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> I would like my taxes to be used more efficiently. Democracy isn't about efficiency. It is about effective representation. That means the guy with the 50 yea

by yardie 14y ago

> I would like my taxes to be used more efficiently. Democracy isn't about efficiency. It is about effective representation. That means the guy with the 50 year old manual antique has the same say as the guy with the computer-driven Jaguar. > I don't care for any idiot who wants the freedom to drive their own cars. Well nothing I say now will really matter. Guys, one guy has the only correct opinion on this matter so skip the debate and proceed straight to tyranny. > Its only recently where autonomous self driving cars in real environments have become viable. When I was a kid the local newspaper converted to automated forklifts that loaded and unloaded paper rolls to the presses. And they managed to do this with humans (pressmen, school kids) walking amongst them. Even with 2-ton spools they could stop on a dime. But the warehouse was built for them, embedded sensors, special handling tools, etc. The automation part has been done, it's solved. And logistically, how do you ensure everyone has one of your cars? Do you give them away for free? You can't force everyone to buy one. And you certainly can't build a road exclusively for it, the public

seanmcdirmid 14y ago
I'll assume you live in a first world country with plenty of expensive infrastructure that you guys were happy to pay for. Now imagine you live in a city like Beijing where traffic is bad...not just bad...but hellish. There is not much space to build roads even if they have money, there are 30,000 taxis and a few hundred thousand private cars AND NOT MUCH PARKING. The problem is extreme, the solution will be extreme; it helps that the government is autocratic. Now say Beijing implements the change: within the 5th ring road, autonomous cars only. Most people don't own one of these cars, but its fine...the city and various private companies have a fleet of 100k or so that they treat basically as taxies. Because no humans are involved in the system, they can achieve 10x densities, basically solving traffic, parking, and pollution problems overnight. Could your average human being handle tailgating and slack-free synchronous movement of a bunch of cars? Of course not! That's why they aren't driving anymore. Could we disable the system outside of cities without traffic? Ya, but in China, the traffic and infrastructure problems are everywhere, it will catch on. Now your western cities, they don't have traffic problems mostly, not on this scale. But these cities will then have to compete economically with other cities with the system. Its a world market, if it the new system is 10x better, the other cities will have to follow to remain competitive; perhaps some Disney like places will exist where people can drive cars, but that is how the future works!

by yardie 14y ago

seanmcdirmid 14y ago

I'll assume you live in a first world country with plenty of expensive infrastructure that you guys were happy to pay for. Now imagine you live in a city like Beijing where traffic is bad...not just bad...but hellish. There is not much space to build roads even if they have money, there are 30,000 taxis and a few hundred thousand private cars AND NOT MUCH PARKING. The problem is extreme, the solution will be extreme; it helps that the government is autocratic. Now say Beijing implements the change: within the 5th ring road, autonomous cars only. Most people don't own one of these cars, but its fine...the city and various private companies have a fleet of 100k or so that they treat basically as taxies. Because no humans are involved in the system, they can achieve 10x densities, basically solving traffic, parking, and pollution problems overnight. Could your average human being handle tailgating and slack-free synchronous movement of a bunch of cars? Of course not! That's why they aren't driving anymore. Could we disable the system outside of cities without traffic? Ya, but in China, the traffic and infrastructure problems are everywhere, it will catch on. Now your western cities, they don't have traffic problems mostly, not on this scale. But these cities will then have to compete economically with other cities with the system. Its a world market, if it the new system is 10x better, the other cities will have to follow to remain competitive; perhaps some Disney like places will exist where people can drive cars, but that is how the future works!