- Banned
- #1
As a *car guy* I remember years ago the arguments (though not in detail) for getting rid of, or greatly restricting "shade tree mechanics" because- well I guess shade trees weren't available to everyone or something equally stupid- that movement, over the years, brought about a law that highly restricted Custom Motorcycle Builders to a limit of just 6 per year where they wouldn't have to comply (or die) to current (and probably future) EPA Standards- as though a twin cylinder (or in some fairly rare cases, 4 cylinders) engine was going to ruin the planet- SMH-
But now, guess what?
Fix, or Toss? The ‘Right to Repair’ Movement Gains Ground
Both Republicans and Democrats are pursuing laws to make it easier for people to fix cellphones, cars, even hospital ventilators. In Europe, the movement is further along.
Now the Empty Suits Brigades and the, at the time, cry babies are crying and demanding the consequences "ain't fair"- imagine that.
But wait!
The idea of planned obsolescence isn’t new. It was written about in 1928 by Justus George Frederick, an American advertising expert who suggested that people would have to buy an ever-increasing variety of things, then discard them and purchase new things, in order to help keep a consumer economy steaming along.
The theft code (usually referred to as the tax code) is partial to buying new over repairing- I came to that conclusion years ago when I was confronted with (by customers) who *budgeted* for repairs and purchases. At the time 100% of repair costs could be written off but only a fraction of that could be written off to *new purchases*- that's changed- and, we got the "cash for clunkers" Bill-
Confused? So am I- which is precisely what the Empty Suit Brigade shoots for- BOTH sides.
But now, guess what?
Fix, or Toss? The ‘Right to Repair’ Movement Gains Ground
Both Republicans and Democrats are pursuing laws to make it easier for people to fix cellphones, cars, even hospital ventilators. In Europe, the movement is further along.
Now the Empty Suits Brigades and the, at the time, cry babies are crying and demanding the consequences "ain't fair"- imagine that.
But wait!
The idea of planned obsolescence isn’t new. It was written about in 1928 by Justus George Frederick, an American advertising expert who suggested that people would have to buy an ever-increasing variety of things, then discard them and purchase new things, in order to help keep a consumer economy steaming along.
The theft code (usually referred to as the tax code) is partial to buying new over repairing- I came to that conclusion years ago when I was confronted with (by customers) who *budgeted* for repairs and purchases. At the time 100% of repair costs could be written off but only a fraction of that could be written off to *new purchases*- that's changed- and, we got the "cash for clunkers" Bill-
Confused? So am I- which is precisely what the Empty Suit Brigade shoots for- BOTH sides.