Keep Electing Idiots

Blago thinks he can tax his way out of budgetary problems:

• Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday rolled out his proposal for expressway cameras that would snap photos of anyone going more than 15 to 20 miles over the speed limit and lead to a ticket in their mailbox.

  The $75-$100 ticket would not affect insurance rates, state officials said.

Wow, they won't affect insurance rates. So this is an out-and-out money grab? And this will raise $50 million? Sorry, ain't going to happen, just like the bottled water tax was going to raise tens of millions but still hasn't done so. People will adapt their behavior. They'll slow down. They'll speed between known locations. Or they might do something like this:

• Considering that these cameras would be installed on lonely interstates, I’m just wondering whether we should revive the old (academic-only) question of what caliber is optimal to ummm neutralize a speed camera…

  Remember that Illinois is mostly flat, so your bullet will travel a long way if you miss.

In England, the loss of cameras is costing the government tens of thousands of pounds. The ingenuity of Illinois farmers will make that total look paltry within a year.