Planning is a way out of the California budget crisis

Government by and for the people promotes the general Welfare. Deciding the details of propmoting the general Welfare mires California budgets in debate every summer. The people of worthy causes debate the people of lower taxes. Unlike the past, the 2008 budget can hurdle the tax-spend debate by Planning a Government working smarter, not harder. That is, Government can provide better service (save people's lives, save people's time, save people's money) for everyone (poor, ridh, old young, challenged, park-loving...) with less money than saved by the improved service. In 2008, Government can Plan a life-saving, economy-boosting, budget-solving application of 21st Century computer technology to transportation:

• Zero-accident cars will prevent most of California’s 600,000 “accidents” each year.
• Zero-accident cars will save most of California’s $50 billion (combined individuals and business) auto insurance expense.
• Zero-congestion cars will eliminate congestion without spending $billions on new roads.
• Cellphone-based carpooling is the super-convenient transit of the 21st Century.
• Cellphone-based parking meters guide people to open spots and allow schools, businesses, and individuals to rent parking spaces by the minute.

Manufacturers are installing the technology (stability control, navigation systems, self-parking ...) Government is employing the technology (Los Angeles’ time-of-use toll lanes, SF Bay area’s BART parking-available notice, stop-light remotes, ...) Meanwhile, people and California’s economy are dying because our leaders are not pushing for the full potential of 21st Century technology.

The technology is ripe for a five-year “moon shot,” but change is scary. All your questions: Possible? Zero-accidents? Zero-congestion? Green? covered at GuardianAngelCars.org. Politicians need some love taps to divert their attention from the status quo. Luckily, the California Democratic Party has given you the means to deliver love taps with their video contest explained at www.summerofchange08.com. Use your vote to deliver a love-tap about working smarter by voting for the video titled, “Hot wheels budget”. Voting is in two rounds: May 20 – 27 and 28 – 31, 2008.

Sincerely,
Mark Capron, PE
Oxnard, California 93033