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Massachusetts "Right To Repair" Initiative On Ballot, May Override Compromise
skids writes "MA voters face a complex technical and economic question Tuesday about just how open automobile makers should be with their repair and diagnostic interfaces. A legislative compromise struck in July may not be strong enough for consumer's tastes. Proponents of the measure had joined opponents in asking voters to skip the question once the legislature, seeking to avoid legislation by ballot, struck the deal. Weeks before the election they have reversed course and are again urging voters to pass the measure. Now voters have to decide whether the differences between the ballot language and the new law are too hard on manufacturers, or essential consumer protections. At stake is a mandated standard for diagnostic channels in a significant market."
Contemporary cars are very complex because they must be clean and efficient. Specialized tools are necessary for service work. If manufacturers must limit themselves to open, standardized interfaces they will be slower in achieving greater emissions and fuel efficiency.
It's time to accept the fact that the priority must be emissions and efficiency and not owner's liberty. If the cost is higher then so be it. The environment is more important. We can't ruin the planet to mollify shade-tree mechanics. If owning and servicing cars at qualified dealers makes ownership too expensive for working class people then they need to learn to live without cars.
Just saying what you lefties would say if you had the balls.
Maw! Fire up the karma burner!
Shift points?
Why not just shift when you want? Or did you for some reason get a car with only two pedals? If you did, congratulations that is what old ladies drive.
Don't bother, people like him think that if something bad happens to them it'll magically fix itself, because they live in a just world. If it doesn't it's Obama's fault (not the fault of people like him who chose to not support and gut every program that was designed to help when something bad happens)
The thing is, if everyone kept full coverage on their cars, they wouldn't be driving these pieces of shit cars that fall apart at intersections because they couldn't afford to repair it when they ran into that school bus because they were too busy texting while driving down the highway.