Yeah it is. But in their defense, I believe some of that is ridiculous regulations that make repairs impractical. It's so labor intensive (never mind components) that it does make things disposable.
I just don't want to hear anyone tell me that this is about protecting the environment. It's wasteful at every level. Actual freedom in America would fix the problems pretty quickly I think
Did you listen to my intro on pleb-chain radio podcast Gitcitadel did?
I did. It actually got me interested in this particular rabbit hole.
Yeah it's a dangerous place out there XD. My business partner and I often pine for the "what ifs". Generally were happy we walked away from the industry, the people we were at the time... I would do things differently now or in a couple more years time, but it's another front you have to be an activist on, and I didn't have the support or courage to die on that hill, and generally still don't. Part of me still feels like it led me deeper into the rabbit hole of free speech. I'm not sure that's my calling either, but activism chooses you, you don't choose it imo.
I generally think the Bitcoin ethos fixes many social, financial, and ethical issues over time. It'll take decades to fix all this shit. I'm just doing the best I can with what we have.
And helping my friends and family as I learn. Not sure what else I can do.
That's the way my friend. For me, i get to share my EPA story in such a way that gets people motivated. When we were shutting down, I took every opportunity to convince others that if you want people like us in business, and it's too late to save us, but you have to talk to people. Get them to understand what's happening to the industry.
"If there is one thing I can leave you with, it's too late to save us, but it's not too late to tell your friends and family, government isn't going to save us". Most of my demographic agreed with the last part XD
Agreed and that's essentially my focus. People should be educated enough to resist where they can. That's all we can do at this point.
In think there is more we can do, but it's going to take a whole hell of a lot of resources. That's the white pill part. I think someone with enough money and power to care, could make some changes happen, especially in the aftermarket, and there are engineers out there still, even newer ones, that actually want to participate so long as they can work a steady 9/5 and be protected from the government. But someone has to take on that risk to make it happen. Most lawyers don't want to touch it though. We were told, we has a supreme court case if we wanted to peruse it, but the likelyhood of them finding a reason to kick your doors in skyrockets. And even if you did win, he said, "ive been in this a long time, you will always need me or someone else on your payroll, it will never end" Even millionaires like Kory Willis didn't have the connections required to keep him out, despite moving his businesses across multiple countries. I don't agree with his stance, but given enough people to care could get there.
I think the hard part is the brainwashing of the public. Kory was a diesel tuner, made most of his money from deleting exhaust/emissions equipment on diesel pickups. Getting the public to back that guy... yeah. He should have the right to sell parts to people to install, but I also don't agree with deliberately making emissions worse "because you can". There are ways to make power without excessive negative emissions. Tough spot to be in. The general public would clutch their pearls in 2025.
But I also don't agree with the government regulating the American dream of "because I can" either.
I don't accept that the automotive industry has to be shit. It is possible to have long lasting, reliable vehicles with respectful software/hardware/firmware. People just have to demand it. I'm hoping we will hit a tipping point where people demand better because they financially have to. Transportation can be much better, including options that aren't personal vehicles.
I'm not black pilled, but my response to that is "that's cute". Again not trying to be rude, but it's on the activism front you know. For me, it led me WAY deeper into the rabbit hole of economics and finance. The fact that new cars were 10x the price and junkers compared to older vehicles (my bread and butter was 94-03 Ford pickups), but at some point guys are keeping things on life support becaus they have to justify putting $15,000 of parts into a truck that's still only with $1500. It becomes an economics problem. They have to justify the cost of owning a pickup truck for example, when they didn't before. They have to start doing accounting on what they truck makes them, or saves them in a year. Or do I just put it behind my barn and use it for parts, or sell it and rent a truck when they need one etc. It just doesn't work out economically anymore if you ask me.
Again im not black pilled, but something big has to change, and regulation is not helping. As always, the regulation is enforced on the wrong people.
If that's your response, then why not be black pilled? Why work on or demand solutions to anything? Someone could say the same about Nostr, Bitcoin, etc. Free software and money is activism too to an extent. I'm not saying the problems aren't massive, and the automotive industry is really only one part. It isnt really even my biggest issue or interest. But it's problems are pretty much the same as every other industry: Government and fiat. So that's really where my focus is. I think focusing on automotive specifically hides my actual point, which is that people need to object in any way they can. In this case, that's fixing my own shit properly and not paying other people to not do it. Or buying older cars instead of newer. Or saving and spending Bitcoin. Spending energy on Nostr rather than something else. Using FOSS software, etc. Cars aren't my actual issue, it's just the fiat component I'm focused on for the month 😂
Yeah, I'm protesting in a tiny way that probably won't matter, but the point is that a lot more people are starting to do the same. Feeding the beast won't help either.
I don't even fucking know what I'm trying to say anymore nostr:nprofile1qqsqxefne258ydmfgm2wfl02fsdqgs0d5wx29kweg9amxcqxew4t7kqpzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgtcpzamhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuurjd9kkzmpwdejhgtcprdmhxue69uhhg6r9vehhyetnwshxummnw3erztnrdakj7pvj5mv. I'm just enjoying learning more about cars and not getting raped by dealerships man
Maybe I have a chip on my shoulder I'm not sure. I came in trying to prove everyone wrong, and realized the problem was much larger than myself or my friends could or had the motivation to solve, among other reasons. I was 19-20 y/o when I started, still in college, excited etc. Then head-first I figured out the way I thought the world worked doesn't. I'm sure many if not most people come to find that out in some way or another.
Agreed, the problem is much larger than automotive. I guess I might just feel guilty that I left the automotive activism fight (not one I wanted to enter, and surely too scared to enter alone). Maybe I am black pilled and it's cope idk? There is a huge loneliness in automotive that was hard to cope with. It doesn't seem like anyone around me/us understood or cared to understand the problem we were all facing, just worrying about themselves and slashing prices, cutting support, ending friendships when the 2022 economy and shortages it. Some of them are rebellious or coping (not sure which), like the government aint commin' after me, till they do and get their asses handed to them with tools they never knew the government had.
But yeah, for me, it's about ownership, that I can do what ever TF I want with MY property. That's where I felt alone. Where I felt, the normie generally sees the good things government does, and that means they must tolerate or work around the government instead.
Even when you speak with activist groups like SEMA in california, you listen to their seminars or their federal court cases, and it's "they generally agree that the EPA must exist to protect humans, but you need to give people clear rules on what they can and can't do" It's literally the same fucking thing as bitcoin. regulate me harder daddy. That's the part where I felt alone, like even the activist lawyers don't see problem, then who does?
Not a surprise, but we even worked with a federal government rep, and you learn real quick, their interest is to get themselves views on tik tok for "standing up for the people" and never follow up or make any change either.
Yeah the problem is absolutely massive. No single person can fix it. It'll require millions of people demanding better. I'm hopeful though and appreciate your insight. It's always good to be realistic because these issues will probably take decades to fix or at least improve. I truly think better money paired with Nostr and the old school American spirit is the best chance. Maybe I'm naive.
That's why I'm here every day :)
Like I said, I think activism chooses you.
I do get what youre saying though. There is a point at which just buying something older won't work, which is why people need to object sooner than later. For everything. Not just cars. Like I said, that's just my rabbit hole of the month. It'll be something else soon enough
