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Battery technology is a lot like bitcoin and gold in that once it is manufactured, users are not dependent upon a state controlled centralized network for it. I
by fatdog 10y ago
Battery technology is a lot like bitcoin and gold in that once it is manufactured, users are not dependent upon a state controlled centralized network for it. It's revolutionary, and will probably be heavily regulated given the amount of independence it will provide people.
The big secret in a lot of countries where energy and communications are state monopolies or semi-private corporations is that they are LOADED with debt that the govt used as a private slush fund.
If you are looking for "off balance sheet" liabilities in a government, look at its utilities that are exempt from public records laws. This is where a lot of the bodies are buried.
If people start dropping off the grid, states will just convert the power bill to a straight up tax bill, but without the pretense of a service attached to it. There are already precedents for charging electric vehicle taxes to make up for the shortfall in fuel taxes they create. Govts say, "well, if they are using the roads, they should pay for them." except gas taxes go into the slop bucket of general revenue, and the roads have been paid for through other taxes. The largest state expense is employee salaries, yet all road maintenance is done by contractors, so the "roads" thing doesn't really wash.
When Greece was trying to sort out its default, it outsourced tax collection to its utility companies as part of the bailout.
Efficient power storage will be a game changer, like a redrawing of international boundaries game changer.
- spoonie 10y agoWhen Greece was trying to sort out its default, it outsourced tax collection to its utility companies as part of the bailout. Because the utility companies were good at getting paid? It was because everyone in Greece was evading taxes through cash-only businesses and self-employment, so the government had a hard time collecting tax. It's not some big conspiracy.
- pastProlog 10y ago> Battery technology is a lot like bitcoin and gold in that once it is manufactured, users are not dependent upon a state controlled centralized network for it. Gold is just a commodity, it does not have any magical properties. Since gold is durable, uniform, divisible and portable, it makes a good currency.
- mathgeek 10y agoI think the point being made was that governments don't produce gold, and they have a much harder time controlling it.
- simosx 10y ago> When Greece was trying to sort out its default, it outsourced tax collection to its utility companies as part of the bailout. Not exactly. The Greek government wanted to collect a new extra property tax, and needed to collect it as fast as possible (instead of waiting for about a year for the normal tax collection). So, the payment of the tax was set to be paid temporarily through the electricity bill. The electricity bill is used anyway to collect 1) council tax and 2) compulsory TV licence, and is still used to pay these two. Now, that extra property tax is paid in the traditional way through the tax office.