Communal Cars

          One of our political associates referred me to an article by Page and Brin, who are the cofounders of Google. The article basically covers how a “brave New World” should be, but there is a specific reference to elimination of private ownership on automobiles, with a substitution of communal cars that would give door-to-door service. The reference is http://www.cnet.com/news/googles-brin-we-want-to-end-individual-car-ownership/?tag=nl.e497&s_cid=e497&ttag=e497&ftag=CAD5920658.

          Our political associate asked for my comments, which are as follows:

          We already have communal transportation in the form of airplanes, trains, buses, taxis and rental cars. Fortunately, most of these systems are not owned by the government, which is why they work reasonably well. Those portions that are owned by government are susceptible to political manipulation, fraud, and general inefficiency through lack of incentive by government managers. Consider the inefficiencies and high cost to taxpayers of the Amtrak system. These are also the basic reasons why socialism in general doesn’t work.

          One man says he has an hour-long commute to and from work each day, involving two bus rides and a 15-minute walk at either end. He would welcome the door-to-door service a self-driving communal car would offer.

          He hasn’t considered that the greater the service the greater the cost. If he is thinking that the cost of the operation would be on government, he has to consider adding 50% for inefficiency, all of which will be reflected in his taxes, so he really pays in the long run. He would also eliminate his half-hour walk each day, which would probably knock off 10 years of his life. Would he like to shorten his life? If he still likes the idea, he can now hire a private vehicle and driver to pick him up at his house and take him to work and back. It would cost him a bundle, but no more than the total cost to somebody if government pays for the service through taxes

          If he doesn’t like the bus rides and the walking, he has another alternative. He can quit his job and arrange to go on disability. He can continue a reasonable lifestyle with food stamps, housing subsidies, etc. he can also get door-to-door transportation by city minibuses to take him to the mall and back. He can have a great time shopping for shoelaces and other low-cost items. When the minibus takes him home, he can spend the rest of the day watching television or calling his friends on a cell phone supplied by government.

          Perhaps there are many people who would like the above lifestyle, but I believe it is not inherent in the human spirit. At least not for me. If I want door-to-door service, I’ll pay for it. If I can’t pay for it, I’ll do without. In no way will I ever expect someone else to pay for it through a tax program.