you.

Siaf, it certainly isn't that bad, but public mass transport is nowhere comparable to that of Europe, Germany in particular (which I have used).

Public transportation may blow goats, but it *is* an option that may people depend on, not only the poor that 73 speaks of. But there isn't anything I hate more than the Milwaukee County bus drivers. Why even have turn signals and gigantic mirrors if they're gonna cut you off and force you into oncoming traffic anyway?

My dad drives 3 miles to a bus stop, then commutes 45 miles on a bus each way. He says its a lot nicer than driving, since he saves on gas (if he buys a monthly pass) and he can read/do a crossword/etc. during the commute.

Seems like a solid option to me. There's the occasional weirdo he says, but nothing terrible.

Octavius · « **Reply #40 on:** February 16, 2005, 06:40:31 PM »

Exactly. In this case it works. And in many cases it works. I used my Upass (compensated public transportation included with tuition) for a few months to get to and from class one semester... roughly 10 miles one way. A ton of reading accomplished in the 40 minute ride.

"Occasional weirdo" hehe, they give the ride some flavor. Ever talk to one?

Not so 'weird' once you introduce yourself. Had a twitching dude named Larry ride the same seat every day.

And 73, it's not completely backwards; it gets the job done... a little inefficient. We've built ourselves into horrible transit problems. The defense highway system allowed for very quick access to various places via autos. Now, we've built around that system and we *need* that outdated, ill-maintained system. Businesses and places of interest are spread out all over hell. If you don't or can't own an automobile, you're **** out of luck in our area. It is incredibly difficult to dig ourselves out of this hole because of the sheer amount of renovation necessary.

Vulcan · « **Reply #41 on:** February 16, 2005, 06:58:34 PM »

Interesting:
- I already pay tax by the kilometer, in NZ diesel is untaxed at the pump (except the gst bit), and you pay per km.
- I already offset my driving times. We hardly have the same problems you guys do, but during peak I takes me 45 mins to do a 15 min drive. So I leave home at 9.15ish now, get to work 9.30 and leave at a later time. (it also suits me as I deal with Aussie, Hong Kong, and Singapore who are a couple of hours behind us).

Quote

Public transportation may blow goats, but it *is* an option that may people depend on, not only the poor that 73 speaks of. But there isn't anything I hate more than the Milwaukee County bus drivers. Why even have turn signals and gigantic mirrors if they're gonna cut you off and force you into oncoming traffic anyway?

Bus drivers are the same all around the world.

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #42 on:** February 16, 2005, 07:44:49 PM »

Hey SOB,

Want to start an initative petition to stop the state from wasting any more money on this? Or maybe you know of one already running around somewhere?

Bluedog · « **Reply #43 on:** February 16, 2005, 09:17:28 PM »

Any of you guys actually tried driving a bus in traffic?
If it wasn't for all the self centred morons in cars who have no clue about how a large vehicle drives/handles/brakes, it would be a breeze, as it is, all those morons with no clue make it a nerve wracking ***** of a job.

Octavius · « **Reply #44 on:** February 16, 2005, 09:25:18 PM »

I drive a fairly large truck and I know how difficult it can be... well on the tarmac where 757s have the right of way regardless... I have respect for the drivers of long haulers, movers, and other industrial sized rigs on the roads and highways. But when I make eye contact, a nod, a gesture, or some other form of communication with some bus drivers and they still want to ram my ass, I draw the line.

Example: Bus is pulled at a stop and I am maybe 50 yards behind it. I can see passengers boarding/exiting. Bus has flashers on to signal this. I can see the driver through his mirror as I am well to his side. I make contact, slow, I eggagerate a wide go-around... as I'm 3/4 the way past, he guns it and forces me into the other lane and slam on my brakes. I mean come on... I slow down to allow them to take off ahead of me... and they wait. I make it obvious I'm going around (as they are stopped!), and they cut me off. Two way street here...