You know how increases in the cigarette tax helps diminish the number of smokers? The Industrial Age is doing the same thing to itself. It's fun to watch.
The biggest most recent example is in California, where the state is increasing vehicle license fees, looking at increasing the gas tax, and trying to find other ways to tax drivers to pay for its highways. My favorite is the license plate that displays an advertisement when the car is stalled in traffic. The necessary condition- you have to be stalled in traffic!
The impact of raising car fees will be the same as increasing the cigarette tax - - people will drive less and own fewer cars.
Here's some other examples of Industrial Age institutions raising the fees on other declining Industrial Age institutions, mutually bringing down both declining Industrial Age institutions even more:
** The U.S. Post Office is raising rates on mailing magazines. Magazines are in decline, so is the PO.
** Television and newspapers are raising rates on car ads. Cars in decline, so are newspapers and TV.
** Professional sports teams are raising the rates on broadcasters. Broadcasters are in decline, do you think professional sports teams are about to decline in revenue as well?
Got any more examples for us? Share them here.
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