Just a Good Ole' Boy...

Motherfuck Mayor Daley and his God Damn intersection cameras.  Dick.

I found out today that I got a ticket for blowing a red light.  Only, I didn't blow the red light.  I turned right on a red, which is allowed at that intersection, but it fired off a snapshot anyway.  So now, I've scheduled a contest hearing and have to go down to fight it.  Which brings me to my point...

When did the citizens of a land become the primary income source for it as well?

I don't know the answer, and I'm really not throwing a Tea Party here for no taxes.  But it's something I've been thinking about lately, the fine line between representing the best interests of your citizens, while also taking money from them for doing so.  Money that they almost invariably have NO say in how much is given to the Govt.

Taxes are one thing, they're only going higher, that fights been fought many times.  Parking Meters, Parking Violations, Building Code Violations, all the little nuisances that go into the City coffers, where do these end?  Where is the line drawn?  I can guarantee you that if we had more enforcement of all those things, hired more inspectors or meter maids or what have you, that they would find violations EVERYWHERE and revenue would increase.

So, why is the line drawn where it's at?  Is it some nebulous concept of what the public can tolerate?  In my example here, the camera's doing all the work, so they've essentially automated the process, picking up every single violation.  Is that right?

Money is the deterrent, I get that, but realistically, the fines aren't so much that you'll never risk another rolling stop again, or try to squeeze that free 1/2 hour out of the parking meter because you parked at 6:30.  Sometimes, you'll risk the $50.  No, they put the fee at a relatively minor cost, to keep money flowing from your pocket into theirs, NOT because they want to really curb any bad habits.  If they truly were interested in a deterrent, they'd charge you $1,000 for that parking ticket.

For $1,000, I'd carry extra quarters around.
More parking related thoughts in my article on The Daily Blank, check it out here!

MotD: The Transporter 2

Statham is BACK as the enigmatic Driver.  This time he's on the side of the angels.  It feels a bit like Man on Fire 2: Fire Harder.  Much the same as the first movie, he does crazy stunts, drives fast, kicks ass.  You either like this kind of thing or you don't.  Not much more to say about it really.