My (brilliant?) Income Generating Idea for California
by Truly, this is a wish-I-thought-of-that idea. Only I did think of it.
This is one of those ideas that came to me, I don’t know, in a moment of daydreaming. I was thinking about driver’s licenses and how people HATE their photos. So…. Why not allow vanity photos for driver’s licenses? The state makes money with vanity plates. Why can’t driver’s submit a photo of themselves that they like? So easy, right? I thought so. Vanity License Photos would generate income for the state. I’d get credit, sort of a Joe The Plumber helps state generate income story. (Naturally I banged my head against the wall trying to capitalize on the idea, but couldn’t figure out how to profit from it. So, I decided to give it away for free.)
It’s so simple, so elegant, so easily implemented, but nobody wants it. First I emailed the Gov. explaining the idea.(No I don’t have his personal email I used the form on the website) Nobody responded. Two weeks later I called the Governor’s Office and got referred to my local congressmen. I was worried about sounding like a crackpot, but my local congressman didn’t seem interested or available. I don’t know, something about staff cuts or different offices – could I call back in March? Next I was referred to the State Department of Transportation. Apparently my idea has to become a voting issue. What do I know of getting a bill into the State, (much less getting a bill into the mail)?
It would be as simple as having a passport photo taken. You would have to follow certain security requirements, formatting and such – but you would then present your I.D. to the DMV with a USB file of the photo that they would scan into their computer system. How much hassle could this be?
Gee it’s frustrating trying to insert oneself into the gigantic political machine. I’m stuck. Truth is I’m always coming up with crackpot ideas and schemes but I really thought this one would fly. I did call my friend who is a friend of the Gov. I don’t want to name him, but he’s a great guy who takes my calls after many years of working for him. He has had experience in politics. (In his world I’m a nobody, but he still takes my calls. That’s a nice feeling) Anyway I tell him my idea, adding that I don’t know how to go about getting it done. He listens and tells me he wouldn’t know what to do with it. (That means he’s too busy.) He does end the phone call by quoting from the film “Butch Cassidy” He says, “You just keep thinkin Butch” I smile and feel pretty great just knowing I can call him anytime.
So, that’s what I’m doing. Thinking. Thinking that maybe somebody reads this and knows how to turn this idea into reality. I think it would be very popular in California and New York. We are pretty vain, don’t you think?
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