Tracking your every movement

[k4kyv]

Every vehicle in the UK would be equipped with a ‘black box’ that would communicate with a network of satellites which would track cars’ movements.  Assuming that major technological and other hurdles are overcome, the nationwide scheme could be operational by 2015.

With GPS locators already pre-installed in cellular phones, wonder how much longer before every citizen will be required to wear a Martha Stewart style ankle bracelet?

http://cars.uk.msn.com/News/car_news_article.aspx?cp-documentid=475133

[Tom WA3KLR]

Another way to implement it would be to require everyone to have an EZ-Pass module and then a gate every mile or so, but probably more expensive?

The county, state, and federal legislators are always looking for new ways to collect taxes, regardless of the loss of freedom angle that is involved.

Mobile modules and satellite systems, ground station, processing center, etc.,  hard to imagine actually clearing a decent amount of "tax profit".  Sounds more like the usual pork barrel project now that I think about it.  The real money goes to the hi-tech contractor.

It will be interesting to see who Tony Blair goes to work with after losing his current job.

[W1RKW]

Doesn't surprise me that the socialist enviro geeks would consider that a positive step.  And what would keep some techno geek from tampering with it and making someone else pay their road use bill?

[Ed/KB1HYS]

The technology already exists. major truckingcompanies use it to track thier drivers movements, trip times, etc.
wouldn't be hard to adapt to automobile use. 

Nothing a set of wire cutters couldn't fix... 

[N8LGU]

Anyone remember Orwell's "1984"? Amazingly prophetic...

[N0WVA]

Its gonna happen. Enjoy your freedom while you can..whats left of it.

[Bill, KD0HG]

As I've said over, and over and over...

We need a Constitutional amendment guaranteeing a Right to Privacy, much as in the Alaska constitution. Added to the United States Bill of Rights.

We the people of Alaska, grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land, in order to secure and transmit to succeeding generations our heritage of political, civil, and religious liberty within the Union of States, do ordain and establish this constitution for the State of Alaska.

22. Right of Privacy
The right of the people to privacy is recognized and shall not be infringed.

In 1928, Supreme Court justice Brandeis wrote the following as a minority opinion:

"The makers of our Constitution understood the need to secure conditions favorable to the pursuit of happiness, and the protections guaranteed by this are much broader in scope, and include the right to life and an inviolate personality -- the right to be left alone -- the most comprehensive of rights and the right most valued by civilized men. The principle underlying the Fourth and Fifth Amendments is protection against invasions of the sanctities of a man's home and privacies of life. This is a recognition of the significance of man's spiritual nature, his feelings, and his intellect.

Guess what...The strict constituationalists on the court didn't agree. And still don't get it.

We need a right to privacy in the Bill of Rights.

[W2JBL]

your second amendment rights pretty well cover prtotecting the others.

[k3zrf]

Anyone remember Orwell's "1984"? Amazingly prophetic...

I concur........but we got a few years after the 'target' date...or did we

[The Slab Bacon]

Many people are allready paying for the "priveledge" of being followed around.
Its called "onstar" and "lojack" If you are a subscriber to these services, your vehicle can be tracked wherever it may be. I believe that thry are also capable of doing the same with the newer technology "smart card" cellfones.

Big Brother is always watching!!!  If you dont like it (I dont) remember this when it comes time to vote!!

                                               The Slab Bacon

[WA1GFZ]

The problem with cars is the warantee. Car producers want to track if you beat the crap out of a car then want free service. We have the same problem with P&W jet motors. They were sold to people who monkey with the fuel controls then the motor is overstressed then returned because it wore out early.
My 78 firebird under the tarp has no big brother interface. fc

[The Slab Bacon]

Hot Rodding a jet engine, Hmmm..............................
that could have some interesting possibilities!!

[k4kyv]

The Republicans take away our privacy and freedoms in the name of "homeland security"

and in the name of morality and "family values":  get the government off our backs and into our bedrooms.

while the Democrats do the same thing in the name of social engineering (e.g., "affirmative action" and racial hiring surveys). Unfortunately, few people are willing to give alternative parties a vote.

I'm not so sure that the party in power makes as much difference as they would like us to think.  Remember when the FCC was on its "docket-a-month" kick?  The AM community was constantly having to fight a never-ending stream of rulemaking proposals that would have outlawed AM or imposed crippling restrictions.  I remember that the nonsense starting during Nixon's administration and ran through Ford's, Carter's, Reagan's and Bush I's, completely unaffected whenever the party in power toggled.  It finally ended after Johnny Johnston had successfully ramrodded his AM power reduction through, and Johnston eventually retired a few years later.  During that whole period, every single one of the presidential administrations claimed to be promoting "deregulation" by the federal agencies.