From: Spike Jones (spike66@attglobal.net)
Date: Fri Feb 08 2002 - 20:49:36 MST
hal@finney.org wrote:
> A market-based system would be interesting to try. Give each intersection
> an owner (could be just a software agent) which tries to maximize profits...
> Hal
HAL! This is a helllll of an idea. Good thinking!
We could set up a system whereby your car has a radio transmitter that
broadcasts to traffic lights the value of your time. If you are out poking
around on a Sunday afternoon, you might set it lower than if you are late to
work, or if you have several business associates in your car, or if you
are racing to get to your kid's daycare center at the end of the day where
they charge a dollar a minute after 1800 (they really do this in Taxifornia).
Emergency vehicles would automatically get a very high time-value rate.
The traffic lights then change in such a way to maximize profits, and
send out signals to a receiver in your car to figure out *your bill for
that month* which you then hafta pay if you want your receiver to
keep working. If it doesnt work, your time automatically becomes
cheap indeed.
The proceeds would reduce the taxes that would otherwise be spent
on maintaining roads. The perfect user fee! Each person is free to
set the value of their time to whatever they feel it is worth.
Hal, you are the Chosen One, bud. spike
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