[RedBarchetta]

This may get a little long-winded, but the writing is clearly on the wall.

With our service economy pushing our GDP to ~70% consumer driven, and with growing unemployment, deficit spending and a radically reduced tax base to generate revenues from, all Governments (Federal and State) are eventually going to start taxing whatever they can to shore up the dams, repair the roads and continue to provide basic services (emergency or otherwise). This is not a political statement...it's fact.

So what does this have to do with Cobras? Simple! Our little "race cars with license plates", by most standards of the day, are gross polluters.

I just happen to be at the forefront in part of this green effort, partnering in a start-up software company that helps big business track and maintain it's carbon footprint. The smaller the footprint, the smaller the tax. You have heard of carbon credits and cap & trade? Well, tracking and validating your footprint is at the epicenter of all of this. It's happening right now and most people don't realize it. Every PC has a carbon signature. Every printer. The type of light bulb you use. It's detailed and scary.

So as I see this little start-up begin to sprout wings, I begin to put myself in the position of big government. My tax base has dwindled and I still have all these aircraft carriers to maintain, all these roads and bridges to repair, yada, yada, yada. I'm already taxing fuel, tobacco and alcohol pretty good (with more room to go), so what else can I grab? Aha!!! Gas guzzlers. You know, all those "automotive enthusiasts" that love their internal combustion like an old friend? Like shooting fish in a barrel...they'll pay dearly to keep their internal combustion freedoms.

We are an easy target. If it was built prior to 2000, it most likely has a large carbon footprint relative to late model offerings. Built prior to 1990? Much worse. 1965, or worse, SB100 (CA reg) exempt?!? OMG! That person is going to have to pay dearly.

Would love to hear other views on this. But I'm preparing for a world (at least our U.S. economy) in which we will have to pay an annual tax to compensate for the high carbon footprint our cars leave.

-Dean