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Ohio Attempting To Stop Tesla From Selling Cars, Again

cartechboy writes "Man the automotive dealer associations don't like Tesla. Remember that time the Ohio dealers attempted to block Tesla from selling its electric cars in in the Buckeye State. Now, it's happening again. The car dealers are once again pushing legislation that would keep Tesla from selling cars in Ohio. Senate Bill 260 would prohibit the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles from issuing car-dealer licenses to auto manufacturers. Since Tesla owns and operates its own network of 'dealerships' (aka galleries), this would make it so the automaker couldn't acquire a car-dealer license. Section 11 of the bill lists 'a manufacturer... applying for license to sell or lease new motor vehicles at retail' as one of the types of organization ineligible for a dealership license. On top of all this, the language isn't on the Senate floor as a standalone bill. No, it's inserted as an amendment to Senate Bill 137 which is an unrelated bill requiring Ohio drivers to move to the left while passing roadside maintenance vehicles. Is this yet another slimy tactic to try and undercut the new kid on the block?"

387 comments

  1. Pretty Much. by SlashdotWanker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes.

    1. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      Amazing that a Blue (Democrat voting) state wants to restrict the "free" market and "free" trade. What a hoot!

    2. Re:Pretty Much. by Guppy06 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Ohio has a Republican governor and Republican supermajorities in both chambers of its state legislature. The three sponsors of this are all Republicans.

    3. Re:Pretty Much. by noobermin · · Score: 4, Informative

      Republican governor, Republican general assembly, not to mention a Republican introduced this amendment.

      Don't let facts get in your way.

      Now, since I happen to be a voter here, I'll make sure no bozos like these get elected in my district come November.

    4. Re:Pretty Much. by schneidafunk · · Score: 1

      Which is even more baffling, I usually associate free market to republicans. Dems are usually supporters of bigger government.

      --
      Some people die at 25 and aren't buried until 75. -Benjamin Franklin
    5. Re:Pretty Much. by wiredlogic · · Score: 1

      The three sponsors of this are all Republicans.

      The party of less government and pro-business.

      --
      I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.
    6. Re:Pretty Much. by Kenja · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Which is even more baffling, I usually associate free market to republicans. Dems are usually supporters of bigger government.

      That's what Republicans claim, but there is very little recent evidence of this.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    7. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, they do want you to believe their branding.

      Oddly, they seem quite diligent in wanting you to follow such a methodology for Democrats, but don't see how you might apply the same critical thinking skills to their own side.

    8. Re:Pretty Much. by nehril · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The history of why the car dealership system exists as it does is actually quite interesting. Back in the day, car dealerships were the good guy underdogs, and car manufacturers were pretty much the devil. The "Planet Money" podcast has a great episode on this:

      http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/12/171814201/episode-435-why-buying-a-car-is-so-awful

      Basically explains why buying a car in general sucks (consistently ranked as one of the worst consumer experiences), and why there isn't a "new car supermaket" where you can browse & buy cars from multiple manufacturers.

    9. Re:Pretty Much. by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Which is even more baffling, I usually associate free market to republicans. Dems are usually supporters of bigger government.

      The closer you get to the local level, the less each party matches their stereotype. When you get to small towns, you'll have democrats sounding very conservative, if that's the kind of people who live in the town (or vice-versa). Issues that are important at a national level just don't matter at a city level.

      What does the town of Riverbank, CA care about the US military budget? But they might have a strong opinion on whether their local car dealership goes out of business.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    10. Re:Pretty Much. by jbmartin6 · · Score: 4, Informative

      You can always tell a liar by comparing the actions to the words. Words aside, Republicans have always been the party of big centralized government.

      --
      This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
    11. Re:Pretty Much. by Copid · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's pretty straightforward for two reasons:

      1) Parties bill themselves as X all the time without really being all about X. It often even gets built into the conventional wisdom, even though it's bullshit. Good examples are Republicans being about fiscal responsibility and Democrats being all about tolerating the viewpoints of others.
      2) These types of laws are bought by the dealerships. The independant dealerships are owned by local wealthy entrepeneurs. Local wealthy entrepeneurs are usually the biggest political donors, and they swing Republican, so when they want to place a phone call to their pet legislators, they're calling the Republican whose seat their advertising helped to win.

      --
      An interesting anagram of "BANACH TARSKI" is "BANACH TARSKI BANACH TARSKI"
    12. Re:Pretty Much. by parkinglot777 · · Score: 1

      Please read the GP post before replying. The GP simply stated the fact to reply to the AC who claimed that this issue is from blue state (OH), but apparently it is a false claim. And then read the TFA and try to relate what it meant before answering less government and pro-business.

    13. Re:Pretty Much. by CastrTroy · · Score: 1

      I'll have to watch that later. But here's my opinion on the whole "why buying a car is awful". The reason it's awful, is that for most people, a car is the most expensive item (apart from real estate) that they will ever buy, by a huge margin. And, unlike real estate, cars depreciate at an exceptional rate. A car that costs as much as 1/4 of your yearly salary (which might even be low balling it a little, for people buying new), is going to be a huge decision. Plus people depend on their car. They need it to get back and forth to work. No car means they can't go to work, which means they won't get paid. So people are willing to spend large amounts of money to ensure they get something that will be dependable. Also, cars have become a status item. Half the reason most people buy a car, is probably just to show off to their friends which car they have.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    14. Re:Pretty Much. by HornWumpus · · Score: 4, Funny

      You don't know many new car buyers.

      Around here (N Cal) apartment parking lots are full of brand new cars. Buying a new car that costs your entire yearly take home is common.

      It's all about status symbols. You can get a fairly reliable old Honda for well under 5K$.

      There is no group with a lower aggregate IQ then new car buyers. Not even 'audiophiles'.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    15. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      pro-already-existing-business, not necessarily pro-disruptive-new-business.

    16. Re:Pretty Much. by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 4, Informative

      Republicans are friends of big business. Not of the free market. Over the years the Republican Party has transformed from "conservative" and "liberal" to the Corporate Lobbyists Party. In essence they use the party as a means to pave their way into management level once they retire from politics, happily kissing asses along the way.

    17. Re:Pretty Much. by flaming+error · · Score: 4, Informative

      This. The obvious truth is that each party wants the programs they don't like to vanish, and the programs they do like to expand.

      Only purist libertarians honestly want the whole government small. Regardless of their rhetoric, the actions of every other party show they want the government to be ginormous, domineering, and bent on shoving their agenda down the world's throat.

    18. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's not Free Market vs Bigger Government - it's who's giving us campaign contributions

    19. Re:Pretty Much. by jeffmeden · · Score: 1

      I'll have to watch that later. But here's my opinion on the whole "why buying a car is awful". The reason it's awful, is that for most people, a car is the most expensive item (apart from real estate) that they will ever buy, by a huge margin. And, unlike real estate, cars depreciate at an exceptional rate. A car that costs as much as 1/4 of your yearly salary (which might even be low balling it a little, for people buying new), is going to be a huge decision. Plus people depend on their car. They need it to get back and forth to work. No car means they can't go to work, which means they won't get paid. So people are willing to spend large amounts of money to ensure they get something that will be dependable. Also, cars have become a status item. Half the reason most people buy a car, is probably just to show off to their friends which car they have.

      None of those things you mentioned make the experience awful, just increasingly strenuous. The reason it's awful is (in a nutshell) face to face sales + lack of selection + lack of loan transparency = confusion from start to finish which leads to opportunity for buyers remorse.

    20. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You must have quickly forgotten the demorats who occupied the offices before them..

      Who you going to vote for? The only candidates that run are either Big Business or Big Labor - both are big government..

      Lots of sheeple in Ohio. Don't let facts get in your way.

    21. Re:Pretty Much. by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 3, Funny

      The GOP has been fractured by a bunch of progressive lefts that pretend to be conservative. (Boehner, etc).

      Uh huh. No TRUE Republican does the things Republicans are currently doing. The only possible explanation is Republicans are really progressives. Thanks for clearing that up.

    22. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The party that takes a lot of money from the car dealers association.

    23. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I love how idiots who don't read history think the Republicans current lurch to the right is where the party has always been.

    24. Re:Pretty Much. by Valdrax · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Which is even more baffling, I usually associate free market to republicans. Dems are usually supporters of bigger government.

      Don't buy the talking points of the parties. Each party has a number of conflicting interest groups within them, and which group is on top varies from region to region. Some conservatives believe in the free market almost religiously, while many others believe in the free market is only a great idea to apply *outside* of their industry. Furthermore, the lower you go down from the national level, the more an individual politician's interests will be tied into which big fish is willing to dribble money into their campaign, and that will more often than not be tied to the local rich guy.

      Car dealerships are local businesses that pull in a lot of money and which have long had a history of being big donors to local politics. There are a number of ideological reasons that Republicans would support protection of a local elite at the expense of what the public wants, but let's face it, a Democrat would probably support the same bill if his town had a politically active car dealership in it and just use different rhetoric for it.

      The "free market" is a principle, and principles frequently go AWOL when reelection funding is on the line. Or if you want to be even more cynical, you can consider it just the Republican's "branding" rather than beliefs. Something to keep the common voters rooting for the team, while the business of politics continues to be business.

      --
      If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
    25. Re:Pretty Much. by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      Big government is just peachy, when your biggest donors can use it to lock out their competition.

      And no, this is not only a problem for Republicans.

    26. Re:Pretty Much. by Trogre · · Score: 1

      Not meaning to sound nasty here, but let me know how that turns out for you.

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    27. Re:Pretty Much. by robot256 · · Score: 1

      The three sponsors of this are all Republicans.

      The party of less government and pro-donors.

      FTFY. They use big-government regulation to favor of businesses that "play the game" and donate to their campaigns. The rest of them are upstarts that they couldn't care less about.

    28. Re:Pretty Much. by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1, Flamebait

      You can always tell a liar by comparing the actions to the words. Words aside, Republicrats/Democans have always been the party of big centralized government.

      FTFY.

      There's no notable difference between the two sides of the One Party, rhetoric aside.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    29. Re:Pretty Much. by rfrenzob · · Score: 1

      One of my Ohio reps hung up on me when I asked why he voted the way he did on a bill. "That is a question which is inappropriate to to ask a congressman."

      Business as usual here. Nothing to see. Move along.

    30. Re:Pretty Much. by codealot · · Score: 1

      You're talking about the party that screams about deficits and the federal debt when they do not control the white house, yet passes measures that raise the deficit when they are in power.

      Thinking logically won't help you understand politics. Here are the rough priorities of the GOP party (and Dems for that matter):

      - Tell voters whatever it takes to get (re)elected,
      - Promote legislation that satisfies their campaign contributors (i.e. big business),
      - Do whatever it takes to block the other party from getting elected (into *any* office).

      Do these priorities sometimes conflict? Sure. Is that a problem? Only if you make it a problem. You see?

    31. Re:Pretty Much. by RoccamOccam · · Score: 1

      So, just to be clear -- in this case and in cases similar to this, we'd like the the Ohio State legislature to act more conservatively than they are currently acting. Excellent. I believe that you'd have agreement from most of the Republican voters across the country.

      At least we have a hammer to use against the Republican politicians that are out of step with their constituency (unlike those poor folks that elect Democrat representatives).

    32. Re:Pretty Much. by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 2

      It's a split.

      Broadly speaking, the Republican party is really a coalition of two conservative groups, but two very different, almost diametrically opposed conservative groups.

      You have the "fiscal conservatives" who think everybody should be hands off anything economically. This is the "free markets" Republican you tend to think of.

      Then you have the "social conservative" who think everyone should be righteous and whatnot. They want not only themselves to be righteous, but you as well. To force you to live by a religious code that you don't follow, you sometimes need government interference. The joke being here "the Republican party wants government so small it just sleeps in bed with you and tells you No."

      These groups were kind of glued together in the Nixon years, and really cemented in the Reagan years, It kind of explains some of the multiple-personality-disorderness of the current Republican Party. I'm surprised it hasn't blown up yet - do you really think a true Tea Partyer has much to talk to Rand Paul about? The doggedness of corralling "rogue" Republicans and painting them as R.I.N.O kind of keeps this all together.

      That being said, many supposed fiscal conservatives really aren't so much. "Fiscal Conservative" Sarah Palin bloated a small city's spending so much she sent it into a debt spiral. The largest recent expansion of government was under Bush #43. Before that? Reagan. Wasn't the quote "Reagan proved deficits don't matter" - not very fiscally conservative. "Tax and spend" Clinton ran a fiscally responsible government and ran a surplus (which goes into the above - Bush had cash to burn, and so he did). Paul Ryan wants to gut government programs, yet he wouldn't be where he is today without them - he kind of skirted on Social Security benefits to get through college. Fiscal Conservative makes a great bumper sticker, but many Republicans seem to live by "please let everyone be fiscally conservative, well everyone but me".

    33. Re:Pretty Much. by Bacon+Bits · · Score: 1

      Well, defining the problem away certainly makes your difficult issues much easier to solve. That's why the term RINO is so laughable. If the party doesn't stop disavowing itself so often, it might deny that it even exists.

      --
      The road to tyranny has always been paved with claims of necessity.
    34. Re:Pretty Much. by Grey+Geezer · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Ohio rubes and marks need to buy only internal combustion cars I guess. More and more it seems to me as though Republicans (or perhaps it's only their big business sponsors) regard us not as free individuals, but rather as consumers and serfs. They seem to believe that we shouldn't have job flexibility (how awful that because of the ACA we might be free to change jobs, or even quit our jobs), should not control our family size (no birth control for you, they need more consumers and serfs), should not have a clean environment (clean air and water regulation is OK..., but not if it interferes with, or reduces, their profit margin). Democrats are about as bad...maybe only marginally less obvious about it is all. Libertarians are pretty much Republicans only without the urge to stick their noses into our bedrooms and bodies. It wasn't always this bad. Was it?

      --
      The USA is only 4X older than me...perspective
    35. Re:Pretty Much. by jbmartin6 · · Score: 1

      True today, this wasn't always the case. Many are not aware the the Democrats, of all people, were once the libertarian limited government party in the US. The great Grover Cleveland was one of these. It wasn't until the 20th century that they did an about face and went federal. We still call the Democratic rhetoric "liberal" thanks to this, creating confusion with the original meaning of "liberal" which is now usually called "classical liberal" to try to avoid the confusion.

      --
      This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
    36. Re:Pretty Much. by MadMartigan2001 · · Score: 2

      As a purist libertarian, I completely agree.

    37. Re:Pretty Much. by DriedClexler · · Score: 1

      Back in the day, car dealerships were the good guy underdogs, and car manufacturers were pretty much the devil.

      You mean, a writer with a particular worldview convinced you that there was a time where smaller businesses held a relatively benevolent position compared to upstream larger businesses.

      Does that argument also prove how gas station owners were pro-consumer good guys against oil companies?

      Why didn't competition between auto-makers hold down prices, and how did middlemen help with that?

      --
      Information theory is life. The rest is just the KL divergence.
    38. Re:Pretty Much. by Skraut · · Score: 2

      Unfortunately there was also a Republican Senate and Republican House here in 2012 which took the results of the 2010 census and gerrymandered themselves secure seats for the next decade.

      --
      Introducing Microsoft Vacuum 1.0 The first Microsoft product that doesn't suck.
    39. Re:Pretty Much. by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      You have the history almost completely backwards. Boehner and friends represent the established Republican party. The influence of the libertarian crew is a pretty recent development.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    40. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go to your local Honda or Toyota Dealer. Maybe you have a few in your city (I have 9 of each). I'll bet you they're some variation of (Someone's name) Honda. You know why? Because Honda doesn't operate any dealers in the US. The dealers are all local businessmen who buy the cars and distribute them to individuals. This is the process how most new cars are sold.

      Car sales direct to consumer are entirely a localized business all around the US, and for good reason! Car dealers are often active in their communities (mine are) and understand the unique needs of customers within a given region, making them better salesmen. They can reduce costs for both Honda and the consumer by ordering in bulk from the factory, which maximizes efficiency from the plant. The dealer has a standard markup, but that is driven down through competition of multiple dealers of the same car, ultimately passing on the plant's manufacturing efficiency to the consumer through savings. If Honda sold to each consumer directly, it would be a much more significant cost to them and an ultimately higher price to the consumer.

      Tesla is going the latter route. This rider in this bill does not lock Tesla out of operating through the typical manufacturer/dealer/consumer relationship, and actually would be better for Tesla as they won't have the cost of running their own dealers and the orders coming from Ohio would be bulk orders leading to better production costs, without upsetting the already working system, which is far more free market than the way that Tesla is operating.

      Don't get me wrong; I'm a Tesla fan. But I've also studied the economics and distribution model of the auto industry; the current method is far more efficient and this bill doesn't lock them out of it.

    41. Re:Pretty Much. by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      True today, this wasn't always the case

      Well sure, but this ain't history class, it's real life. Today matters in a big way.

      Many are not aware the the Democrats, of all people, were once the libertarian limited government party in the US. The great Grover Cleveland was one of these. It wasn't until the 20th century that they did an about face and went federal.

      Many are also unaware that it was Southern Democrats, not Republicans, who enacted and fought to keep the "Separate but Equal" Jim Crow laws on the books, way back when. Republicans actually supported integration, difficult as that may be to believe considering today's political climate.

      We still call the Democratic rhetoric "liberal" thanks to this, creating confusion with the original meaning of "liberal" which is now usually called "classical liberal" to try to avoid the confusion.

      Hmm, "classic liberal" is a term I've yet to hear, myself. Regardless, I agree that the co-opting of definitions for terms such as 'liberal' and 'conservative' have created mass confusion in modern politics; I contend it was done intentionally.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    42. Re:Pretty Much. by NoKaOi · · Score: 2

      This. The obvious truth is that each party wants the programs they don't like to vanish, and the programs they do like to expand.

      Only purist libertarians honestly want the whole government small. Regardless of their rhetoric, the actions of every other party show they want the government to be ginormous, domineering, and bent on shoving their agenda down the world's throat.

      The parties don't give a crap about how big the government itself is. They care about power. That means they care about getting their people elected so that they have power. That means they care about their campaign contributions so that the party's people can get elected so that the party has power. That means they care about giving money in the form of government contracts to their compaign contributors so that they party's people can get elected so that the party has power. That also means convoluted regulations that benefit the campaign contributors, not the people, so that they party's people can get elected so that the party has power.

    43. Re:Pretty Much. by AlphaBravoCharlie · · Score: 1

      Yes, but they always want Santa Claus to come.

    44. Re:Pretty Much. by LoRdTAW · · Score: 1

      Besides the crappy buy a car process there is the dealership service department and parts counter. Those two right there add to the cancer on the auto industry that are dealerships.

    45. Re:Pretty Much. by Grishnakh · · Score: 2

      As someone who's generally socially liberal and maybe slightly left-of-center economically, I also completely agree. The two parties in this country are totally corrupt.

    46. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Once you take the blinders off you'll be even more baffled by the fact that what you think are two separate parties come to look one and the same with some minor in fighting.

      This is by design. This is so people that can tell you who won the superblow in 1968 but can't tell you the name of their federal representative asleep while still showing up at the ballot box at least once every 4 years.

      You may not be exactly one of these people but I bet you that if we took away the little (r)s and (d)s from their names you'd have a hard time figuring out who was who. Again, it's by design. The more you keep that fact in mind the more you'll see that you've been had by the greatest scam ever committed on the American continents.

    47. Re:Pretty Much. by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      The Democrats have done the same thing. Have you forgotten about the term "Blue Dog Democrat"?

    48. Re:Pretty Much. by JMZero · · Score: 2

      Wow what a bizarre, moronic comment.

      as they won't have the cost of running their own dealers

      So dealerships are actually money losers, eh? And the people who own them are just so committed to their LOVE of community that they run them anyway.

      the current method is far more efficient

      So having independent dealerships would just save Tesla rafts of money, but they don't want to do it? And so we need laws, to what, protect Tesla from making such a bad decision?

      Why don't we let Tesla decide how Tesla wants to sell cars? I'm sure lots of other companies were worried when Apple starting setting up their own stores. But the right response isn't "NOOO, we can't let Apple do that because, uh... they'll lose money having to operate all those stores - we're really saving Apple from themselves". And it's certainly not "oh, well, those Best Buy salesmen knew their community so much better, how could Apple people ever understand unique needs?".

      If you think you're right, you should have no objection to letting Tesla try this, find out they're wrong and then switching.

      But you know you're not right. Obviously.

      --
      Let's not stir that bag of worms...
    49. Re:Pretty Much. by Grishnakh · · Score: 3, Informative

      While true, it's also true of the Democrats. Notice how cozy the Democrats are with the Wall Street financial firms, not to mention the media corporations. The only difference between the parties is which industries they're in the pocket of.

    50. Re:Pretty Much. by MoronBob · · Score: 1

      Why would anyone be against coal powered cars?

      --
      Telecommuting! What about socialization?
    51. Re:Pretty Much. by CaptSlaq · · Score: 3, Insightful
      --snip

      Car sales direct to consumer are entirely a localized business all around the US, and for good reason! Car dealers are often active in their communities (mine are) and understand the unique needs of customers within a given region, making them better salesmen. They can reduce costs for both Honda and the consumer by ordering in bulk from the factory, which maximizes efficiency from the plant.

      This would be true for large manufacturers of vehicles that have several models, as regional tastes should be considered when dealing with a large inventory and/or model selection. Telsa is a boutique manufacturer. They currently have exactly 1 model that has a handful of options. Most if not all are built to order. There's a rather large gulf between these two situations. While there will be 2 in the near future, and possibly 3 a while after that, they're not going to approach the size and model lineup of any of the major manufacturers anytime soon.

    52. Re:Pretty Much. by HornWumpus · · Score: 2

      Clinton/Gingrich had one projected surplus. They had no actual surpluses.

      If you factor the SS trust in, they weren't even close to surplus.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    53. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hell you can get a fairly reliable BNW 740iL for 5K

    54. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You can always tell a liar by comparing the actions to the words. If it has actions, and it has words, then it's human.

      It's a liar.

      You are a liar.

    55. Re:Pretty Much. by Peristaltic · · Score: 2

      For the most part, the only actions members of congress work hard at taking are those that increase or maintain their own wealth and power (or, indirectly, that of the groups assisting them in this endeavour). Most any other public stance they take is usually theater to distract opposition to these outcomes- If they can keep us occupied, arguing about the theatric details while maintaining the illusion that we actually have a say in what happens, so much the better.

      You may find an outlier here or there (usually for only a brief period of time during his or her political career), but not often.

      At the state level, it seems as if voting for the common good is slightly more prevelant, with the emphasis on "slightly".

      High-functioning sociopaths have control, both in government and in corporate America (The Venn diagram for these two groups probably overlaps 75%), and they possess the unprecedented technological means to keep it.

    56. Re:Pretty Much. by flaming+error · · Score: 3, Insightful

      A "blue dog democrat" is a democrat whose constituency is conservative.

      A "republican in name only" is a guy who wants to be a republican but is rejected and disowned by the base when they catch a whiff of non-zealotry regarding their party line.

    57. Re:Pretty Much. by SolitaryMan · · Score: 1

      Only purist libertarians honestly want the whole government small.

      Except that definition of "small" seems to vary greatly, depending on the agenda of a particular libertarian.

      --
      May Peace Prevail On Earth
    58. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If Honda sold to each consumer directly, it would be a much more significant cost to them and an ultimately higher price to the consumer.

      Complete and utter bullshit.

      I would have a lot lower price if I could just order my car on the web and have a car carrier pull up and drop it in my driveway. Why should I pay a middleman, especially one that puts "additional dealer profit" on the sticker and constantly hard-sells high-margin add ons.

      "understand the unique needs of customers" my ass, the only thing dealers understand is how to maximize their profit off of suckers.

      The only thing manufacturers need is a way for potential customers to test drive their vehicles and a good web site.

    59. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and maybe slightly left-of-center economically

      So, to find you on the magic political forest, you go two trees to the right of the leprechaun, turn around three times, and whistle?

    60. Re:Pretty Much. by Aristos+Mazer · · Score: 1

      And if they ever do approach the size of larger manufacturers, they probably will choose to build their own dealer network for their own good, rather than because it is legally required of them.

    61. Re:Pretty Much. by Sri+Ramkrishna · · Score: 1

      Republicans have never been in action been in support of free market or at least smart free market. This is one of their big lies.. Dems are generally for smart governance, that doesn't always mean big government.

    62. Re:Pretty Much. by Sri+Ramkrishna · · Score: 0, Troll

      Let's not do both sides do it. Only one side here is the bad actor. When it comes to corruption, Dems are a lot more trustworthy than Republicans. You can generally consider Republicans as a bunch of clowns, and not to be taken seriously and the country will run fine. I mean, we are talking about the party who wants to default on our debts and is okay with that.

    63. Re:Pretty Much. by HornWumpus · · Score: 0

      You can get an old BMW 7 for 5K. Why you'd want one is another question. POS worn out expensive car.

      Fairly reliable, not so much.

      Never try to buy an expensive car for cheap. It won't be.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    64. Re:Pretty Much. by gmack · · Score: 1

      This has nothing to do with internal combustion vs electric and everything to do with the fact that Tesla is removing the car dealers from the chain and the middlemen want to keep their share.

    65. Re:Pretty Much. by uniquename72 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The GOP has been fractured by a bunch of progressive lefts that pretend to be conservative. (Boehner, etc).

      I love how today's Republicans pretend to worship Ronald Reagan, while calling any existing Reagan Republican a RINO.

      Reagan raised taxes and the minimum wage when it was good for the economy, allowed fairly easy immigration for illegals already in the country, and happily met with the leaders of enemy states. Today, even talking about any of these things would have Fox News frothing at the mouth.

      Obama is to the right of Reagan on a host of issues, and still we get whining from today's Republicans.

    66. Re:Pretty Much. by khallow · · Score: 1

      When it comes to corruption, Dems are a lot more trustworthy than Republicans.

      I don't know. The Republicans tend to stay bought when you bribe them. I get the impression it's the flakier progressive types who turn on you after they get what they want. Classic examples are John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon. JFK turned on the Mob after he got elected while Nixon didn't. That made Nixon more trustworthy in corruption than Kennedy.

      I mean, we are talking about the party who wants to default on our debts and is okay with that.

      Which is a non sequitur. Just because someone allegedly wants to default on debts (here, meaning a short delay in loan payments possibly happening as a result of their actions), doesn't at all imply a thing about their trustworthiness in any sort of endeavor.

    67. Re:Pretty Much. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      You do realize that you could switch those definitions around and have them be equally valid?

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    68. Re:Pretty Much. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Never forget Grahm-Rudman-Hollings.

      Any promise of 'more taxes today, we'll cut spending tomorrow' is pure bullshit. Next time it is suggested, ask for the Grahm-Rudman-Hollings spending cuts first.

      They fooled Ronny (perhaps), anybody buying it subsequently is a fool.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    69. Re:Pretty Much. by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      Politics has very little to do with beliefs or ideals anymore. It is now all about scoring more points than the other team.

    70. Re:Pretty Much. by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 2

      You're clearly an expert on what the Republicans want. They should appoint you as their spokesman, because you've just got it all figured out. Reading those leaflets the Democrats send you gives you a heck of a lot of information.

    71. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is no group with a lower aggregate IQ then new car buyers. Not even 'audiophiles'.

      What about people who don't know the difference between then and than?

    72. Re:Pretty Much. by flaming+error · · Score: 2

      No, huge difference. Blue dogs are self-declared.

      RINOs are labelled by others. And you don't have to be liberal to be a RINO, you only have to disagree with a talk show host.

    73. Re:Pretty Much. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Not true. Hold your nose and spend any time hanging with partisan democrats. I suggest DU to find the true hyperventilating idiots. Also huffington post.

      DINO is modern version of 'blue dog' and is applied quite 'liberally'.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    74. Re:Pretty Much. by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      Or just don't care. Spelling pedants are almost as dumb as new car buyers.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    75. Re:Pretty Much. by Darinbob · · Score: 1

      We had a big turn around with civil rights era and Nixon's Southern strategy. Many white Southern democrats abandoned their party en masse over a few short years and started calling themselves republicans. These new republicans had very little sympathy or allegiances to big corporate business. So modern America basically has two parties that are each a mix of strange bedfellows. The great political divides are primarily regional and the current divisions have evolved from this; industrialized/northern versus agrarian/southern.

    76. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Like your vote would count. Election "fraud" (my term) in Ohio is second only to maybe Florida. Re-districting, lose of ballets, electronic voting contracts, etc. There's nothing the corrupt don't do in Ohio.

    77. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You clearly know nothing about manufacturing. While it is true in some cases that dealers tack on extra margin, most of the time middlemen exist for a reason; they buy in bulk by taking the risk and cost of inventory carrying away from the manufacturer, resulting in a lower cost, and in turn take on the expense of direct consumer marketing, allowing each piece of the distribution chain to specialize. The reason you can't do exactly what you describe in this day and age of internet ordering and ease of customization is because the big manufacturers don't want to talk to you; it's not cost effective for them to do that.

    78. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not at all what I said. Dealers are not money losers, dealers are locals who understand the needs of the customers in their area and sell based on those needs. People need cars with different things and have different reasons for buying; a manufacturer can't collect that information easily so it's simpler for them to run a dealer network and let them be the direct interface to the end customer. In turn, their plants are more efficient because dealers are buying in numbers; if you've ever worked in manufacturing (I have, in both large scale construction as well as CPG), you'd know that many manufacturers discount products for volume orders because one-offs are money losers but production runs are profit generators.

      Apple is not a good comparison, because Apple is not a manufacturer. They develop designs and interface with customers directly, but their manufacturing is entirely outsourced. Their business model is to take on the risk of carrying inventory and handling direct sales themselves; it's entirely a different entity than car manufacturers. It is exceedingly rare in this day and age that a company that actually owns the manufacturing process also owns the sales to the customer. Even in my current work in CPG where we manufacture goods, we sell nothing direct to the customer, we sell to retail outlets who then sell to the customer. It's how it's done, and it's that way for a reason: it's far more cost efficient for all parties involved.

    79. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But then why not work with a dealer network? Tesla is very good at one thing: making high quality electric cars. They're only so-so at selling them; I've been to their shops and their sales people are mediocre at best. I ended up buying a Honda instead and the service I received was far better, and mostly because as a Honda dealer, I could go to any other dealer in town so they had to sell on service, customer experience, and good deals. Tesla wouldn't negotiate anything; with Honda I got 15% off the price. Even if they jacked up the price to get me to the 15% off, I still walked away feeling good that I got a discount. Tesla's not doing that, and thus people feel like they're paying full price for the car, not as thrilling of a buying experience. They clearly do not understand retail sales, from my experience in a Tesla; they're relying heavily on the unqiueness of the technology, which historically speaking can only go so far. There is a science and an art to retail sales, so why not set up a dealer network to do it?

      Actually, I do know, why, but I'll leave that for another post.

    80. Re:Pretty Much. by quantaman · · Score: 1

      Why couldn't the manufacturer set up dealerships with the ability to respond to their local communities? Why couldn't they improve on the efficiency by analyzing data on the large scale? If the local dealership model is that much superior why don't the manufacturers embrace it without the aid of legislation?

      It might be that forcing manufacturers to use 3rd party dealerships is somehow better for the economy as a whole and ends up better for the manufacturer as well by forcing them away from irrational actions but it's a fairly interventionist conclusion.

      --
      I stole this Sig
    81. Re:Pretty Much. by volmtech · · Score: 1

      Google "Garber Auto Mall", Ford, Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Nissan, Hyundai Dealer, Serving MI, IL & Fl. All these makes, one (huge) lot.

    82. Re:Pretty Much. by blindseer · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Really? Democrats are less corrupt? Perhaps I have a bias but I don't recall too many Republicans going to jail recently. I do recall quite a few Democrats sitting behind bars right now.

      Maybe the Republicans are just better at covering their tracks. If that is true then that just means the Democrats are corrupt, and also stupid.

      I'm not someone that is going to come running to defend the GOP. I'm also not going to stand by while someone tries to tell me with a straight face that Democrats are trustworthy. Democrats are notorious for election fraud. I'm just at a loss for words.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    83. Re:Pretty Much. by blindseer · · Score: 1

      I'll agree with that. Democrats are also the party of big government. Both parties want big government. Democrats want government health care, big welfare, government schools, and generally take everything you have and give you what they think you deserve.

      Both parties want to tax and spend us all into poverty or slavery, whichever happens to come first. The only difference is that the Democrats seem to be more open about it. The Republicans just lie to us more.

      --
      I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
    84. Re:Pretty Much. by JMZero · · Score: 1

      That's not at all what I said.

      Yes, it is. You said:

      as they won't have the cost of running their own dealers

      If something is a cost, then it's something that loses money. I understand why you want to have not said it now (and we both know it's wrong) but you did say it, and denying that is really silly when it's right bloody there.

      And pretending Apple is more like a car dealer than a car manufacturer is ridiculous, and I think you know that.. so I'm not going to bother continuing.

      --
      Let's not stir that bag of worms...
    85. Re:Pretty Much. by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      Republicans actually supported integration, difficult as that may be to believe considering today's political climate.

      That doesn't make any sense. You are claiming that Republicans now support segregation? That's as ridiculously stereotypical as the people who claim that Obama is a socialist.

      You need to stop stereotyping people who you don't understand.

    86. Re:Pretty Much. by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      A BMW is a cheap car to buy used, but an expensive car to keep maintained as it ages.

    87. Re:Pretty Much. by Teancum · · Score: 1

      It should be noteworthy that specific legislation is currently being enacted... meaning that in spite of the power you claim auto dealerships have with politicians they still need to come up with these laws in the first place.... and those laws don't currently exist in many cases. This means they are reacting to Tesla rather than defending against changes to the law which would explicitly permit a company like Tesla to move in.

      In this case, I think it is a self-correcting problem. If the Tesla vehicles start to become extremely popular, and enough voters are aware of these kind of tactics and laws, those politicians will be eventually removed from office or at least have some real political pain from which they need to face some very angry voters for supporting this kind of thing. This will be especially true if other automobile companies (of which the big three are certainly paying attention) try the same approach that Tesla is doing. When voters realize this is a law that was enacted in 2014 rather than 1814 or even 1914, they will know squarely who to blame.

      This really is an issue that can stick in the craw of a significant block of voters that can dominate local politics too. Support for special rules to favor a big business best happens in obscurity and for products that ordinary citizens typically don't buy in significant quantities (like buying Aluminum by the ton or supplying 6 foot diameter pipes). Automobiles, while admittedly a big ticket item that people don't purchase every day, it is something that almost every registered voter either knows somebody very close to them buys (a brother, sister, parent, or child) or buys personally.

      This still isn't going to stop citizens of Ohio from getting Tesla vehicles either. Instead, it will go to companies and service centers located in states other than those states who impose such draconian laws. You might even see a sort of "black market" pop up which completely bypasses the dealership licensing system where groups of private individuals travel across the Ohio River to Kentucky, buys the Tesla vehicle, and then sells it to a neighbor for a modest fee or mark-up. All these games end up doing is costing the citizens of this state more money than they would otherwise have to spend... as a sort of tax on the product. Perhaps that is all these guys are trying for anyway.

    88. Re:Pretty Much. by mjwx · · Score: 1

      Basically explains why buying a car in general sucks (consistently ranked as one of the worst consumer experiences), and why there isn't a "new car supermaket" where you can browse & buy cars from multiple manufacturers.

      We have multi-manufacturer dealers here in Australia (supermarkets only stock selected brands as well) and it doesn't help. It's still insulting to shonky, dishonest, arrogant, lying pieces of crap to put them in the same category as car salesmen.

      What I want is a website that I can go online, look at al the offers available and pick the best one. Carsales.com.au used to do this but then manufacturers kicked up a huge stink because it was making prices drop and they replaced it with "getprice" which just farms you out to random dealers.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
    89. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Probably the point you are making

      This is typical politics, and always has, you buy off politicians to pass laws, federal agencies to make loopholes in regulations or just ignore the regulations, that favor monopolies [companies, industry, Unions, ect..].

      Now the tactics [I'm fairly sure this isn't any new tactic, they've been getting away with this for years] is to hide these "bought and paid for" laws by hiding them in previous laws/bills they are amending or newer bills that are labeled for something unrelated, so these "bought and paid for" laws secretly pass.

      Both parties are doing this, and this is why I laugh when they say they're looking out for the citizens that voted them in the on there " I represent the little guy, tax payers Jane/Joe" rhetorical speeches.

    90. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Car dealers are often active in their communities (mine are) and understand the unique needs of customers within a given region, making them better salesmen.

      If that's true, then why are they pushing for legislation in order to fight off the competition?
      If they are indeed better salesmen, then the market would decide in their favour and they wouldn't have to spend enormous amounts of time and money lobying the government to do their dirty work for them.

      You can try and paint car dealers as some sort of nice friendly shop owners who just want to help their community, but that's not the image which comes to most people's minds when they thing "car salesman". It's not by chance that the very words "car salesman" are usually used negatively.

      Nobody likes buying cars. It's one of the last businesses in modern first-world societies where haggling is still the norm. As a society we've generally driven away from haggling for good reason: as a customer you're usually less informed and less experienced than the seller, so the haggling will always go in his favour (if it doesn't, he can simply refuse to sell).

      Tesla is destroying that business model, and good riddance.

    91. Re:Pretty Much. by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 2

      You are probably right. But it seems to me that the Democrats have been the lesser of two evils for decades now. There seem to be more people of integrity and common sense on the democratic side than on the republican side, be it the politicians themselves or the news commentators vying for them. Also, I can't abide the constant stream of disinformation that right-leaning sources love to spread in their efforts to cause FUD.

    92. Re:Pretty Much. by Sri+Ramkrishna · · Score: 1

      It's a bit cynical to have this world view. The corruption that you see here is nothing compared to some of the places I've been.

    93. Re:Pretty Much. by Sri+Ramkrishna · · Score: 1

      I'm not a Democrat. I vote in my interest and voting Republican isn't it.

    94. Re:Pretty Much. by Sri+Ramkrishna · · Score: 1

      Democrats are notorious for election fraud? Oh man, you must have drank some of the Republican koolaid. In any case, I didn't say Democrats were trustworthy I said they were less corrupt. One doesn't mean the other.

    95. Re:Pretty Much. by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      Republicans actually supported integration, difficult as that may be to believe considering today's political climate.

      That doesn't make any sense. You are claiming that Republicans now support segregation?

      Obviously not - obviously, to someone who's not trying to further support their agenda by playing stupid, I'm talking about the modern Republicans penchant for pissing on/off minority groups. If you haven't noticed that absolute fact, you're either not paying attention, or so wrapped up in bullshit partisan politics you can't see the forest for the trees.

      You need to stop stereotyping people who you don't understand.

      Oh, I understand them perfectly; perhaps you are the one who needs to do some introspection before commenting next time.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    96. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > As a purist libertarian

      And that is how we all know you are 14 years old.

    97. Re:Pretty Much. by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Integrity? You mean like how Obama promised transparency, and became the biggest enemy to whistleblowers the world has ever seen? Not to mention all the other ways he went against his campaign promises and did everything just like Bush, if not worse?

      And what "common sense" has the democratic side and their bought news commentators spewed? Some BS about how great Obamacare (a product of a right-wing thinktank) is, when it really isn't and massively increases insurance costs for healthy people, and does absolutely nothing to actually reduce the cost of healthcare? I've seen a constant stream of disinformation and FUD regarding Obamacare for both "left" and right-leaning sources all along, not to mention many other things.

    98. Re:Pretty Much. by painandgreed · · Score: 1

      Well, defining the problem away certainly makes your difficult issues much easier to solve. That's why the term RINO is so laughable. If the party doesn't stop disavowing itself so often, it might deny that it even exists.

      What's funny is that the people calling others RINOs are usually conservative Southern state's rights people who are upset there is a black man in office. They can mostly be tracked back to the Dixiecrats who left when the Democrats decided to support Civil Rights. To win, Nixon invited them to the Republican party and Regan cultivated them for their money and votes. Now they think they are the true Republicans when the Republican party has traditionally be about civil rights (Lincoln), big government (Johnson), environmentalism (Teddy Roosevelt), and if not ok with unions against corruption in big business (Roosevelt again).

    99. Re: Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Politicians of both parties will do what's in their own interests every time.

    100. Re:Pretty Much. by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 1
      Republicans are all about the free market, eliminating all stifling regulations, and unfettered access toe the market allowing the invisible hand to do it's slow but never failing work.

      Except like, when they aren't

      --
      The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
    101. Re:Pretty Much. by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 1

      Yes, Obama is not the liberal, peace loving, second coming of Jesus, as many seemed to believe. He is a US president, and he protects the national interests. Ethical issues aside, the mass surveillance conducted by the NSA is a huge win for the US on multiple levels. Add that to the fact that the Russians and the Chinese would do the same, if they could, and the massive diplomatic damage causes by Snowden's revelations, how can you expect any US president to openly applaud that? On the contrary, he is practically forced to treat Snowden as a criminal, even if he personally sympathizes with his cause. Everything else would leave the US intelligence community at severe disadvantage towards rival nations.

      Comparing Obama to Bush is way off... Bush started a unilateral, happy go lucky war in Iraq with no exit strategy, under false pretenses, disregarding doubts of major NATO allies, Bush introduced torture, Bush introduced tax cuts for the wealthy, Bush shamelessly handed out contracts to the companies of his friends and buddies... I say Bush when I actually mean Cheney and Rumsfeld and their Neo Conservative Club. Bush was just their puppet.

      Healthcare is a complex issue... One thing is fact though, the US has one of the most expensive and inefficient health care systems in the world. Free market has not succeeded in the promise of auto-regulation and cost-reduction. And millions of people in the US are completely without health care, something which can be considered embarrassing for a first world modern democracy. Something had to be done and Obama is one of the few to try and tackle it. But big projects like these take time. The moon landing also didn't just happen over night, and there were some casualties in between.

      And about FUD... you can't tell me with a straight face that some high-profile right-wing commentators like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, or Bill O'Reilly are on the same level of sanity as liberal commentators such as Keith Olbermann or "The Young Turks". Not to mention other celebrities; who do we have on the right? People like Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, on the left? People like Al Gore and Noam Chomsky. Who would you rather share an apartment with?

    102. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well then the way to play it is: "Stop the regulation and allow competition in the free market system; This is the systems that has made America what it is today. American dream, freedom, etc.. you get the idea.

    103. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes.

      You would think Tesla cutting out a middle man would help prices, but nope.

    104. Re:Pretty Much. by jwhitener · · Score: 1

      Perhaps I have a bias but I don't recall too many Republicans going to jail recently. I do recall quite a few Democrats sitting behind bars right now.

      List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes

      Are you selectively remembering? Scan down the page above. It looks somewhat even, although I didn't add them up.

      Democrats are notorious for election fraud

      Are you talking about something like the Acorn scandal? (Which was completely debunked).

      It seems to me that election abuse (Republicans cutting early voting, reducing voting hours, culling voter registration lists right before elections, heavily gerrymandering all districts after the 2010 census) is something that Republicans have been doing lately very blatantly. They are bluntly attempting to change voter turnout in their favor. But of course that isn't actually fraud.... it is just an immoral use of power.

    105. Re:Pretty Much. by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      You and the other Democrat lovers are why this country is falling apart. Why on earth should I vote for Democrats if they're really no different from Republicans, and defend evil, unethical things like mass surveillance? I won't; I'll just sit out the elections, or vote for third parties that have no hope of winning, and when Republicans win and start more wars, that's YOUR fault, not mine. Fuck you.

      Ethical issues aside, the mass surveillance conducted by the NSA is a huge win for the US on multiple levels.

      It's a huge win to violate the 4th Amendment and spy on all American citizens? Fuck you, and fuck Democrats.

      how can you expect any US president to openly applaud that?

      Because it's the right fucking thing to do. If the President can't do the right thing, then why should I back him?

      Everything else would leave the US intelligence community at severe disadvantage towards rival nations.

      "Everyone else does it" isn't an excuse. I learned that in grade school. Apparently you and the other Democrats didn't, or don't care. Fuck you again.

      Comparing Obama to Bush is way off... Bush started a unilateral, happy go lucky war in Iraq with no exit strategy, under false pretenses, disregarding doubts of major NATO allies, Bush introduced torture, Bush introduced tax cuts for the wealthy, Bush shamelessly handed out contracts to the companies of his friends and buddies.

      But Obama does all the same fucking things, and you don't think I should compare them? Fuck you again. Obama started more wars, he tried to get involved in Syria (but luckily was prevented by the Republicans and popular outrage), he even backed Islamist groups there. Obama continues torture, Obama hasn't done anything to stop tax cuts for the wealthy, Obama continues to hand out contracts to buddies like CGIFederal. Obama is no fucking different from Bush.

      Free market has not succeeded in the promise of auto-regulation and cost-reduction.

      Neither will Obamacare, a right wing plan to increase insurance company profits without addressing healthcare costs. The rest of your paragraph is more Democrat apologist drivel, as usual from you morons.

    106. Re:Pretty Much. by bhiestand · · Score: 1

      I disagree with the GP as well, but...

      Perhaps I have a bias but I don't recall too many Republicans going to jail recently. I do recall quite a few Democrats sitting behind bars right now.

      You have a bias (or two). Or maybe you're just reading news sources that are extremely biased? Recent memorable cases include: Bob McDonnell (R-VA) and friends, Michelle Bachmann's investigation, Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ), all those Republicans in New York, and now Chris Christie. 1994 Congressional Republicans may have been the most scandal and crime-prone in recent congressional history, but I don't have data to back that.

      Maybe the Republicans are just better at covering their tracks. If that is true then that just means the Democrats are corrupt, and also stupid.

      Or maybe Democrats are just more likely to target and oust corrupt politicians (there is some data to support this), while Republicans protect their own... do you think that would make the GOP less corrupt?

      I'm not someone that is going to come running to defend the GOP. I'm also not going to stand by while someone tries to tell me with a straight face that Democrats are trustworthy. Democrats are notorious for election fraud. I'm just at a loss for words.

      Notorious for election fraud? Now I know you're reading biased infotainment. Election fraud is both bipartisan and much less common than you believe. However, Republicans do prefer to use the state to disenfranchise, gerrymander, and rig electoral rules rather than engage in outright fraud.

      For the record, I am not trying to claim that one party is more corrupt than the other. To my knowledge, nobody has found a way to collect sufficient data on the topic.

      --
      SWM seeks new sig for a brief fling
    107. Re:Pretty Much. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      republocrats are all the same side of the same corporation that governs you slaves, bickering about two parties.. haha..

    108. Re:Pretty Much. by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 1

      Wow, chill dude. First of all, I don't vote... I'm not American, just interested in politics.

      Second, you seem to be an idealist. Idealism is a very nice, romantic thing. In a perfect world, I would be all for that. John Lennon, Imagine, love it. But it doesn't work out in the real world with Putins and Kim Jong Ils in it. In the real world you need a sizable portion of Realpolitik to get anywhere.

      And third, if you can't have an argument without being condescending and insulting, I have no more interest in talking with you.

    109. Re: Pretty Much. by kenh · · Score: 1

      Right, because Obamacare is but one example of the government getting out of the way of the free market...

      --
      Ken
    110. Re:Pretty Much. by khallow · · Score: 1

      It looks somewhat even, although I didn't add them up.

      I suggest to the parties that insist that the Other Side is the only one engaging in crime tally this list and report to the class which party receives more convictions.

    111. Re:Pretty Much. by khallow · · Score: 1

      No, it's realistic. The US isn't as corrupt as those places you've been. But it is corrupt. And I think it's quite delusional to paint the Other Party as being the corrupt one. Both parties have a long history, stretching all the way back to their respective foundings, of being quite corrupt.

      And jwhitener mentioned a very informative link from Wikipedia of criminal convictions of US politicians (at the federal level). While this is a demonstration of the relative lack of corruption compared to the worst parts of the world (since there are convictions), it also includes substantial representation by the two parties. Perhaps you could tally the list and tell us which party really is the more convicted one?

    112. Re:Pretty Much. by allcoolnameswheretak · · Score: 1

      Whoops, replied to wrong post on first try...
      chill dude. First of all, I don't vote... I'm not American, just interested in politics.

      Second, you seem to be an idealist. Idealism is a very nice, romantic thing. In a perfect world, I would be all for that. John Lennon, Imagine, love it. But it doesn't work out in the real world with Putins and Kim Jong Ils in it. In the real world you need a sizable portion of Realpolitik to get anywhere.

      And third, if you can't have an argument without being condescending and insulting, I have no more interest in talking with you.

  2. Ask... by mcspoo · · Score: 1, Interesting
    Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer: "Fuck Beta!"

    Seriously, tho... of course it's an underhanded tactic. It's not even new. The big "3" did the same thing when Tucker tried to revolutionize the industry. Automakers don't like change at anyone's pace but their own glacial plodding.

    1. Re:Ask... by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      I will be none too surprised when Tesla's Board of Directors take out a new venture: Future Auto, the Autoship Dealer of the Future! Then they open dealerships selling Volts, Leafs, and--most prominently--Tesla electric cars and even some hub motor bikes with diesel one cylinders. Every existing car dealership in your city looks like you just stepped into 1920; this is the only place in town anyone wants to buy a car from. Profits for every dealer are at record lows. Going out of business sale everywhere.

    2. Re:Ask... by Samantha+Wright · · Score: 3, Informative

      This kind of abusive segregation-of-vendor-and-producer legislation goes back even further, to 1936: General Motors bought laws that prohibited power companies from owning transit services, gradually and systematically destroying the streetcar systems in almost every city in the United States. If that hadn't happened, I suspect combustion engine vehicles would not have attained the dominance they enjoyed during the latter half of the 20th century. The impacts this would have on the energy and ecological situations are hard to predict, but I'm willing to bet the world would've been better off by a significant margin.

      The moral of this tale: any time anyone involved in the automotive industry wants something legislated, it's probably really, really fucking evil.

      --
      Bio questions? Ask me to start a Q&A journal. Computer analogies available for most topics!
    3. Re:Ask... by Sri+Ramkrishna · · Score: 1

      Just like these car makers probably won't like GNOME 3.

    4. Re:Ask... by Teancum · · Score: 1

      I will be none too surprised when Tesla's Board of Directors take out a new venture: Future Auto, the Autoship Dealer of the Future! Then they open dealerships selling Volts, Leafs, and--most prominently--Tesla electric cars and even some hub motor bikes with diesel one cylinders. Every existing car dealership in your city looks like you just stepped into 1920; this is the only place in town anyone wants to buy a car from. Profits for every dealer are at record lows. Going out of business sale everywhere.

      Good luck with that. In the states where you could get away with such a plan, you can already sell these vehicles in the manner that Tesla already is doing. Instead, in order to get a dealership license in the few states where Tesla is meeting some strong resistance, those are also states where getting that dealership license is incredibly bureaucratic and needs local ownership of that dealership in order to be permitted the ability to sell automobiles.

      The whole problem has been due to the fact that some major dealership are literally blackmailing Tesla Motors in order to get their particular cut of any "local" sales (relative to those particular dealerships). While Elon Musk didn't name specific individuals, he did say he was approached by a major automobile dealer in Boston, Massachusetts who flat out demanded a dealership from Tesla and was pissed because he couldn't get it. It really is a squeeze operation no different than what Al Capone did in Chicago with alcoholic beverage distributors. Heck, it even includes hired muscle that will make sure you pay the distribution fees.

    5. Re:Ask... by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      This has nothing to do with the Big 3. I've been involved with the Big 3 and I can tell you they'd get rid of the dealership system in a heartbeat if there was a way to do so. Moreover the Big 3 doesn't give a rats ass about a high end niche car maker.

      Nor is this aimed at Tesla or Tesla specific. It's aimed at a particular way of selling cars that it happens Tesla wants to do. While it sucks, there's no reason why, for example, Bentley would be a beneficiary of this system while Tesla would be a victim.

      This is car dealers protecting their turfs, nothing more, nothing less. They want all automakers to provide them with franchises. Manufacturers, to varying degrees, do not want that. The dealers are attempting an end-run around the manufacturers by getting the law involved.

      Claiming otherwise would be like, if in 2000, Tiger Direct and Circuit City lobbied their state government to ban computer manufacturers from having their own stores (like Apple was about to do), that Microsoft was behind it.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    6. Re:Ask... by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      There are no laws against a business being owned by the same people doing anything. There are laws against a business being owned by another business (holding) having access to its resources to do something.

    7. Re:Ask... by Teancum · · Score: 1

      There are no laws against a business being owned by the same people doing anything. There are laws against a business being owned by another business (holding) having access to its resources to do something.

      I would suggest you re-read the Sherman Anti-Trust act and several other business regulation laws. Yes, there are laws that regulate businesses owned by the same people who are doing things that may economically benefit other businesses they are involved with. It may be difficult to nail down some of these things and to get any sort of prosecution if some regulations may prevent that from happening, but you are assuming too much here to suggest that governments can't prevent this from happening.

    8. Re:Ask... by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 1

      It's not that simple. If an independent steel mill operates favorably with an independent construction company, you have what is considered illegal trust activity. This is no different with the same shareholders on the board; just the burden of proof is lower because of obvious conflict of interest, rather than implied collusion. If they operate independently without favoritism to anyone, then it's not considered trust activity.

      So you see, if Tesla spins off Tesla Dealerships, they could be put under scrutiny for vertical monopolization; but if the same shareholders found Nicholai Tesla Dealerships without collusion, kickbacks, or whatnot--with just the normal business operations of any other Ford or Mazda dealership--it's perfectly legal. It'll draw scrutiny, but it's not illegal per se.

      Anti-Trust laws are in place mainly for the health of the market. They're not there because it's unfair that executives get to draw cash from too many sources; they're in place because that kind of behavior erodes the market.

    9. Re:Ask... by Teancum · · Score: 1

      State dealership laws can get very complex and are usually biased toward the local dealership groups... and those laws vary considerably from one state to the next. You may be correct that some shareholders could set up those dealerships in most (but not all) states, but again there are some limits particularly for dealerships owned by "foreign" persons (in this case the definition of foreign includes anybody not from that state defined by residency requirements).

      I'm not saying that it is simple, and in many cases you are correct that such businesses could be established, but there are limits and sometimes is up to the discretionary review of a bureaucracy that can rule arbitrarily... in other words you don't know what those regulators or commissioners are going to rule until the situation is actually presented to them.

  3. It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the Republicans have over all facets of our life. In this example, they control what cars we can buy and where we are allowed to buy them. Of course since they took used cars off of the market a few years ago to raise the price of used cars and to keep those cars off of the market in order to harm minorities and the poor, it is understandable now that they're expanding their attacks. They took used cars from an entire generation. They are the ones that ended the American ideal of owning your own car. They hurt themselves in addition to minorities, but they don't care because they care more about hurting other people than they do about even themselves.

    1. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by MillerHighLife21 · · Score: 1

      How is this a Republican thing? The car dealer regulations are a national thing that has been around for years which is the entire reason car dealerships exist. Everybody else has played by those rules for years even though the rules themselves are fairly stupid. Companies like GM have unions on one end and car dealerships on the other end completely milking them dry.

      Like it or not this is a huge issue nationwide and Tesla is looking for special treatment. It's not big bad republicans getting in the way of progress here. Tesla is crying because they don't want to play by the same rules everybody else has to and trying to pretend they are innovative because of it.

      --
      "Don't teach a man to fish, feed yourself. He's a grown man. Fishing's not that hard." - Ron Swanson
    2. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Tesla is crying because they don't want to play by the same rules everybody else has to and trying to pretend they are innovative because of it."

      THIS is a Republican thing.

    3. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly! The main guys pushing this may have D's beside their names, but they are Republicans in all but name. The Republicans are responsible for this attempt to destroy electric cars. They hate them. That's why the first two Chevy Volts in my hometown were torched. That is what those people want to happen to all environmentally friendly cars.

    4. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      This is not about auto makers. It's about auto dealers. I can say, without, reservation, that all auto dealership owners are sleazy and dishonest and 100% republican. They have lots of money, and pay republican politicians to protect their outdated business models.

      It's also about the anti-environmental brand the conservative repubs carry. They score with their anti-intellectual base by beating up on that hippy pointy headed ivory tower California electric enviro-car company that dares try to sell in their great god fearing state.

    5. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by just_another_sean · · Score: 1

      How is this a Republican thing?

      Perhaps because the Senator who proposed the amendment to Senate Bill 137 is a republican? Or that the two cosponsors are also republicans? (Senators Patton, Balderson and Hite)

      I'm not necessarily agreeing or disagreeing with your overall statement but a quick check on the linked article and the bill itself makes it obvious that the republicans are the ones going to bat for the existing dealerships.

      in this case it seems that free market = freedom to collect campaign funding from the market.

      --
      Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
    6. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by just_another_sean · · Score: 3, Informative

      The guys pushing this have R's next to their names.

      --
      Creationist Textbook Stickers Declared Unconstitutional by CowboyNeal
    7. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Informative

      Exactly! The main guys pushing this may have D's beside their names, but they are Republicans in all but name.

      No, they're Republicans in name too.

      They don't have D's next to their name.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    8. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Feyshtey · · Score: 1

      Like you, I am not stating a position on this particular bill because I have an instinctive aversion to regulation against the "free market". But like your statement is it then also worth commenting on the fact that Tesla has recieved pretty hefty startup funding from a Democratic federal administration?

      A half trillion dollar loan (trillion with a T) is not just a thumb on the scale weighing free market equality. The scales were artificially tipped in favor of Tesla before they tried to sell the first vehicle in Ohio.

      --
      "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
    9. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Of course, this has nothing to do with Tesla or people buying Tesla's. Its about HOW cars are sold, not which cars are sold. It is dealership protection, plain and simple. Folks use Tesla to draw attention, but Teslas could be sold under the proposed law just like any car.. via dealerships.

      Now, I am very much against this protection of dealerships. But it has nothing to do with Tesla, or political parties. You'll find plenty of protectionism in both parties. It stifles competition. While there may be a few legitimate consumer protection concerns involving unscrupulous car sellers, it doesn't really measure up, and there other ways to afford those protections if they think they are needed.

      But anyone who jumps on the "republicans want to ban Tesla" wagon isn't really thinking very much about what really is at the core.

    10. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      But like your statement is it then also worth commenting on the fact that Tesla has recieved pretty hefty startup funding from a Democratic federal administration

      Sure, if the Democratic position was to burn lots of oil, it would be worth commenting on it.

      As it stands, we have two major parties in America: the socialist party and the hypocrite party.

    11. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Feyshtey · · Score: 1

      If the argument here is the "free market" and "fair competition", then the political affiliation of the those assisting a manufacturer of electric vehicles to compete against other manufacturers is exactly as relevent as the political affiliation of those who oppose the method of sale of those competing vehicles. Perhaps more so. If is pertinent to state that its proof of Republican corruption when they try to curb the sale of Vehicle X, then it is relevent to point out that Democrats provided unfair advantage that allowed Vehicle Y to be created and become a competitor of Vehicle X in the first place.

      --
      "But we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it,..." - Nancy Pelosi
    12. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by augahyde · · Score: 1

      I am guessing that Apple should shut down all of its stores across the country, too. Car dealer regulations may have been around, but they (car dealer associations) are trying to change the rules when someone (Tesla) introduces a new, but legal means of playing the game.

    13. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Car dealer regulations may have been around, but they (car dealer associations) are trying to change the rules when someone (Tesla) introduces a new, but illegal means of playing the game.

      Tesla has been violating existing laws left and right.

    14. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If Republicans were voting against funding of Tesla, or any other company, you might have a point.

      Instead, while simultaneously proclaiming their love for the free market on the one hand, on the other hand, they're restricting it to suit their interests.

      On the gripping hand, Republicans have no problem whatsoever funding fossil fuel burning cars, or fossil fuel extractors in general. They just expect you not to notice.

    15. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by DMiax · · Score: 1

      Right, it's about all those other new manufacturers that are trying to sell directly to consumers. How could people miss it? There's a horde of them!

    16. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by RabidReindeer · · Score: 1

      Exactly! The main guys pushing this may have D's beside their names, but they are Republicans in all but name.

      No, they're Republicans in name too.

      They don't have D's next to their name.

      Fox News watcher?

    17. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You CONservatives are all the same. You get caught in a lie so you start slinging insults like accusing us of watching that Faux Knews garbage. Please stop that hateful crap. My state senator supports protecting the existing harmful monopolies. It's bad enough that the Democrats are backing Tom Patton-R proposal to fuck us over, but it is worse for you to lie and say that our party isn't doing it. They are. Stop trying to protect your fellow Republicans by claiming all of the credit. Stop being so fucking irrational.

    18. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      Tesla may be the first, but why would you think they'd be the only? Again, its not about Tesla, its about the practice.

    19. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Peristaltic · · Score: 1

      Everybody else has played by those rules for years even though the rules themselves are fairly stupid.

      Tesla is crying because they don't want to play by the same rules everybody else has to and trying to pretend they are innovative because of it.

      Wow- So you're slamming Tesla with an argument of: "Innovate, but make sure you don't break the laws enacted to protect the status quo / artificially prop up an old business model.".... Isn't this one of the characteristics associated with innovation?

    20. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Peristaltic · · Score: 1

      ...break the laws enacted to protect...

      Excuse me- ...break the rules enacted to protect...

    21. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > proposed the amendment to Senate Bill 137 is a republican

      Me rep is a Democrat, and he supports it. Several others do too. I guess that's what the GP is referring to. The article in my local paper goes into more detail about who supports it than the article linked to here.

    22. Re:It's disgusting how much control... by Teancum · · Score: 1

      Tesla may be the first, but why would you think they'd be the only? Again, its not about Tesla, its about the practice.

      Except in this case it is about Tesla explicitly, as the law is being changed to apply only to Tesla and Tesla's marketing approach. It may be worded in a general way that doesn't explicitly call out the name of Tesla explicitly, but it is a law that only applies to this particular company. Outlawing this approach is done strictly as a marketing move through the use of political pressure to further the profits of a small group of politically well connected individuals.

      Sadly, legislation has some of the largest return of investment that you can ever make, from a Wall Street perspective of ROI. It is by far easier to make money that way than it is to usually invest in high growth technology companies.

    23. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by MillerHighLife21 · · Score: 1

      Here is the issue: Car dealerships laws are the equivalent of unions for sales people. If you want Tesla to get to set a precedent and be able to go around these rules then you're going to see similar moves by just about every other manufacturer out there which will do a ton of damage to local economies nationwide. Especially small towns.

      Car manufacturers are basically an oligopoly and in an oligopoly, regulations are somewhat necessary. While I'm not a big fan of encroaching on the free market, there are areas where you have to (utilities for example).

      Tesla can make awesome cars. Tesla can save the planet. Tesla can get big investments from the government and build infrastructure all over the country...but if Tesla gets to rewrite the rulebook "because Tesla" you're going to tear down a whole lot of economies.

      I drive a Volt right now and I'm a big Tesla fan too, but what Tesla is trying to do is equivalent of running onto a soccer field, picking up the ball and running it into the net...then complaining that they aren't allowed to do it that way.

      --
      "Don't teach a man to fish, feed yourself. He's a grown man. Fishing's not that hard." - Ron Swanson
    24. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by Peristaltic · · Score: 1

      Let me see if I can pull this out of my head correctly: I get what you're saying, and it brings to mind questions I've pondered over the years (which may or may not apply to Tesla's business model).

      There exist many examples of what you've described, in many industries. When someone pops up with what looks like a better process or product, something that might yield great benefit, it often simultaneously disrupts an industry and the economics dependent upon it- people and systems change slowly and painfully. Often, existing industry will buy out the innovators and sit on their work for this reason.

      How do innovative concepts that have not only enormous potential for profit, but enormous potential to benefit society as well, concepts such as electric vehicles with nation-wide battery-swap stations, thorium reacters, etc., get implemented on a useful scale?

      How does society-changing, profitable innovation take hold while at the same time minimizing impact on those people and industries that are reluctant/slow to change?

      I don't have answers for either of these questions, and if I did, I'm just positive that Captains of Industry look for answers from idiots posting on Slashdot.

      As a semi-related side-rant, I guess what I find discouraging is that, taking the energy industry as an example, unimaginably wealthy corporations and shareholders seem to be content with a slow-motion slide into distopian decay, as long as they're the last ones to go. They could, albeit with significant, careful investment over time in the technologies mentioned above, maintain profits and control, but over a type of industry that has huge untapped potential as well as societal and environmental benefits far beyond what exists now.

    25. Re: It's disgusting how much control... by MillerHighLife21 · · Score: 1

      I guess the biggest concern is the rate of slide more than anything else. What Tesla wants to do here isn't innovative...that's the issue. Everybody with eyes would have done it that way if they were allowed to as because they weren't all existing players around the country have invested in the most effective way to play with the rules that we have.

      As happens with union arrangements, if a company is tied down by those agreements and a new competitor pops up that does things more efficiently with fewer people the older company probably wants to do it that way too...but they can't because they are playing by the rules. They will either be run out of business because they couldn't adjust or they will hit chapter 11 to get them out of those agreements so that they can adjust.

      Either way though, societal impact has to be considered. Almost any arrangement that leads to lower efficiency while contributing to dramatically larger employment is bad for the company but good for the economy at large because the greater good is massive employment. It might to be efficient and as a programmer that will bother me but it needs to happen that way.

      When we start to shift towards money generating efficiency with minimal employment the unfortunate result is extremely high unemployment and job loss.

      I'm all for efficiency but there has to be a point in society where we reward and encourage high employment models.

      --
      "Don't teach a man to fish, feed yourself. He's a grown man. Fishing's not that hard." - Ron Swanson
  4. Meh... by mythosaz · · Score: 3, Informative

    Ostensibly these laws exist to stop manufacturers and distributes from cutting out the middle-man. If Ford or Honda can sell directly, they can get rid of the dealerships, and then charge whatever they want for a Ford, since there won't be any competition. They are, on the face, anti-monopoly laws. [The oft-mentioned Texas law does the same thing for theaters - preventing Paramount from eventually owning all the theaters and then stopping showing MGM movies to anyone in the Lone Star State.]

    ...but we all know it's because car dealers buy politicians, and want to make sure they get their cut of luxury Tesla sales.

    1. Re:Meh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wait, the middle man cuts down costs now? What you say sounds like bull shit propaganda. There is not a monolpoly so long as there are many car manufactuers, and no oligopoly as long as one of them doesn't toe the line.

    2. Re:Meh... by Gadget27 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Cutting out the middle man is not a crime, its an achievement.

      What would be the problem if Ford or Honda sold directly to the consumer? Are you suggesting that it's anti-competitive to set the price of your own product? In a scenario without dealerships, there would still be competition... not between dealerships, but between manufactures instead. If you could only buy a Ford from Ford, and the only cars on the market were Ford, then there could be a problem, but there is no shortage of auto manufactures to keep the market competitive.

    3. Re: Meh... by mSparks43 · · Score: 1

      I don't see how that can be remotely so?
      Does ford not already run its own dealerships in ohio?
      If not why not?

    4. Re:Meh... by DarkKnightRadick · · Score: 0

      I'm not sure you actually understand the concepts you are talking about.

      Dealerships do not create competition. A more apt example of monopolistic practices would be if Ford bought out all the other car manufacturers, thus eliminating competition. Ford selling directly to the public would be a cost-savings benefit, and buying from a dealer would have to show some added value to justify doing so.

      Have you never bought something 'factory direct' or 'wholesale'? Why would it be okay to get food, lumber, or other things (raw material or finished product) direct from a manufacturer but not motor vehicles?

      --
      "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
    5. Re:Meh... by minstrelmike · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Cutting out the middle man is not a crime, its an achievement.

      It kind of depends on how you make your own living.
      If you make your living as a middle man, it doesn't seem like an achievement; it looks more like a disaster.
      And while I dislike getting pedantic, the _definition_ of crime is based on law, not morals or economics.
      If the law says cutting out the middle man is a crime, then it is.

      Note that I am not arguing pro or con, merely perception vs social reality.

    6. Re:Meh... by WillAdams · · Score: 1

      Not if you look at the history of this --- the reason to mandate a dealership presence was to prevent car manufacturers from pulling out of a locality, leaving vehicle owners w/o a local warranty/repair option.

      --
      Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.
    7. Re:Meh... by Hadlock · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It's still an achievement. If you look at it objectively the middle man only exists to expedite sales of cars from the manufacturer to the end user. If it's now more efficent to get the product to the end user directly than working through a proxy, you've cut out a step. In the era before instantanious cheap/free communication the middle man was an important center of local product knowledge, now we have wikis and fedex. I can troubleshoot and order an alternator for a rare car on the internet and install it myself, I don't need the specialized knowledge of the BMW dealership to do this for me anymore. Electric cars have even fewer moving parts to maintain.

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
    8. Re:Meh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps you don't know what the word "ostensibly" means...?

    9. Re:Meh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's possible, yes, for a middle-man to cut down costs, yes.

      For example, let's say you buy a car. It's 1000 miles away at the factory. How to get that car to you? You could travel and pick it up, or you could find somebody who is coming this way anyway to bring the car. Or you could even find somebody who is willing to transport 10 cars at once, for less than it would cost you to go get that car yourself.

      See how things can work?

    10. Re:Meh... by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      If all the dealerships are eventually owned by a few car manufacturers, then competition still exists but becomes much more limited. Manipulation of prices by various means can occur, particularly with high demand products where artificial shortages can occur, or dealers in higher priced markets get favorable treatment. We see this a little today with gas prices. Prices in some areas are inexplicably higher than others nearby, mainly because the stations can't individually set prices outside a certain range. There is still competition, but the competition has learned how to 'work together'.

      I don't support the efforts to protect the dealers in this manner, but I'm not going to be one of the idiots that doesn't at least acknowledge there are some legitimate things behind these proposals.

    11. Re:Meh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There are a lot of things you do not buy direct in the USA. Beer is a prime example. That beer truck pulling up to the grocery store is only advertising the giant logo on its side. The truck is owned by an independent distributor. This ensures Wal Mart or whoever don't get bullied into signing with 1 manufacturer. The system does help newcomers to market since shelf space is not forcibly monopolized by Budweiser or Miller.

      Likewise, all Tesla needs to do is sell cars to dealers. The competition from multiple dealers comes in the form of financing deals, financing incentives, extra crap tacked on to the buyers taste, dealer specific warranties, free stuff when you buy, etc. While usually over priced, another benefit is being able to go to any brands dealer to have the car fixed under the manufacturers warranty. If Tesla determines the only "gallery" in a city/state will close, those who did buy a Tesla are SOL on warranty repairs. With other dealerships, you can at least go to the parent companies brand dealers and receive warranty repairs.

      Also, a car is more permanent than a stack of lumber, food, household items, etc. Besides being reusable for 10+ years after the original purchase, people are generally locked into the car they buy for a few years. Comparing it to them is a very large generalization.

    12. Re:Meh... by Talderas · · Score: 1

      It does happen.

      Here's what happens to vehicles as they leave an assembly plant.

      1. Vehicle goes on a rail car.
      2. Rail car gets transported to the depot nearest a dealership that can handle offloading.
      3. Vehicle gets places on a car carrier.
      4. Car carrier transports vehicle to dealership.
      5. Vehicle is sold to customer.

      There's a huge cost savings that can be injected between step 1 and 2 with upfitting a vehicle with after-production upgrades. Most of the auto-makers engage in a program called ship-thru. Vehicles come out of the plant and are transported to a nearby company capable of upfitting the vehicle with equipment. That vehicle is then returned back to the assembly plant where it's loaded on the vehicles. A number of dealerships will order trucks and vans and have them upfitted by an upfitter prior to being shipped by rail to the dealership. This is a value added service that is cheaper for the end customer because instead of dealing with individual pricing he gets to deal with the bulk pricing that the dealership gets to command as well as needed to avoid any additional and further costs in gas, transportation, and time.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    13. Re:Meh... by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure you actually understand the concepts you are talking about.

      I don't think you read my post.

      These laws exist ostensibly to prevent (among other things) monopolies. Ostensibly: Outwardly, superficially, allegedly, supposedly, purportedly...

      ...but they actually exist to benefit the car dealers who own politicians.

    14. Re:Meh... by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      Cutting out the middle man is not a crime, its an achievement.

      As stated by the AC below me...

      Perhaps you don't know what ostensibly means... ...since it frames my entire comment.

    15. Re:Meh... by ultranova · · Score: 1

      If Ford or Honda can sell directly, they can get rid of the dealerships, and then charge whatever they want for a Ford, since there won't be any competition.

      So... where does the dealership get a new Ford? Do multiple different manufacturers make Fords nowadays? Because if there is only one manufacturer, then the only "competition" is about which dealership takes the smallest cut, which benefits neither Ford nor the customer.

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

    16. Re:Meh... by Valdrax · · Score: 1

      It kind of depends on how you make your own living.
      If you make your living as a middle man, it doesn't seem like an achievement; it looks more like a disaster.

      Yes, and if you make your living as a window-maker, anti-vandalism laws might seem to be a bad idea too. The car dealer is a holdover from the days in which haggling was a common practice. The average consumer today would far rather get the best deal by comparing fixed numbers rather than their ability to beat a negotiator who practices every day at screwing people of as much extra money as possible.

      --
      If it's for-profit but free, you're not the customer -- you're the product (e.g., the Slashdot Beta's "audience").
    17. Re:Meh... by DriedClexler · · Score: 1

      If the law says to cart $oppressed_group to the internment camps, then stopping it is a crime and people who work as guards for the camps are gonna oppose attempts to stop it.

      See, I can pretend to be insightful too!

      --
      Information theory is life. The rest is just the KL divergence.
    18. Re:Meh... by mythosaz · · Score: 1

      Again, I'm not saying that dealers do or don't make things better for the consumer. I'm saying that the laws on their face exist to serve this purpose - even though today's versions of those laws exist to protect rich, political donating, car dealers.

    19. Re:Meh... by JMZero · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately, the reverse of this actually happens, and is actually a problem. There's lots of little places where there's a Ford and a Honda and a Toyota dealer, and they're all owned by the same guy. It's lots easier to maintain this kind of local monopoly than it would be to sustain collusion between manufacturers.

      And if the different manufacturers actually wanted to collude, they still obviously, obviously could as they still set the wholesale prices.

      --
      Let's not stir that bag of worms...
    20. Re:Meh... by CaptSlaq · · Score: 1

      It does happen.

      Here's what happens to vehicles as they leave an assembly plant.

      1. Vehicle goes on a rail car. 2. Rail car gets transported to the depot nearest a dealership that can handle offloading. 3. Vehicle gets places on a car carrier. 4. Car carrier transports vehicle to dealership. 5. Vehicle is sold to customer.

      There's a huge cost savings that can be injected between step 1 and 2 with upfitting a vehicle with after-production upgrades. Most of the auto-makers engage in a program called ship-thru. Vehicles come out of the plant and are transported to a nearby company capable of upfitting the vehicle with equipment. That vehicle is then returned back to the assembly plant where it's loaded on the vehicles. A number of dealerships will order trucks and vans and have them upfitted by an upfitter prior to being shipped by rail to the dealership. This is a value added service that is cheaper for the end customer because instead of dealing with individual pricing he gets to deal with the bulk pricing that the dealership gets to command as well as needed to avoid any additional and further costs in gas, transportation, and time.

      The amount of "upfits" provided for a Tesla are, to my knowledge, currently exactly 0. The number of options that are available on their single model are exceptionally small.

    21. Re:Meh... by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      Valid point, although even when the local guy owns several dealerships, there are usually others not far away that offer the same vehicles owned by someone else. Certainly there are different ways to manipulate. I was really just pointing out that its not so simple as some ignorantly conclude.

    22. Re:Meh... by AaronW · · Score: 2

      In the early days dealerships made sense. It made it so that manufacturers didn't have to hold onto inventory and deal with all the individual financing or service.

      In the case of Tesla dealerships would be a big problem.

      To give you an example, back in 2006 I decided to get a Prius. I researched and decided what options I wanted, what color, etc. The problem was that for many months the only cars I could get were white or sometimes black. I didn't want white or black and I wanted a certain set of options. I ended up waiting six months and ended up with my third color choice. I also had to deal with them trying to sell me things I didn't want, especially when it came to service.

      Now move ahead to 2012 when I decided to get a Tesla. Through their website I was able to chose exactly what I wanted down to the color of the wheels. Today there are even more choices on exactly what features you get with the car. Again I had to wait six months but I got exactly what I wanted. When it comes to service, they do not try and push unneeded services on me since Elon Musk has stated that their goal is to not make a profit on service. When I broke something on my car the cost to fix it was a fraction of what it would be with a similar luxury car.

      The Tesla show rooms are also quite different. The people working there do not make a commission so they're not trying to push options or features but to basically answer questions. The one I went to was inside a mall. A lot of regular people walked in to look at the car and ask questions, most of whom probably had little interest in buying one. They answered their questions the same as they did for me when it was fairly obvious I was looking to buy one. It was a totally different experience than what one expects at a typical dealership.

      The Toyota dealership keeps sending me all kinds of crap in the mail even after I sold my Prius. Another non-Toyota dealership who did some body work on my car after someone hit it also sends me a bunch of crap periodically. Tesla sends me almost nothing. There are no coupons for radiator flushes or other crap constantly flooding my mailbox. It helps in that service is only suggested every 12,000 miles other than tire rotation.

      Since Tesla builds to order they don't maintain an inventory of cars. It allows them to streamline their business and reduce costs.

      Also, dealerships in some ways are a monopoly. Dealerships are franchises and they are guaranteed that there will not be another dealership for the same car within a certain distance. This means that I have to really go out of my way to avoid the local Toyota dealership for parts or service which I have had to do on some occasions due to the crap I had to put up with from the dealership.

      Also, dealerships are often big conglomerates of dealerships such as dgdg.com. They have a huge percentage of dealerships in the Bay Area covering many different brands from Dodge, GM, Fiat, Hundai, Kia, Mazda and more. These are not your small mom and pop dealerships.

      During a Q&A with Elon Musk he said that the biggest push against Tesla was not from the mom and pop dealerships but from these huge mega-dealership groups. They have a monopoly and see Tesla as a threat to them.

      Dealerships are nothing but leaches. They offer little if any value and only are there to suck money from consumers and give car salesmen a bad name. Their service is often overpriced and they push crap you don't need.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
    23. Re:Meh... by AaronW · · Score: 1

      They don't cut down cost. There are companies that transport cars. If you need to deliver 10 cars to an area it's not hard to get a car transport to deliver directly to the customer. That's how Tesla does it. While it cost a bit more than delivering them all to a single location it's still cheaper than a dealership where they may be sitting for months on a lot.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
    24. Re:Meh... by AaronW · · Score: 1

      Tesla does not sell generic ready-made cars. It does not fit that model.

      When I ordered my Tesla Model S I chose exactly what car I wanted. The paint color, the wheel color, interior trim, various options, etc. There are many choices to make when buying a model S. It's not just package 1, 2, 3 or 4. It's more like Do you want parking sensors? Do you want fog lights? Cold temperature options? Paint color? Wheel options? 60 or 85KWh battery? etc. Each car is custom built to order from the factory for the customer.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
    25. Re:Meh... by DarkKnightRadick · · Score: 0

      My apologies then.

      --
      "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
    26. Re:Meh... by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      How does a middle man taking a smaller markup not benefit the customer?

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    27. Re:Meh... by jthill · · Score: 1

      [...] the _definition_ of crime is based on law, not morals or[...]

      This is extremely misleading. Crime's second meaning is rendered in dictionaries as some variation on "a grave offense, especially against morals".

      The combination of the two meanings could be fairly rendered as "behavior which should be punishable under criminal statute law".

      Denial of that has been showing up in quite a few places recently. Attempting to legislate morals is an attempt to make children of us all, under the stern but loving gaze of Our Father the State, but all the same criminal acts are just that, profoundly immoral, whether or not anybody's written a law against them yet.

      --
      As always, all IMO. Insert "I think" everywhere grammatically possible.
    28. Re:Meh... by sexconker · · Score: 1

      Tesla does not sell generic ready-made cars. It does not fit that model.

      When I ordered my Tesla Model S I chose exactly what car I wanted. The paint color, the wheel color, interior trim, various options, etc. There are many choices to make when buying a model S. It's not just package 1, 2, 3 or 4. It's more like Do you want parking sensors? Do you want fog lights? Cold temperature options? Paint color? Wheel options? 60 or 85KWh battery? etc. Each car is custom built to order from the factory for the customer.

      Joke post? Tesla has far fewer configuration options than your typical sedan.

    29. Re:Meh... by ultranova · · Score: 1

      How does a middle man taking a smaller markup not benefit the customer?

      Because the alternative is no middleman, 0% markup.

      --

      Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

    30. Re:Meh... by Twinbee · · Score: 1
      In the beginning, or near the beginning, Tesla tried to go the dealership route. The result? They rejected Tesla, as they didn't see the promise and potential that Tesla held.

      If the law says cutting out the middle man is a crime, then it is.

      Well for the states where that is true, Tesla will fight each state, and if they still fail, they will rightly go to the federal level if need be, and then with most likelihood, will win. A win is surely the best thing (as in for society as a whole) morally, economically, AND legally. Dealers are providing unnecessary work, and if you understand the broken window fallacy, you'll know that unnecessary work does not in any way benefit society, and in fact does the reverse.

      --
      Why OpalCalc is the best Windows calc
    31. Re:Meh... by AaronW · · Score: 1

      Actually they have a lot more.

      1. Model 60, 85, P85 or P85+
      2. Paint color (9 choices)
      3. Roof type, standard or panomeric
      4. Wheels (19 or 21", color and style)
      5. Interior cloth or leather (and color), standard or performance seats, finish (wood and type, carbon fiber or piano black), carpet or matching wood floor storage area
      6. Carbon fiber spoiler or not (for P85 and P85+)
      7. Standard or red brake calipers
      8. Standard (10KW, 40A) or high (20KW, 80A) 240V charging
      9. Supercharger support or not (for 60)
      10. Tech package or not
      11. Standard or active air suspension
      12. Parking sensors or not
      13. Fog lamps or not
      14. Standard or upgraded sound system
      15. Standard or extended Nappa leather trim
      16. Standard or Alcantara headliner
      17. Rear facing child seats or not
      18. Premium interior lighting or not
      19. Subzero weather package or not
      20. Parcel shelf for trunk
      21. 19" Michelin Primacy tire upgrade (if 19" wheels are chosen)
      22. Paint armor or not

      When I bought my Prius I had my choice between 7 different packages. In this case each individual feature can be selected by the buyer and the car is made to order at the factory. There are over a million combinations. You get exactly what you order, not what's available on a lot.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
    32. Re:Meh... by syockit · · Score: 1

      “Or you could even find somebody who is willing to transport 10 cars at once, for less than it would cost you to go get that car yourself.”

      which the manufacturer can finely handle by itself. The only situation where such middle-men could contribute to lower logistic costs is when the factories of different manufacturers are all in the same spot.

      --
      Democracy is for the people; you only vote once per season and we'll do the rest of the work for you don't have to.
    33. Re:Meh... by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      The biggest 'upfit' on a Tesla is when Uncle Sam tosses in the 100 Benjamins ($10,000) toward the selling price.

      Without that subsidy, Tesla would already be out of business.

    34. Re:Meh... by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      Well, if you're going to make a far comparison, why not pick a best selling vehicle in the USA, not another limited model like the Prius.

      How about the Ford F150. There are a staggering variety of them. Just the base model count is more than 22.

    35. Re:Meh... by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 0

      Tesla is a little toy hobby project by Elon Musk. It could never scale up to serve a significant percentage of the populace. It's a fine boutique operation.

      I was a happy Saturn customer back when they tried to 'flatten out' the whole system, and do what Tesla claims to be trying to do. It would be much more worthwhile to examine the Saturn model of car sales and distribution than to pontificate about what a little boutique manufacturer does.

    36. Re:Meh... by CaptSlaq · · Score: 1

      While not germane to the current conversation, I'll say this: I'm not so sure. Base price of a Model S approaches $70k without any of the short list of options. I don't think I've spent half that on all the cars that I've owned in the past 20 years combined as a data point. While a 1/7th "incentive" to buy a car is not chump change, this still puts it well on the upper end of purchase price for the average NA car buyer. I don't think that 10k is really helping as much as you believe.

      The best adage I've heard for this was actually applied to the Prius when I first heard it, but I think it fits: "The males who buy Teslas are buying them for much the same reason as the males who buy Corvettes. They're just looking to impress a different kind of woman."

  5. Protecting businesses again? by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It's not the first time politics try to protect businesses, but it's hardly been THIS blatant before.

    Free market is a thing of the past. Today you don't buy and sell goods and compete with your competitor with quality and price, you buy and sell laws and compete in who can bribe more politicians.

    It's a bit like papal elections in medieval times.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Akratist · · Score: 2

      And, optionally, you try not to be the guy whom the legislative hammer is brought down on by politicians looking to make a buck, which is the other side of the coin. But, yes, when I hear people complain about the "free market," they obviously have no idea how our current economy functions.

    2. Re:Protecting businesses again? by coolsnowmen · · Score: 2

      It's not the first time politics try to protect businesses, but it's hardly been THIS blatant before.

      Just after the civil war the big traincompanies lobbies the US federal goverment and recieved shit tons of money to build a transcontinental rail road. The companies convinced the enough people that it was in the best interest of the country to connect it together.

      What you'll see, if you look closer is a set of laws passed to ensure the train companies made money, mostly at the expense of tax payers. They manipulated stock prices. They used the power of where the railroad would go exactly to extract favorable land grands from localities. They pushed natives off the land. The term "Robber Barron" applies...

      There is a boring book that explains this in excruciating detail. "Railroaded" is like 700+ pages and has over 100 pages of citation if you are wondering where he got any of his information from.

      It also is that last time anyone in my office took a book recommendation from me.

    3. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Touvan · · Score: 1

      When a group of business men/women lobby the government for special rules on behalf of their own private interests, and those of their companies (or bribe/buy special rules) - I suppose that's a kind of "politics protecting business." I never understand who exactly is supposed to protect "the free market" from this kind of behavior in this quirky American libertarian dream world that IT specialists seem so fond of.

      After a "free market' has run it's course to it's predictable - and predicted - consolidated end, exactly what benevolent force would prevent private market forces from exerting their accumulated power influence on a government for their own protection and benefit? And what would prevent them actually becoming the government as some in the same realm of IT specialists have recently suggested?

      We used to have this idea that citizens had to work hard and engage in their government (which is to have the consent of the governed to be legitimate) to lobby on behalf of those things that aren't about money - life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, etc. Now it's all about the all mighty magical "free market," or more accurately neofuedalism.

      Medieval times indeed.

    4. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      An ideal free market is much like the ideal anarchy. In theory, a great concept. In practice, both fail because man is greedy.

      Communism failed because man is also lazy, btw.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    5. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had to reread your last sentence because first time it scanned as "It's a bit like pay-pal elections..." You may be onto something there.

    6. Re:Protecting businesses again? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      The difference is that markets degrade fairly gracefully.

      There is no such thing as an ideal free market with perfect information for everyone. But real world markets still work well. Real world anarchy, not at all. Real world Communism, not at all.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    7. Re:Protecting businesses again? by tlhIngan · · Score: 2

      Free market is a thing of the past. Today you don't buy and sell goods and compete with your competitor with quality and price, you buy and sell laws and compete in who can bribe more politicians.

      No, a free market tends towards monopolies - it's the ultimate end game.

      What you're describing as competition and such is just an idealized situation. It's how free markets SHOULD work. You know, like how communism SHOULD work. But like communism, there are unintended consequences, and the free market producing monopolies is one of them. It's based on simplistic assumptions that do not hold out in the real world (like competition can spring up instantly - it assumes there's nothing like "startup costs" which can be insane due to infrastructure requirements (e.g., if you want to build out a new cell carrier, it costs billions in equipment, land leases, etc. Assuming no interference from competition)).

      We try to fix this through regulations (commonly known as "red tape" and "bureaucracy" to those who advocate less rules and smaller government) to try to steer towards competition and away from monopoly.

    8. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is a boring book ...

      Do you say that because it is a boring book, or because you think we'd all find it boring because we're not as intellectually sophisticated as you?

      It also is that last time anyone in my office took a book recommendation from me.

      Yeah, but it is probably because they think of you as "the arrogant prick guy" who looks down on anyone who doesn't appreciate the books he recommends.

    9. Re:Protecting businesses again? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      You might want to get you analysis of free markets from someone other the Marx.

      Free markets do not ultimately end in monopolies.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    10. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Except that wasn't "blatant". A lot of the flak Robber Barons get were simply because it brought typical problems of the era to the forefront.

      Laws passed to ensure the train companies made money? The import/export business/industry did the same thing with tariffs.
      Manipulated stock prices? EVERYONE who was in a position to do so, did so.
      Used the power of where the railroad would go exactly to extract favorable land grands from localities? Free market!
      They pushed natives off the land? Welcome to every property transfer in human history.

    11. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      For varying definition of "well".

      It mostly works because the dangling carrot is harder to see through. In Communism, that carrot is "if everyone works hard today, we'll all be in paradise tomorrow". Now, that fails on the reason that people are generally selfish bastards and borderline sadists. I wanna live in paradise, allright. But you don't belong there. Actually, you'd look better under my boot.

      The carrot in capitalism is more insidious. It's "Work hard today and tomorrow you can be in paradise". That appeals to our selfish nature. And I'll not only be better off, I'll be better off than you, which appeals to our lust for competition and comparison. We don't want to be equals. We want to stick out and be something special, a precious special snowflake, one of a kind.

      The problem is that neither carrot works. Neither promise will ever be fulfilled and the cake is a lie. Well, actually, the capitalist carrot DID work for a while. It was called the American Dream. You could start with nothing and with hard work, sacrifice, risk and wise decisions you could become big and rich. That did actually work for some. Sure, the chances are slim, but it was quite possible.

      That dream is over. And people are catching on. They notice that it is over, that working is not going to help you get out of a miserable situation. The new American Dream is not "work hard, risk it, get rich", it's more akin to "play the lottery or hope you can sue someone".

      And that's why our system is crumbling at the edges.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    12. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      So we're not in a free market system. What's the system called we're using?

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    13. Re:Protecting businesses again? by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      WTF are you on?

      Capitalism offers no promise of paradise. You get what you contract for.

      You cannot equate communism with capitalism. One works, the other does not.

      What we see today is the last gasp of the leftists, attempting to deflect attention from the history of the 20th century. Soon they will only be found in a theme park in Poland, not on many American college campuses. They have largely ruined 'liberal' education in the west. No great loss.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    14. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So we're not in a free market system. What's the system called we're using?

      Half of spending is redistribution (socialism), socialized industries (education, largely, as one example), and police/military (fascism). A large portion of the remainder is protectionism/corporatism (government forced patents and copyrights instead of a system of voluntary agreements not unlike an NDA). Ostensibly "free" areas like pharmaceuticals and cotton and tobacco and alcohol are heavily protected by the war on drugs.

      An even stronger form of protectionism exists in the AMA which sharply restricts the amount of new doctors that can be trained. You need a state license to practice which is unavailable without the blessing of one private - in name only - network of schools. The ABA is another example but they have allowed enough schools to be less effective - somewhat.

      Mandated protects like auto or health gambling (insurance) are pure fascism/corporatism.

      Anywho, you can't think this is anything close to resembling a free market.

    15. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Ok, it promises money, but in a capitalist world, money can buy you paradise.

      The main difference is what the system promises you for hard work. Communism promises a great life for everyone, capitalism promises it only for yourself. Aside of that, the promise is pretty much the same. Work hard and you will get a reward.

      It's just easier for the capitalist system to blame the victim of its failure. If you don't get rich, you're just not working hard enough. It ain't the system's fault, it ain't that you never had a chance because you lacked the chance to a job that could allow you to get off the ground. No such luck with communism, the system doesn't offer ways to blame its victim.

      That's why one "works" and the other one doesn't. Well, as long as you define "work" as "manages to keep people believing in it". Which it obviously succeeds in, as you have sufficiently demonstrated.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    16. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Touvan · · Score: 1

      Capitalism (in your narrative) worked a little while only because there was a broad social contract in place, that for a generation or two people really did adhere to (and was enshrined in law, institution and culture). That social contract has been torn up, replaced with "greed is good" which is a more "pure" form of capitalism, and now here we are, a shitty cut throat system that most of us (except some of the 1%) don't like.

    17. Re:Protecting businesses again? by Touvan · · Score: 1

      Capitalism only works for capitalists - those who own and control the means of production. In capitalism, they get to make all the decisions. This is why capitalists governments all over the world are currently failing to meet the demands of the public. If you don't own any capital (and most of us don't), it's just a fool's paradise.

  6. Once again ... by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Once again, companies try to prevent competition through legislation ... and apparently some lawmakers aren't above giving it to them.

    This is just buggy whip makers trying to ensure they still get their cut.

    Free market my ass.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:Once again ... by Touvan · · Score: 1

      I guess the rest of us, those with non-market driven interests (life, liberty, happiness, etc.), may have to actually get involved in government! If all politicians are getting is lobbied from private interest A and private interest B, well, they have a decision to make - A or B!

      They'll need an option C.

    2. Re:Once again ... by jopsen · · Score: 1

      Once again, companies try to prevent competition through legislation ... and apparently some lawmakers aren't above giving it to them.

      Wow, the law proposed wouldn't force Tesla out of Ohio, in fact it would force Telsa to sell its cars through retailers that may compete against each other.
      It can just as well be argued that the bill ensures retail competition.
      Yeah, yeah, you can also argue that why shouldn't Tesla be allowed to be the only retailer that sells their product. Just like Apple for a long time was (and in many markets still is) the only retailer that sells apple products (For once we have a computer analogy).

    3. Re:Once again ... by DarwinSurvivor · · Score: 1

      "The rest of us" can't financially afford to.

    4. Re:Once again ... by CCarrot · · Score: 1

      Once again, companies try to prevent competition through legislation ... and apparently some lawmakers aren't above giving it to them.

      No, I'm pretty sure it wasn't free...

      --
      "I love animals! Some are cute, others are tasty, what's not to like?" - Betsy Schroeder, Jeopardy contestant
    5. Re:Once again ... by lazarus · · Score: 1

      "Once again, companies try to prevent competition through legislation "

      Yep. Ever wonder why you don't see more good light-duty trucks in the US? It's because of the Chicken Tax, a law from 1963. I kid you not. And the American consumer is the looser.

      What is new about the Tesla situation is that it is an American company getting squeezed, rather than protection from goods from foreign countries.

      If I lived in Ohio I would be asking my rep how this is good for me as a consumer and whether he's heard of social media.

      --
      I am not interested in articles about life extension advancements.
    6. Re:Once again ... by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      More likely is Ohio customers will have to drive to a neighboring state.

      Even if Ohio forces Teslas to be available through local dealers you can bet Tesla will give them a shitty price so they will sell none.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  7. punctuation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Remember that time the Ohio dealers attempted to block Tesla from selling its electric cars in in the Buckeye State.

    Are you ordering me to remember that time?

    1. Re:punctuation by DarkKnightRadick · · Score: 0

      Maybe it's just a statement of fact that we do remember that time? For it to be an order 'You' would have to be the understood subject if I'm not mistaken. Unfortunately the sentence in question is hardly understandable as to its intent.

      --
      "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." Proverbs 16:25 (NKJV)
    2. Re:punctuation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I only know that I'm supposed to man the automotive dealer. And that associations don't like Tesla.
      Of course, I had to guess where the punctuation should go.

  8. Free Market by buffalodan · · Score: 1

    We just moved the free market to also include laws, because it is more fair to buy and sell legislation than to protect my rights. I really don't get why they think this is such a bad idea. If car companies had more pull over dealerships perhaps they would be less awful.

    1. Re:Free Market by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Because in a democracy (or republic, for you nitpickers) the idea isn't that might makes right but to find a balance between satisfying the majority and protecting the minority.

      Satisfying a rich/influential/aristocratic/entitled minority on the expense of a majority is as far from the ideals of a representation of the people as possible.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  9. By asking the question "Is this yet..." by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The OP is implying that it is possible that it isn't. That is pretty damn biased considering it is. What is the OP's agenda of hate against Tesla? Why is he claiming it isn't a slimy tactic? It's pretty disgusting how biased posts here have gotten. Now we're seeing a bunch of anti-Tesla spew.

  10. Once again, Captain Tightpants had it right by Behemoth · · Score: 1

    "About 50% of the human race is middle man and they don't take kindly to being eliminated."
                                                                              Malcom Reynolds - Firefly

    --
    ----- My opinions are my own, etc, etc.
    1. Re:Once again, Captain Tightpants had it right by suutar · · Score: 1

      What we need is to build a giant ark-spaceship. I hear there's a giant star-goat headed this way...

  11. Not just targetting Tesla by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 5, Interesting

    While Tesla is the only manufacturer who is attempting to sell cars without a dealer network, the dealers recognize that if Tesla is successful with this tactic other manufacturers will follow their lead. The car dealers are attempting to protect their business model. I hope the dealers fail because it is not at all clear to me that dealers add any value to the process. It appears that the dealers' association agrees with me. However, I am not positive that car dealers do not add value. If they do, and manufacturers are allowed to sell without them, we will quickly discover what value they add to the equation. In either case, this attempt to enshrine their existence into law is a bad idea.

    --
    The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
    1. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by SleazyRidr · · Score: 2

      Exactly: for anyone turning around and telling us that we need dealers: let them show what value they can add to the marketplace. If they're giving people something, then they'll continue to survive and turn a profit. If they are indeed just middlemen that we no longer need, then we should not be subsidizing them, and we should force them into more productive lines of work.

    2. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by Talderas · · Score: 2

      Some dealers have value added service but that's mostly restricted to trucks and vans.

      They also, to an extent, greatly simplify the logistics of warranty issues for the manufacturers.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    3. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by NoKaOi · · Score: 2

      Q: Do car dealerships add value?
      A: I have to go ask my manager.

    4. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They also, to an extent, greatly simplify the logistics of warranty issues for the manufacturers.

      Factory-authorized service centers could handle this just as well, without acting as middlemen in the sale of vehicles.

    5. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Without dealers, there still needs to be a way for buyers to test drive cars before buying. However I think that function can be implemented more efficiently than the dealer model. Think one lot where automakers pay the lot to keep each of its current models available for test drives. This would allow buyers to try more than one make of vehicle in one shopping trip and eliminate any pressure the salesman has to sell a car. Once that function is handled, consumers could purchase cars online direct from manufacturers.

    6. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Last year there were around 3 million Ford F150s sold. Selling and delivering and maintaining that number of vehicles direct from Ford to consumer would be impossible.
      Oh, Ford makes 33 other models of cars.

      It would be impossible, Dealers ARE A NEEDED feature in the car to consumer process.

    7. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by AaronW · · Score: 1

      Tesla already does this with their showrooms. The showrooms are independent of selling cars. The people working there do not get a commission. Their job is to show the car. If you put down a deposit you go to the front of the line for test drives. Tesla also has their service centers which are independent from the showrooms as well. The goal of the service center is to not make a profit. If a service center is too far away, they'll come to you (for a $100 fee).

      This is a totally different model than the dealerships. The showrooms basically contain the top end car but show all of the available options available. In terms of looks there really is very little difference between a P85+ and a standard 60. They look about the same, inside and out. The only difference is all the various choices the buyer chooses when they order the car and that some options are only available on the higher end cars. The showrooms do carry the different models, though right now there aren't very many that show the Model X since the car won't be in standard production until the end of the year.

      Similarly having service handled separately means that in service they won't try and push you to get a new car or push services you don't need. The service centers often are not at their showrooms. They do allow upgrading to the latest and greatest since the loaner car you get is usually top of the line or nearly top of the line and you can upgrade to the loaner car if you want, but there's no person trying to pressure you. It's basically they hand you the fob and off you go. The only problem is that they have trouble keeping loaner cars. When I got my 12K service last week they had sold them all.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
    8. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by AaronW · · Score: 1

      Tesla seems to have no problem doing this with their service centers. Some things they don't do, such as body repair work but only factory authorized places can even get parts. This makes sense since working with aluminum is rather different than the usual sheet metal and steel. The service centers are a subsidiary of Tesla so there is no man in the middle. Parts have to be ordered and stocked, just like any dealership service center. Even the service center at the factory can't just grab stock from the factory.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
    9. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by jonwil · · Score: 1

      Why not pass narrow legislation that says that manufacturers who don't have any franchised dealers can run their own operations (like Telsa) but others who have franchises can't.

      That way the Ford dealers and Toyota dealers and Lamborghini dealers and others don't have to worry about their supplier becoming their competitor but Telsa can do it because it does not have and has never had franchise dealers anywhere.

      That said, the car dealers would probably still be annoyed because a Telsa (without all the dealer overhead added into the prices) is much better value than similar cars they sell (even more so once Telsa gets the "mass-market" Model E out in a few years time)

    10. Re:Not just targetting Tesla by Attila+Dimedici · · Score: 1

      So, in place of a law which protects the auto dealers' business model you are proposing a law which fails to do so and offers a competitive advantage to new auto manufacturers? If such a law was passed and existing manufacturers wanted to bypass the dealers, all they would do is create a new subsidiary company which manufactures cars but does not have any dealers. There would be a few expenses in setting it up, but it would not be that hard. It was not that long ago that GM created the Saturn brand and set up a whole new dealer network, it would not be even easier to create a new brand without a dealer network.

      --
      The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
  12. Missed Opprutunity by EMG+at+MU · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Generally, politicians with (R) next to their name claim to be against regulations and state/federal interference with free enterprise. Therefore I would expect the (R) members of the Ohio Senate to be up in arms about this law, capitalizing on this opportunity to show that the (D) guys are always putting unreasonable burdens on private enterprise and stifling innovation and growth.

    But the fact that the sponsor and co sponsors of the bill are all (R)s contradicts that long held (R) stance. What gives? And why aren't there any reporters pointing out this contradiction?

    1. Re:Missed Opprutunity by M1FCJ · · Score: 1

      Money. Campaign donations. Future work when they retire.

      Simply, graft. That what it is.

    2. Re:Missed Opprutunity by idontgno · · Score: 2

      Because no one with a brain believes the propaganda ^w premise that underlies the apparent contradiction. Anyone the press might report to who would believe such a report already knows. Anyone the press might report to which doesn't already know wouldn't believe.

      In other words, it's not news.

      More importantly, it wouldn't push up circulation/sales/page views/ad impressions/other all-important sales metrics.

      --
      Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
    3. Re:Missed Opprutunity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And why aren't there any reporters pointing out this contradiction?

      Any idea how much money a newspaper rakes in from local auto dealership advertising?

    4. Re:Missed Opprutunity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ever heard the phrase "Truth has a well known liberal bias"? That's why...its the fact that reporters *were* once reporting on these seeming disparities in ideology and action, and the result was the perception of liberal bias. The result? Fox News.

      The elephant in the room is that corporate interests trump pretty much everything else in this country. We often see it bounce back against "small government" Republicans when they ask for more government to protect business interests, but we also see it (perhaps to a lesser extent) when Democrats soften their view on the environment when it runs up against what's good for Polute-corp Industries, which employ a lot of people back in the home state.

    5. Re:Missed Opprutunity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Generally, politicians with (R) next to their name claim to be against regulations and state/federal interference with free enterprise.

      Not really. I dontated $2500 to the Ron Paul 2012 campaign because I know how few and far between even the (R)s making this claim are.

      And why aren't there any reporters pointing out this contradiction?

      Because although it may be fact, it is hardly news.

      Besides, that is like them pointing out the contradiction that most black, single mothers are welfare queens and then asking Halle Berry 'why isn't she a welfare queen' and pointing out that contradiction. I.e., pointing out an inconsistency between an individual and your misperception of the group to which they belong is not "reporting". It is wasting our time.

    6. Re:Missed Opprutunity by terjeber · · Score: 1

      Generally, politicians with (R) next to their name claim to be against regulations and state/federal interference with free enterprise

      This is incorrect for any (R) who does not have "Rand" as their last name. The (R) camp has not been against regulations/federal interference since before Reagan. Throughout modern history, governments with (R) majorities have stood for government increase and growth while governments with (D) majorities have done the opposite. Obama is the main exception to this, but the majority og his government increase (with the obvious exception of a health care bill) has come from the continuation of Bush Jr. programs. Why these programs have not been shut down is anybodys guess, but opposition to shutting them down from other branches of the government has been a factor. All the same, Obama bucks a good (D) trend by adopting an older (R) trend which has been to grow government beyond any rational size.

  13. ignorance of the law is no excuse by Thud457 · · Score: 1

    Like it or not this is a huge issue nationwide and Tesla is looking for special treatment. It's not big bad republicans getting in the way of progress here. Tesla is crying because they don't want to play by the same rules everybody else has to and trying to pretend they are innovative because of it.

    So this is like the Uber thing, where outsiders come in to innovate, and are willfully clueless about how things currently work, and why.

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  14. It gets worse by richarnd · · Score: 1

    Car dealerships are extremely anticompetitive and politically connected. But they are hardly the only industry like this. Tesla and other innovators are already or soon will be a countervailing political and commercial force, with consumer demand playing a big role. The car dealership cartel will soon be broken - this Ohio move is a death throe. The same can't be said for many other industries, however. Cable TV/local broadband is an easy target but is being disrupted too. I'd focus my outrage on agriculture. The Farm Bill is a far bigger handout, affecting far more consumers, than car dealerships' (relatively) petty corruption.

  15. Three lying republicans ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This bill is sponsored by Senators Patton, Balderson, and Hite.

    The next time a Republican says they are in favor of the free market, remind them of just how full of shit they actually are. They're as willing to mess with the economy and the market as the Soviets ever were.

    Everything a Republican tells you about the economy is a lie. They're just there to represent whoever is paying them the most, and ensure the rest of us is subjected to their absurd beliefs. They're the Religious Party of America.

    Go ahead and be protectionist douchebags domestically and live in your fantasy world. But, seriously, stop being protectionist hypocrites on the world stage.

    Free trade with the US means you can't protect domestic industry, while the US is free to keep doing it.

    America can collectively take it up the ass, but the rest of us are getting pretty tired of you.

    Manifest assholes.

    1. Re:Three lying republicans ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I presume you voted for the "free market" Democrats then?

  16. part of our free trade agreements by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    nobody trades for free. beware falling gargoyles.... free the innocent stem cells. stop trying tp build a better monkey, they obviously do not need our 'help'?

    1. Re:part of our free trade agreements by gstoddart · · Score: 2

      stop trying tp build a better monkey

      I most certainly will not stop trying to build the best damned monkeys this world has ever seen.

      They will be able to fling poo with great accuracy across vast distances.

      People won't know I've released the monkeys until they get monkey poo in the face and have NO idea of where it came from.

      And when not flinging poo from afar, they will entertain me by choreographing monkey dance numbers.

      I shall never give up my quest for a better monkey.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  17. Change by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The most dangerous phrase in the language is, "We've always done it this way."
              ~ Grace Hopper

  18. as someone in the auto industry... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can tell you one thing related to this article, that being, the auto dealers, independent business owners, have been worried FOR YEARS that the major auto manufacturers in the U.S. (Ford, Chrysler, GM) are going to start cutting out the middle man and only allowing manufacturer outlets (non-dealers, non-independent business owners) to sell new vehicles.

    That may or may not be part of the reason why they're doing this.

    Just food for thought.

  19. #fuckohio by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    #stillabettersitethanreddit

  20. There are still Commies states? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What happened to so called capitalism and competing based on better products?
    Oh, well. Commies rules.

  21. Congress-speak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The inclusion of the dealership issue in this bill is easily-understood once you make the mental translation of "roadside maintenance vehicle" to "large obstruction impeding forward progress" and "move to the left" as "commit to a large political donation"...

  22. In my country the solution would be simple... by Zaatxe · · Score: 2

    The owners of Tesla Motors would also be the owners of ANOTHER company that controls the network of dealerships.
    Wouldn't that work in the USA?

    --
    So say we all
    1. Re:In my country the solution would be simple... by kervin · · Score: 1

      The Ohio law bans subsidiaries and affiliate companies. It's in the linked document.

    2. Re:In my country the solution would be simple... by ClickOnThis · · Score: 1

      The owners of Tesla Motors would also be the owners of ANOTHER company that controls the network of dealerships.

      Wouldn't that work in the USA?

      You would think it would. It does in other industries.

      But not when lobbyists induce politicians to protect their clients' business models with legislation.

      --
      If it weren't for deadlines, nothing would be late.
  23. Why is the Republican's concept of a "free market" by romanval · · Score: 1

    different then their implementation?

  24. This is a legitimate complaint by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'll probably get flamed for this, but I saw an argument a while ago on why this is a valid complaint from the dealerships AND existing car manufacturers. At first I had a hard time believing this, but hear me out.

    A long time ago, the automakers tried to do exactly what Tesla is doing now in setting up their own chain of manufacturer owned showrooms. To make a long story short, this turned out to have massive consequences for consumers, as it created a way for dealerships to force their customers to pay outrageous prices for simple repairs and parts because they didn't have an alternative source for ANYTHING. Hence, the government stepped in and said, "No no, this is not reasonable and you can't do this" and viola! Independent dealerships sprang into existence and that's why you don't see Ford & Chevy owned showrooms anymore.

    Now, Tesla is doing EXACTLY what the Big 3 was told that they COULD NOT DO all those years ago and yet here we are, crapping on them as being anti-competition and anti-innovation. You bet your ass it makes business sense for Tesla to do this, as it completely cuts out the middle man and allows them to maximize profits while retaining completely control over their entire supply chain.

    Ask yourself this; If you owned a Ford, would you rather be able to shop around and find the best service/value for your money or be forced to to pay out the ass for manufacturer made proprietary parts?

    1. Re:This is a legitimate complaint by envelope · · Score: 1

      I don't see what repairs have to do with showrooms. Having the manufacturer own the dealership has nothing to do with where I take my car to get it repaired.

      --

      appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars
    2. Re:This is a legitimate complaint by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      The markets size and modern shipping has eliminated the original problem.

      These days stealerships are a problem.

      Tesla will fix a Gordian knot left in the laws because of conditions that no longer exist.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    3. Re:This is a legitimate complaint by McDeth187 · · Score: 1

      Having the manufacturer own the dealership has nothing to do with where I take my car to get it repaired.

      It sure does when there are no other places to get it repaired other than the manufacturer!

    4. Re:This is a legitimate complaint by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

      If Telsa sold cars through a dealer, how does that guarantee Tesla are not the sole suppliers of spare parts?
      If you take your car to a Ford dealership to get fixed, they'll use genuine Ford parts.
      If you take it to your local mechanic, they might offer to source parts from a wrecker.
      The local mechanic has nothing to do with car dealer licenses.

    5. Re:This is a legitimate complaint by JMZero · · Score: 3, Informative

      But, uh, there is?

      There's lots of non-dealership places that I can go to fix my car, and those would exist no matter who owned the dealership I bought my car at (and might be more prevalent, even, if more car selling was direct from manufacturer).

      Similarly, there's already manufacturer original parts and parts made by other companies. This has even less to do with who owns the dealership. It's not like the independent dealerships are making all the parts they use.

      --
      Let's not stir that bag of worms...
    6. Re:This is a legitimate complaint by AaronW · · Score: 1

      As the owner of a Tesla one thing I have to point out is that Elon Musk has publically stated that their goal for service is to not make a profit. When I broke a part on my Model S the replacement cost of that part, plus installation was a fraction of what it would cost for most other cars. My experience with dealerships is they try and gouge you any way they can, pushing unneeded services on their customers, especially on those they feel are the least knowledgeable.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
    7. Re:This is a legitimate complaint by AaronW · · Score: 1

      The difference here is that Tesla has promised and made it their goal to not make a profit on service or parts and Elon Musk has publically stated this. From my experience this is certainly the case. When I looked into the possibility of having to replace a part on my model S due to a friend spilling something in the car the price I was quoted for the part as well as installation was a fraction of the price in another well-known luxury brand car according to a mechanic friend of mine who specializes in that car. Fortunately I was able to get everything cleaned up.

      I also at one point broke a clip on one of the roof panels on my car. Unfortunately this required replacing the entire clear-coated roof panel that borders the panoramic glass panel. The replacement was $100 for the panel and $175 for labor (about 3 hours). If this had been a Toyota the part would easily have cost at least double that.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
  25. Ars Technica Reports on Slashdot Beta by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/02/slashdots-new-interface-could-kill-what-keeps-slashdot-relevant/

    1. Re:Ars Technica Reports on Slashdot Beta by SleazyRidr · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      Dice doesn't care: they think that /. isn't worth anything to them: http://www.twst.com/update/388...

    2. Re:Ars Technica Reports on Slashdot Beta by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not a frequent poster (and not bothering to log in), but I see a slight flaw with this logic.

      I have lots of things in boxes under my house, which aren't worth anything to me. What I most definitely don't ever do, is waste time re-designing, re-implementing, and re-deploying these old 0-worth objects. What I *might* consider is digging out the few potential yard-sale or pickers-type gems I think are down there...

      My guess would be one of 2 things:

      --They think that indeed /. *is* worth something, but not as it stands today. Getting rid of the old guard would only serve to help this, as it frees them up to re-brand/re-design at will. In this scenario, the users are the problem holding back the brand's future.

      --They're gearing up to sell, and want to make it look like they've polished the turd they bought, because things that have been purchased and had money spent on are obviously worth more. My company went through a phase like this, burning serious millions in cash (with less than 220 employees) re-designing our products (and marketing) with less functionality and stability but more "zazz" to make us seem like the big guy on the block and the industry champion... to try to earn a massive valuation before a sale. This didn't work, and frankly I'm surprised I'm still employed. We've since been bought up by a private equity firm with eyes on "cutting costs" while "increasing market share" and "re-engineering to the next decade's needs". If i weren't vastly overpaid, I'd have jumped ship ages ago. /drunkrant

      Of course, I can't and won't discount the *possibility* that there's nothing but the best intentions of everyone involved causing this redesign panic (let me note I've hated the beta since last year, and have responded with feedback)... but in some cases, incompetence can be worse than malice.. :sigh:

  26. Only in your mind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Or if you don't actually pay attention to reality.

  27. Re:Why is the Republican's concept of a "free mark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The one who pays more gets more freedom.

  28. On a metanote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's actually rather amazing how the overall level of discourse has dramatically improved on /. the past few days, ever since the boycott took effect...

    1. Re:On a metanote... by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

      I'm not looking forward to next week when the retards come back.

  29. Washington State is also trying to block Tesla! by worldthinker · · Score: 1

    I'm shocked to find out that Liberal and Libertarian Washington State is trying to interfere with Tesla's business model. Washington has the most Tesla sales per capita and yet these legislators obviously paid off by the auto dealers has put forward a bill that would stop Telsa from adding stores.

    http://www.geekwire.com/2014/p...

    1. Re:Washington State is also trying to block Tesla! by geekoid · · Score: 1

      well, not every one:
      “Tesla’s embrace of a direct, open competition sales approach is exactly what we say we want from old style, traditional industries to survive—innovation, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit. The ridiculous notion that the political process in the Legislature should intervene in the marketplace of ideas in the automobile industry to prevent Tesla from direct sales is patronizing at best, and many of us are committed to defeating this special interest legislation.”
        Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D)

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:Washington State is also trying to block Tesla! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Washington State [sic] is a college in Pullman.

      But has anybody stopped to think that Tesla has imply raised a question, that being, suppose GM or Ford decide to emulate this marketing model? Wouldn't the wise solons in various state capitols see this as an anti trust issue?

  30. Hehe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know business is on downhill when they need to resolv in this sort of dirty tricks... Thats free market economy for you... Consumer docent win...

  31. No competition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not many people in Ohio can afford a $100k car, especially an electric one without heat. Try driving that when it's 10 below zero.

    1. Re:No competition by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lots of ppl also own rear wheel drive sports cars, and dont drive those in the winter snow either.

    2. Re:No competition by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      A rear wheel drive sports car is a fun toy. A Tesla is a status symbol.

      You don't buy status symbols to leave them in the garage.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    3. Re:No competition by AaronW · · Score: 1

      Tesla has heat and even a sub-zero weather package for heated wipers and a heated rear seat. They just did a cross-country trip going through several snow storms and some very cold weather. For warmer weather it uses a heat pump, for colder weather it uses a resistive heating element. The traction control also works extremely well, especially since the electric motor is far more responsive than a gasoline engine. There is also active heating and cooling for the battery pack which can also extract excess heat from the electric motor and inverter. They wouldn't be selling them in Norway if they didn't have heat.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
  32. Bureaucratic Nightmare by rmeadows1551 · · Score: 1

    Bureaucracies are inherently resistant to change, especially when a new technology comes along to undermine the assumptions on which the bureaucracies were built. Those bureaucracies’ express mission is to hinder progress. It is our express duty to educate them so they know that the hinderance they are attempting will fall as surely as the Berlin Wall fell. Using technology to improve people's lives is too easy and so welcome it won't fail.

  33. all business "licensing" is a scam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    regulation is fine, licensing is just a way to give politicians more power and should be done away with

    1. Re:all business "licensing" is a scam by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

      Licensing is fine, as long as the rules aren't dictated by the richest licensee.

  34. Perfect time for a "free market" speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This would be a perfect time for some american to give us a "USA, most free country in the wold" unless you want to sell a car in some states..

  35. Just Ohio? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, you're saying that people living in Ohio will have to purchase their new Telsa's in another state, thus helping their poor neighboring states? I'm okay with that.

  36. Republican != freedom by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    True the Republican party touts free market principles and constitutional restraint on government, but more and more our elected officials on both sides of the aisle are pushing crony capitalism instead of free market capitalism.

    Under Crony Capitalism, companies enrich themselves not by making better products, but by skewing or preventing competition by force or coercion via the heavy hand of government.

    Whether it is democrats pushing "green" subsidies or republicans pushing oil or farm subsidies, the end result is the same. The consumer gets screwed and the companies that hire the best lobbyists get ridiculous returns on their investments.

    But the problem is not greedy politicians or self-interested business. The problem is the current political game rewards these things, thus creating a self-perpetuated problem. We need to remove the incentive for these people to engage in this type of bad behavior (as bad as it is, it's completely legal and the rewards are great).

    The game needs to be fixed. What we need are:
    Eliminate the revolving door from politician to well-payed lobbyist
    Term limits (The longer a politician stays in power, the more corruptible they seem to be)
    Financial transparency for politicians
    Subject politicians to same insider trading laws that apply to business
    Patent reforms (government protected monopolies should be rare and limited in duration)
    Tax reforms for simple and straightforward system and should be limited to a max percentage of someone's income.

    1. Re:Republican != freedom by Sri+Ramkrishna · · Score: 1

      I call bullshit on "both sides do it". There is only one party here is going off the deep end in the past 10 years. Democrats are a lot easier to bullier than Republicans to do the right thing.

  37. Cat and mouse by kervin · · Score: 1

    The simple solution for Tesla is to outsource their galleries to some degree. I believe Tesla did that in some states and the Ohio law bans "affiliated entities" as well, but this really will become a "cat and mouse" game.

    Regular dealerships are "affiliated" with the manufacturer at some level, so it sounds like Tesla will have to find that balance as well.

    1. Re:Cat and mouse by geekoid · · Score: 0

      balance? these rules need to be done away with.

      1) The reason for the existence no longer apply
      2) It's a no longer needed middle man costing people more money
      3) Car dealerships have used shady practices for decades and have a history of abusing customer rights.
      4) This has lead to dealerships controlling what you can buy
      5) Dealership consolidation takes jobs away.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
    2. Re:Cat and mouse by AaronW · · Score: 1

      The Tesla galleries do not sell cars. They do not make a profit. The only things they sell are some accessories and things like shirts, hats, etc. They do not sell cars but show them. There is no pressure to buy when you visit a showroom since the people who work there do not earn a commission.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
    3. Re:Cat and mouse by AaronW · · Score: 1

      The galleries would not make any money since they don't sell cars. It's rather hard to outsource something like that. In Texas the Tesla showrooms are forbidden from telling people to go to http://www.teslamotors.com/ to order their car. The only way to order a Tesla at a showroom is to use a web browser. The showroom employees do not earn any commissions.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
  38. Re:corepirate nazis trying to stop us from living by SleazyRidr · · Score: 1

    Corepirate is actually kinda cool. I think I'll find a place to use that one.

  39. anyone hear of conflict of interest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    an automaker should not sell it's own product. no one to sue for bad design, service,etc....

    1. Re:anyone hear of conflict of interest by viperidaenz · · Score: 2

      Automakers should sell their own products. Then you don't have a middleman who try to pass the blame to the auto maker and an auto maker who will try to pass the blame to the dealer.
      If the manufacture misleads the dealer about their cars, there's nothing the customer can do about it but complain to the dealer.

    2. Re:anyone hear of conflict of interest by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ford used to have vertical integration. Ford owned the steel manufacturing, vehicle production and was selling their own vehicles. Competitors arose and complained that getting into the automotive market was too difficult and claimed Ford had a monopoly on the industry and the government required Ford to sell off the steel manufacturing and eventually the dealership laws came into play breaking up that profit as well. Now that Ford lost all these opportunities for profit companies like Tesla coming in and not having to comply to the rules that broke Ford up make it very unfair to all of the established companies that have been following the rules all along.

  40. This is why by geekoid · · Score: 1

    riders need to be done away with.

    There abuse far out weighs any advantages.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  41. Tesla must've paid Slashdot a fortune for all thes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    e articles about Tesla. Every fucking day there are multiple articles about this shitty company, and they are always positive. It's so painfully obvious that they paid to be included artificially, like ads.

  42. Tesla will not cave on this by Coward+Anonymous · · Score: 2

    It is not a coincidence that Tesla has no dealerships. It likely never will.

    This strong-arming is a perfect example for the reason. Dealerships wield in an inordinate amount of political power in their regions. The result hash been that once a manufacturer grants a dealership license to a dealership in a certain area, it is perpetual, geographically exclusive and irrevocable by the manufacturer. Unheard of conditions in practically any other business.

    Tesla will sooner open its own dealerships across Ohio's state lines. The lost sales taxes will eventually prove irresistible to the coin operated legislature.

    1. Re:Tesla will not cave on this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What lost sales taxes? You buy a car across state lines, you still pay the sales tax in the state you live in. Ohio gets their money regardless.

    2. Re:Tesla will not cave on this by Mal-2 · · Score: 1

      Some states (I only know SPECIFICALLY of California, but I have heard of this being a problem elsewhere) prohibit the buying of NEW out-of-state vehicles, even ones that pass all emissions standards and such. California prevents registering any out-of-state vehicle with less than 7500 miles on it, meaning the only way you can bring in an out-of-state car is to register it somewhere else (good luck with that if you live in California) until it's officially a used car.

      On the other hand, this screws California out of the sales taxes, because by the time the car is brought in, it's specifically NOT a new car.

      --
      How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
    3. Re:Tesla will not cave on this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I do not think you have seen dealerships go from company #1 to company #2
      How exactly do you think big dealers get bigger ?

    4. Re:Tesla will not cave on this by russotto · · Score: 1

      Some states (I only know SPECIFICALLY of California, but I have heard of this being a problem elsewhere) prohibit the buying of NEW out-of-state vehicles, even ones that pass all emissions standards and such. California prevents registering any out-of-state vehicle with less than 7500 miles on it, meaning the only way you can bring in an out-of-state car is to register it somewhere else (good luck with that if you live in California) until it's officially a used car.

      California's various attempts at this have usually been shot down by the courts as a (blatant) violation of the Interstate Commerce Clause.

    5. Re:Tesla will not cave on this by Mal-2 · · Score: 1

      This one stands, I had to deal with it as an insurance agent explaining why a company had vehicles in California with Arizona plates -- the reason being that they couldn't register them in California until they had 7500 miles on them.

      --
      How is the Riemann zeta function like Trump rallies? Both have an endless number of trivial zeros.
  43. It's just greedy middlemen by sjbe · · Score: 1

    Which is even more baffling, I usually associate free market to republicans

    The republicans aren't about the free market any more than the dems are despite lip service to the contrary. This is clear evidence of that. We do not need car dealers as middlemen anymore. No, this is simply them pushing the agenda of some monied interests. Same as it ever was. The dems do the same thing, just for different constituents.

    Dems are usually supporters of bigger government.

    This doesn't expand the government any. It simply is an attempt by some greedy middlemen to limit competition by legislation. Both parties do this. There is no reason at all that we should have to buy cars through dealerships.

  44. On behalf of an Ohio resident... by Ngarrang · · Score: 1

    ...my apologies for the stupidity and protectionism being displayed by the auto dealers in my state. Ohio has enough problem without something this stupid.

    --
    Bearded Dragon
  45. Less government? Yeah right... by sjbe · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The party of less government and pro-business.

    Pro-business. Mostly yes. Less government? Not so much. The republican party only wants less government when it suits them and keeps them in power. If the republicans REALLY were for less government they would be pushing to reduce the size of the military, reduce medicare, reduce social security and stay out of morality debates like stem cell research and gay marriage. They can pay lip services to "less government" all they want but their actions are not those of a party which actually wants less government.

  46. Can't They End Run? by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

    So, from what I can tell, the main problem with this Ohio law (aside the fact it's an obvious, blatantly stupid attempt to stop one particular company from selling in the state) is that they want to prevent auto manufacturers from owning dealerships, right?

    So, then, why doesn't Tesla just franchise out the dealerships in Ohio?

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    1. Re:Can't They End Run? by Areyoukiddingme · · Score: 1

      So, then, why doesn't Tesla just franchise out the dealerships in Ohio?

      Because the only people who are even potential franchisees are already franchisees of manufacturers of gasoline cars. And their owners have a very public anti-electric stance. Elon Musk knows damn well that if he leaves Tesla sales in their tender hands, he'll never move a single vehicle.

      In theory, some Random Rich Guy would bid for the franchise, right? Doesn't work that way. Guys who are already rich in one particular industry tend to stay put in that industry, under the (usually correct) assumption that they don't understand other industries well enough to make money in them. So the pool of potential franchisees is much more severely limited than one might assume. That limitation is too hazardous to the eventual success of Tesla motors for Mr. Musk to risk it. If nothing else, he's good at learning from history.

    2. Re:Can't They End Run? by phmadore · · Score: 1

      Exactly. Why do they have a problem letting others sell their cars? They are one of the few manufacturers who demand this sort of control over their sales.

    3. Re:Can't They End Run? by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      So, then, why doesn't Tesla just franchise out the dealerships in Ohio?

      Because the only people who are even potential franchisees are already franchisees of manufacturers of gasoline cars. And their owners have a very public anti-electric stance. Elon Musk knows damn well that if he leaves Tesla sales in their tender hands, he'll never move a single vehicle.

      In theory, some Random Rich Guy would bid for the franchise, right? Doesn't work that way. Guys who are already rich in one particular industry tend to stay put in that industry, under the (usually correct) assumption that they don't understand other industries well enough to make money in them. So the pool of potential franchisees is much more severely limited than one might assume. That limitation is too hazardous to the eventual success of Tesla motors for Mr. Musk to risk it. If nothing else, he's good at learning from history.

      Tesla could subsidize it. Example:

      I offer to "open" a franchise in my state; Tesla offers a "loan" that covers all the initial expenses, perhaps 6 months into the future (at least, long enough to establish a presence and get sales moving in the state). Problem solved.

      It might not be the conventional way of doing business, but I figure that's something Tesla's major investors would be able to appreciate. Hell, if I lived in Ohio I'd be CC-ing this post to Tesla, just to put the thought in their heads.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    4. Re:Can't They End Run? by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

      Yes, because rich people stay in their industry they got rich in. That explains Elon Musk getting rich in PayPal, then branching out to Tesla and SpaceX.

    5. Re:Can't They End Run? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, you are describing the conventional way of doing business.

      Tesla, or whoever runs it, wants to do things another way.

      Or maybe they just haven't found any one person they want to do that business with in Ohio. It does happen.

  47. Well, that's stupid. by erfunath · · Score: 1

    The only argument that I can remotely see being made for this sort of legislation is 'protecting jobs in X industry.' Manufacturer distribution and sales have got to be more efficient, and probably [relatively] more honest since the manufacturer suffers directly if someone's missold or if the product is misrepresented.

    Frankly, the car dealer industry is one that could disappear without many complaints from the public, but there will still be plenty of used cars.

  48. Dealers are (mostly) rip off artists by sjbe · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The reason it's awful, is that for most people, a car is the most expensive item (apart from real estate) that they will ever buy, by a huge margin.

    The reason it is awful is because lots of dealers have a VERY well deserved reputation for trying to rip people off. If you've ever been through a negotiation to buy or sell a car through a dealer, you probably know that they will use every underhanded tactic in the book to try to get you to pay more than you need to. They try to sell you add ons that you do not need (like undercoating) or are overpriced. They try to take advantage of you and as a result, people resent them.

    1. Re:Dealers are (mostly) rip off artists by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      VERY well deserved

      This is the salient point.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    2. Re:Dealers are (mostly) rip off artists by Admiral_Grinder · · Score: 1

      Agreed, car sales people are the worst which is why I'm going no haggle in the future (if possible). The last car I bought was new, but I went to a no haggle shop which was a great experience. I was extended test driving a car from a bigger guy that gave me the run around "take it or leave it" price when all I wanted to know what the employee price was (since my father in law is a GM retire) when I went to to the no haggle place. I asked the sales person why the cars where as cheap and she gave me the 3 discounts why right off the bat. I told her what I was looking for and in 15 minutes she located the exact car we wanted 300 miles away, and they arranged a trade. The perks where great too, tires for life vs "personal assistant" (riiiiiight). The other place called me and asked what I thought about the test drive, then they parked a car with some of the features and wrong color at the door I would use to try to get me to buy it. I handed them the keys and told them no thanks, wrong color.

      It was a sad day when that bigger guy bought out our dealership....service prices doubled and no more tires perk.

    3. Re:Dealers are (mostly) rip off artists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought a new Toyota RAV4 a little over a year ago. I thought they were being pretty straight with me until a woman sat down with me and actually tried to sell me on the advantages of undercoating. I about fell out of my chair. It was like having some guy on a street corner say "Hey, buddy. Wanna buy a watch?" as he opens his overcoat to show his inventory of knockoffs.

      Then, when signing all the paperwork to take the car (a cash purchase), they showed me a document that said that I was agreeing to service my car only at their dealership, giving me an extension on my warranty. If I don't service exclusively with them, I lose the extended warranty. I said "I don't want this". The guy said "It's part of the deal". Yes, I signed it (it was late). No, I won't go near them ever again.

      I always feel like a need a shower after buying a car.

      Manufacturers should have lots that allow people to test drive their cars, but when it comes to buying them, just go to Amazon, select the car, select the features, select the financing, press "Add to Cart" and go. A couple months later, the car arrives. By drone.

      A big drone.

    4. Re:Dealers are (mostly) rip off artists by sjbe · · Score: 1

      Then, when signing all the paperwork to take the car (a cash purchase), they showed me a document that said that I was agreeing to service my car only at their dealership, giving me an extension on my warranty.

      The correct answer is no unless you agreed to it prior to the signing of the documents. I've gotten up and walked out when they wouldn't show me all the documents prior to signing any of them. There are plenty of dealers out there. Never be in a rush and come prepared. Make sure you know more about the car you are buying than the guy selling it. (usually not very hard) I've made them sit in the car with me while I inspected everything for an hour prior to handing them the check. It's a big purchase and they can damn well work for my business.

      I said "I don't want this". The guy said "It's part of the deal".

      Always be ready to get up and walk out. That is your only negotiating leverage. Always agree on the terms and then make sure they show you all the paperwork before you sign any of it. If you don't like what you see and they aren't flexible on the matter, then get up and leave. If you've put up a deposit to get the car, make sure it is refundable if the deal falls through. Do NOT hand them a check until you are completely satisfied with everything and have inspected the vehicle fully.

      I always feel like a need a shower after buying a car.

      I hear you. I've dealt with some dealers who were pretty straight with me but I've run into my share of scumbags too. Usually the finance people are the worst though like you I pay cash for my cars so I don't have to deal with them much. I always go in with a price and terms in mind prior to buying. If they meet or beat the price and other terms then I buy and if they don't I leave. Do your homework ahead of time and it goes a LOT better usually.

    5. Re:Dealers are (mostly) rip off artists by sjbe · · Score: 1

      Agreed, car sales people are the worst which is why I'm going no haggle in the future (if possible).

      No haggle doesn't always mean a good deal. You can actually accomplish the same thing if you do your homework. I usually research the heck out of things and have a price and terms I want decided before I ever set foot on the lot. If the guy beats my price/terms right off the bat then I buy. If they don't then I leave and find a dealer who will. The only haggling I've had to do for the last several cars I bought was with one @$$ who was trying to dicker me down on a trade in. All the information about pricing is publicly available if you do a little research ahead of time. Don't tip your hand but let it be clearly known you've done your homework. I typically know more about the vehicle I'm buying than the guy "selling" it to me. I also demand to see all the paperwork ahead of signing anything so they don't spring anything on me during deal closing and I don't hand over the check until I'm satisfied with everything.

  49. Re:Just 1 Anonymous Coward by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Shaddup, take the open-source code (even if it is old and no longer maintained) and make your own site. This was inevitable once the site sold out to corporate interests. Let the owners slash and burn the virtual environment, it is their right and your only rights here are to leave if you don't like it.

  50. What would Appley say to that? by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 0

    Especially if they had to close their Apple Stores.
    Who is next? What else can be manufactored and either be sold directly to the enduser or only via 'mandatory' resellers?
    Tomorrow you are no longer allowed to enter a grocery store and by your own food, but you need a 'nigger' to buy it for you ... after the astrology story today a foreigner is just shaking heads and wonders how retarded either the politians, the public or both are.

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  51. NADA by pak9rabid · · Score: 1

    "Man the automotive dealer associations don't like Tesla.

    They have a name: NADA. Hate them, they are evil.

  52. Text book case of rent-seeking by realinvalidname · · Score: 1

    In public choice theory, rent-seeking is spending wealth on political lobbying to increase one's share of existing wealth without creating wealth. The effects of rent-seeking are reduced economic efficiency through poor allocation of resources, reduced wealth creation, lost government revenue, national decline, and income inequality.

    Rent-seeking

  53. not surprising by FacePlant · · Score: 1

    It is not surprising that a group with an existing legislative advantage in the marketplace is returning to the legislature to bolster their advantage against a new threat. That's how the market works.

    The primary job of an elected official is to get reelected. If you want a legislator's attention,donate to their election fund. They'll notice the money, and then when you talk about your legislative needs, they'll listen carefully, and often act in your interest. Just keep those checks coming.

    --
    My Heart Is A Flower
  54. Middle men are expensive by sjbe · · Score: 1

    The simple solution for Tesla is to outsource their galleries to some degree.

    Simple but ultimately self defeating. By doing that they are basically giving away profits to a middle man that they realistically should not have to.

    Having distributors only makes sense if you lack the ability to adequately reach or economically serve a group of customers. The distributors I deal with in my day job are better equipped to deal with small customers or customers with niche needs. In the case of automobiles, there is no compelling economic interest on the part of consumers to have a middle man be required. If I want to buy direct from Tesla I should be allowed to do that. Independent dealerships provide me no economic value.

  55. Ohio Sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Pretty much reaffirming, Ohio Sucks. Oh, but they'll go out of their way to help you recharge your Tesla.. for some ungodly charge!

  56. out of order amentment by mjwalshe · · Score: 1

    not related to original motion (in any meaningfull way) - should never have got on the order paper

  57. In Soviet Russia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This just reminds me of when photocopiers were banned in Russia, because they would put printing shops out of business.

    Web apps have made some car salesmen obsolete. Now, you just need somewhere to test drive and a consultant to answer any detailed questions. The only people who don't like it when the middleman is cut out are the middlemen and their friends.

  58. Still arguing Republican-vs-Democrat? by MadMartigan2001 · · Score: 2

    When will you people wake up.

    1. Re:Still arguing Republican-vs-Democrat? by dbreeze · · Score: 1

      Amen Brother. ANY politician with significant corporate/establishment/MSM support needs to be ignored if we are to stand any chance of reversing this steady spiral into total fascism. Unfortunately, they've gotten so good at pushing the populaces fear/prejudice buttons and the majority of citizens are so prone to acting solely on fears/prejudices that I'm quite sure it's game over already.
      Excuse me now, I've got to get back to work on my cave up in the hills.....

      --
      When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law he tore his robes.2Kings22:11
  59. Here's an idea by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

    Make it illegal to tack unrelated bills together.

    1. Re:Here's an idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seems you have a fan. I don't know whether to feel pity or revulsion towards this person. I can't imagine how pathetic one must be to be constantly monitoring someone's account to see if they've posted anything, just so they can CTRL-V the same attacking post over and over. You didn't get it initially right because they are not an idiot. This person is a huge fucking pathetic idiot.

    2. Re:Here's an idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Defending yourself by ac posts yet again viperidaenz? You're pitiful.

  60. Free market by emaname · · Score: 1

    So that is what the Republicans mean by a "free market."

    This proves the people who currently call themselves "Republicans" are anything but. The party has been hijacked by a bunch of self-serving individuals. Clearly these people could not care less about the free market or competition.

    --
    An effective "democracy" creates the illusion the people have a say in their government.
  61. Re:Why is the Republican's concept of a "free mark by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why?
    Why does their concept of freedom and personal responsibility apply only to men?
    It gets the campaign money flowing, the speaker fees rising and the reelections all but locked.

  62. Is it really a big problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I mean my electric provider is First Energy, and my electric producer is First Energy Solutions.

    I don't see why it would be very difficult to create a separate dealer corp. I'm surprised Tesla didn't structure it that way from the start.

  63. The Middle Man by X-Ray+Artist · · Score: 1

    The most powerful and least productive group today. You could produce the best product in the world, but if you cut off the "middle man" you won't be able to sell it.

    --
    I would have a sig but I am too busy updating programs and restarting my computer
  64. It might be about jobs by unimacs · · Score: 1

    Tesla should not get special treatment, but rather than trying to apply an outdated law to Tesla, the outdated law should be taken off the books.

    The are real consequences for doing this however. In some small towns a new car dealership can be a major employer. You've got sales people, repair people, parts people, administrative staff, etc. And of course an auto dealership relies on other services in order to operate which also employee people.

    So while we may like the idea of direct sales because it cuts costs, it also takes money out of the local economy.

    Believe me, I'm not a big fan of auto dealerships. I like the savings I get from buying direct or online, but I am also concerned about the long term impacts on the economy of the loss of brick and mortar retail outlets.

    So this really may not have much to do with Party platform at all. It's possible that it's all about the campaign contributions made by Ohio car dealerships. It also might be driven by a genuine concern for their constituent's jobs.

    1. Re:It might be about jobs by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Then maybe the town should try to get Tesla to set up a factory there to employ all these people.

      Aside from that, Tesla still needs salespeople, repair people, parts people, etc. If your Tesla craps out in Ohio, what are you going to do, put it on a truck to California? It still needs local people to perform these jobs. The main difference is that you'll have a Tesla-owned facility doing these things and employing these people.

    2. Re:It might be about jobs by Bing+Tsher+E · · Score: 1

      Then maybe the town should try to get Tesla to set up a factory there to employ all these people.

      Wow. Every town in America competing to get the Tesla factory.

      That stuff never works. Local governments end up giving away tax dollars to big companies.

    3. Re:It might be about jobs by Teancum · · Score: 1

      Tesla would love to set up service centers (a concept completely separate from a sales office) in Ohio... especially if they have a large number of sales in the state. Unfortunately these crazy laws are also going to make sure those service centers can't be built there either.

      As for the loss of local retail vendors in a municipality, that is something which merchants are going to have to adapt to as well. It will take some creative changes in the local tax structures of most cities as well as perhaps cutting out some of the other fat that comes from business licensing, regulation, and zoning laws associated with those businesses. Those changes should be looked upon as a good thing as a whole lot of fat not to mention flat out corruption has been a part of that whole side of thing in most smaller towns (not to mention even large cities). It certainly hurts to see a business go bankrupt and no doubt that will happen to otherwise very good people who have done some wonderful things for their community.

      What it will take for local small-scale retailers to thrive is providing a service and customer support that larger retailers or somebody on-line simply can't do. If shopping at a local retailer doesn't give much added benefit, shoppers won't bother going there any more and businesses fighting that trend should go bankrupt.

    4. Re:It might be about jobs by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      So we can only have one factory? With widespread adoption of electric cars, you don't think maybe we could have lots of factories? Instead of sending all the factory work to Mexico? Or how about other manufacturing? Maybe if we stopped sending all the manufacturing work to Mexico and China, we could do more of it here, and these towns wouldn't be whining about dead-end dealership sales jobs.

      Besides, why do you prefer local governments being in bed with auto dealerships, to giving away tax dollars to big companies? Why is it better to give tax dollars away to local companies which don't produce anything of value and shaft customers with ridiculously high repair fees and parts costs? (They don't call them "stealerships" for nothing.)

  65. Hey bigmouth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like calling folks idiots? Like this from you troll http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    Prove me wrong dumbass http://games.slashdot.org/comm...

    It works, & gives folks what they want here (no beta site redirect foisted on them without asking, which is WHY I put it up... they did it to me 1 or 2 times, that beat it, & I gave folks what they wanted).

    You're also FREE to *try* to disprove 17 points of FACT that use of custom hosts files gives users more speed, security, reliability, & even added anonymity that I list here where you can download it, free -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    (Only thing is, on the latter, that FAR more skilled trolls than you have TRIED to, only to get shot down in flames each time, by yours truly)

    APK

    P.S.=> Come on big talker - go for it: I'll eat you ALIVE here publicly just to laugh @ your DUMB ass even more...apk

  66. Hey bigmouth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like calling folks idiots? Like this from you troll http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    Prove me wrong dumbass http://games.slashdot.org/comm...

    It works, & gives folks what they want here (no beta site redirect foisted on them without asking, which is WHY I put it up... they did it to me 1 or 2 times, that beat it, & I gave folks what they wanted).

    You're also FREE to *try* to disprove 17 points of FACT that use of custom hosts files gives users more speed, security, reliability, & even added anonymity that I list here where you can download it, free -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    (Only thing is, on the latter, that FAR more skilled trolls than you have TRIED to, only to get shot down in flames each time, by yours truly)

    APK

    P.S.=> Come on big talker - go for it: I'll eat you ALIVE here publicly just to laugh @ your DUMB ass even more...apk

  67. What I would do by angel'o'sphere · · Score: 1

    Well,

    sell all your Teslars to Europe. That would be the simple thing.

    Now lets wait who is going to found an re-import business.

    Worst case do it yourself ... the next thing is: a brand new car will only be available via 'used car dealers'.

    Or do it like Apple: manufactor the cars in Ireland and export them from there to the USA (like Apple does).

    --
    Cost free eBook I read (by iBook/Kobo/Amazon/ObookO/Gutenberg etc.): "The Green Odyssey" by Philip Jose Farmer.
  68. Wrong conclusion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They are trying to protect their "convention"ally enforced profit model. They would like Tesla to sell through dealers.

  69. Really? by drainbramage · · Score: 1

    So, they went federal, is that when they found out that clubbing union members and shooting wooblies didn't get them many votes?

    How much longer was it before they figured out that segregation was a bad thing? Maybe more like the60's?

    Seems like if it wasn't for Kennedy, whose fiscal and social polices were very unpopular with old school democrats, the old south would be as bad now as it was then.

    --
    No brain, no pain.
  70. Hey bigmouth by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like calling folks idiots? Like this from you troll http://slashdot.org/comments.p...

    Prove me wrong dumbass http://games.slashdot.org/comm...

    It works, & gives folks what they want here (no beta site redirect foisted on them without asking, which is WHY I put it up... they did it to me 1 or 2 times, that beat it, & I gave folks what they wanted).

    You're also FREE to *try* to disprove 17 points of FACT that use of custom hosts files gives users more speed, security, reliability, & even added anonymity that I list here where you can download it, free -> http://start64.com/index.php?o...

    (Only thing is, on the latter, that FAR more skilled trolls than you have TRIED to, only to get shot down in flames each time, by yours truly)

    APK

    P.S.=> Come on big talker - go for it: I'll eat you ALIVE here publicly just to laugh @ your DUMB ass even more...apk

  71. Ugh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I expect this kind of dribble from the cnn.com post section but not Slashdot's...

  72. easily circumvented by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Even of a ridiculous law like that would be passed, wouldn't it be super easy to circumvent?
    Can't Tesla set up some "independent" company to sell their cars?

  73. Suspicious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know an awful lot about dick, are you trying to tell us something about yourself?

    1. Re:Suspicious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He's upset because Michael Sam didn't come home last night- and didn't even call.

  74. Corruption by JimSadler · · Score: 1

    Since Ohio is a right wing governed state this is further proof that the right wing does not support liberty or business or a free market. What is does prove is that the republicans will back current businesses that put money across their palms. So why not have a site that is adjacent to Ohio that simply delivers the new car to Ohio residents? That way Ohio can lose out on the sales taxes. So what is next? will Ohio invent an impact fee for importing an American car that does not pollute? Then we will see their Republic, lying, scum bag leaders all clain they are for a non polluted environment. If fact they love apple pie, bribes and power but they hate their moms and their nation.

  75. Buying online gets around all of that by JudgeFurious · · Score: 2

    I think that the real issue is that a car, much like a home is one of the relatively few things in this world that Americans (for the most part) will ever negotiate the price of. In the US most things traditionally "cost what they cost". You decide what you want to buy, you go to where they sell it, and you pay them the price that they have on the price tag if you want it bad enough and/or think it is worth the asking price. Relatively few people in the US negotiate daily and for most of them it's not a comfortable experience. Most people don't have a comfortable understanding of the process and are worried that they're being taken advantage of when they settle on a price. The process doesn't do much to help get past this fear. The last time I bought a car I did it online. I was looking for a 2006 Pontiac GTO and went to Pontiac's website where I searched for one in Texas and Louisiana. I found them all, assembled all their email addresses for their online sales department, and sent them the same email. Basically "I want a 2006 GTO, I'm going to pay 18% off sticker, I don't care what color it is or whether it is an automatic or manual transmission (there were very few options on that car). Please contact me if you want to move a car right now. I have my own financing lined up. Thank You". I got a bunch of replies. Most said nobody would make that deal and three said they had a car they would sell me for that deal. I picked one (a silver one in Bastrop Texas) and drove there from Houston with my wife to pick it up. I was in the dealership for about 45 minutes.

    --
    Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
    1. Re:Buying online gets around all of that by mattack2 · · Score: 1

      But why do you even have to be in the dealership for 45 minutes? I bought a car Dec 31, and admittedly probably didn't negotiate the price as much as I could have..

      But still having to sit around the dealership for a while was a pain. I'm giving you a check, quit making it take so freaking long.

    2. Re:Buying online gets around all of that by Admiral_Grinder · · Score: 1

      Please tell me that you attached them all to the same email. That would have been great watching them stumble over themselves.

  76. Who is Man? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sorry, me English not too good.. but in the first line of the summary, who is Man?

  77. Heinlein summed it up nicely. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There has grown up in the minds of certain groups in this country the notion that because a man or corporation has made a profit out of the public for a number of years, the government and the courts are charged with the duty of guaranteeing such profit in the future, even in the face of changing circumstances and contrary to public interest. This strange doctrine is not supported by statute or common law. Neither individuals nor corporations have any right to come into court and ask that the clock of history be stopped, or turned back.

    1. Re: Heinlein summed it up nicely. by shilly · · Score: 1

      And one of his earliest stories, too! Heinlein almost always has an apposite quote. Mod parent up

  78. Irony by tacokill · · Score: 1

    I suspect many who rail against this kind of graft and corruption are fine with giving the government and it's agencies more power to regulate and 'insure a fair marketplace'. However, the more rules and laws that are passed, the more they can be (ab)used to advantage or disadvantage someone else or some other company. I am constantly surprised at how many people here on /. do not make this connection.

    We beg and beg for more regulation about X. Once it's in place, you complain because companies try to influence the process? Well, surprise surprise.....when you regulate people or companies, they usually want to participate in the process. If, during that process, they can disadvantage the other guy......why not do that? That's common sense, completely expected, and has been going on as long as the world has been going around.

    That Slashdot finds this surprising says more about slashdot than it does the companies.

    Maybe this will work better:
    1. Establish law(s) affecting companies
    2. Act surprised when companies want to participate in the lawmaking
    3. ????
    4. Profit

  79. Prime example... by MitchDev · · Score: 1

    ...of why laws shouldn't be allowed to have "riders".

    Each law should have to be voted on individually.

  80. they must watch TV.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Pretty sure there was a Simpsons episode about passing bills exactly like this..

  81. This is hardly about Tesla by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Tesla sells so few cars that the auto dealers could give a crap. The problem is the precedent. If one manufacturer is allowed to sell direct, the rest will be. Overnight, the dealers' franchises -- which they paid, typically, millions of dollars for -- will be worthless. The manufacturers will go right around the dealers, who take all the hate for a surprisingly small share of the profits. Manufacturers and dealers HATE each other.

    1. Re:This is hardly about Tesla by AaronW · · Score: 1

      This would be like Fisker all over again. Fisker used dealerships to try and sell their cars and failed miserably.

      --
      This post is encrypted twice with ROT-13. Documenting or attempting to crack this encryption is illegal.
  82. not always dumb to buy new by Chirs · · Score: 1

    There is no group with a lower aggregate IQ then new car buyers. Not even 'audiophiles'.

    Have to quibble a little bit. I bought a new Toyota Matrix in 2005 even knowing the downsides of buying new. I had a couple primary reasons that I still think are valid:

    1) At the time there were few hatchbacks available used anywhere within 1000km. Well-used Civics were going for 10K.
    2) I have every intention of driving my vehicle into the ground, in another decade or so.

    Now there are hatchbacks/crossovers from everyone all over the place, so when we add a second vehicle I'll probably go used.

    1. Re:not always dumb to buy new by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      No hatches within 1000km? I suppose that's the cost of working at MacMurdo station.

      How does planning on keeping something a long time improve the initial depreciation? You still paid thousands to drive it off the lot.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  83. Toyota already does this in Canada by Chirs · · Score: 1

    They don't own the dealerships, but they do set the prices.

    All Toyota dealerships within 2000km of my house had the same prices when I was car shopping. And they didn't dicker. If you were really good you could get a couple of accessories thrown in, but the price on the car itself does not go below Toyota's suggested price.

    And Toyota parts in Canada cost double what they cost in the USA.

  84. Uhhh by CTU · · Score: 1

    What the heck? First off that is stupid, second off putting it into another bill to try to get it passed is really unethical and moronic...It should be illegal to do that...hopefully that bill will be edited to remove that part of it

  85. On a metanote... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    wonder if theres anyway we could convince them to extend the boycott?

  86. Don't be an idiot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is it that when republicans don't like another republican they call them progressive leftists? Boehner is not a leftist. You may not like him, but he's not a liberal and doesn't vote like one.

  87. Re:Less government? Yeah right... by srichard25 · · Score: 1

    The people running for office mostly just want to be rich. To be elected to office, they need to appeal mainly to one of two groups of people: those who want less government telling them what to do, or those who want more government to take from others and give to them. Once elected to office, they don't have to actually do either. They simply need to pretend that they are working on less/more government while blaming any issues on the other side for not accomplishing less/more government. This is why Democrats have been promising to end poverty for 40 years yet poverty continues to rise (even when they control the White House and Congress). This is why Republicans have been promising to reduce the size of the federal government for 40 years yet the government continues to grow (even when they control the White House and Congress).

    While there may be a small handful of honest politicians who truly believe in doing what is in the best interest of the American people, this is obviously not the majority of the people in Washington.

  88. Oh well - Ohio's loss. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If I were Tesla, I would just buy a few front page adverts disclosing that due to their greedy car dealerships underhanded purchasing of Ohio lawmakers that nobody in Ohio will be able to purchase a Tesla vehicle, ever.

    Just state that until Tesla can open their galleries in Ohio, nobody from Ohio will be allowed to buy one.

    Then the top .001% rich of Ohio will slash the throats of their Senators/Congressmen as well as bomb the regular dealerships back to the stoneage because they will *want* to get their Teslas.

  89. Question : by michrech · · Score: 1

    Couldn't Tesla create a company that exists only to sell their cars, similar to how large businesses create a "property" company to "own" the buildings/land they're in, and then the parent pays the "property" company to lease the land to get around such stupid legislation?

    --
    bork bork bork!
  90. Really funny by macpacheco · · Score: 1

    The GOP is a mix of:
    Tea Party loonies that want to destroy the federal government, while they reign terror on economic interests that don't support them at the state level (like Tesla)

    Religious fundamentalists which want to dictate their views on health, society relationships (very anti libertarian of them)

    Libertarian which really means my rights are more important than yours

    Your common republicans which are pro war, defend massive wasteful expenditures in the military regardless of actual need (huge federal government), have always been in love with every invasion of privacy made in the name of national security (but wouldn't mind selling those secrets for a lot of money to their friends in the private sector)

    A smashing minority of common sense politicians which genuinely want to reform the tax code, want a smarter/smaller military, are willing to make bipartidarism work, want less entitlements, AKA, Republicans In Name Only

  91. Ohio attempting to stop Tesler! by trevorjb1406 · · Score: 1

    Sounds unfair to me! I'm in the UK but I wouldn't think Tesler is going to affect the American market drastically as it is expensive and specialist?

  92. Then there are no such pure libertarians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You want contract law, standing military, copyrights, patents, trademarks and internaltional agreements to stay and even expand (when was the last time Rand Paul asked for copyright terms to be reduced?).

    You don't want healthcare (despite universal healthcare being the cheapest bang-for-buck), you don't want environmental laws or worker protections, you don't want unions, and so on. You want those reduced.

    therefore by your assertion, there are no such pure libertarian. They are riding invisible pink unicorns on Russel's teapot.

  93. Re:Less government? Yeah right... by sjbe · · Score: 1

    The people running for office mostly just want to be rich.

    Nearly all of the ones running for national office already are rich even before they get into office. Someone who has to work a Real Job to make ends meet is never going to have the financial resources or time to spend on the campaign to get elected. What they mostly want is power though most seem to add to their wealth along the way.

  94. Tesla should make friend with native indians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Tesla could have the showrooms inside the indian casino's around the country.
    After all, native indian tribes are treated as a sovereign nation.

  95. Spooky! by RobertBrodt · · Score: 1

    Sadly, Ayn Rand's vision of the future is coming true :(

  96. car buying by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I would rather buy my favorite gas powered car from the manufacturer instead of all this dealership nonsense.

  97. New cars for the price of used. by q4Fry · · Score: 1

    My used car began to die, and I knew I would need to get a replacement.

    I was looking for a "reliable old Honda" when the CARS bill passed (popularly "Cash for Clunkers"). This brought a new car down into used car price ranges. I wouldn't get the $4500 credit for buying a used car, only a new one, so I bought a reliable new Honda instead.

    I knew I'd want to keep my car until there was a reliable, affordable all-electric, and I figured I have at least 15 years from date of purchase for some company to come out with one.