US-MA legislative alert: Right To Repair bill

Sun Feb 14 10:26:14 PST 2010

Wow. Egg on my face. I did indeed misread the intent of the legislation. I
then have to say that I laud the MS legislature.

Will you all allow a foul-mouthed Texan a moment to remove his rather large
foot from his even-larger mouth?

:-)

Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: Phil Rose [mailto:pjrose at frontiernet.net] 
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2010 12:20 PM
To: Brian K. Ullrich
Cc: 'Brett Dikeman'; '200q20V mailing list'; quattro at audifans.com;
s-car-list at audifans.com
Subject: RE: US-MA legislative alert: Right To Repair bill

Brian,
I'm not sure why you decided to take aim at the state of Massachusets 
(or even just liberal Democrats) as the target of your rant. The 
proper target ("they") it seems to me, is NOT Massachussets, but 
rather the automobile manufacturers. So, I wonder: have you misread 
the thrust of the legislative issue that Brett was describing?

  What appears to be going on in MA is an effort to enact a law 
putting some "teeth" in the existing laws requiring auto 
manufacturers to provide information (to the public) needed to carry 
out diagnosis and repair of our vehicles. The proposed legislation is 
targeted at (i.e., against) automobile manufacturers who try to 
withhold information needed to repair vehicles. Yes, MA is 
considering  legislation to enforce the rights of independent shops 
and owners to repair their own vehicles.

IMHO, your rant against liberal Democrats has things sort of 
backwards. If you're still in a (Texas) ranting mood, direct the heat 
at the group who actually opposes assuring our ability to repair our 
vehicles: that would be the automobile MANUFACTURERS. An example is 
the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers--not especially known as a 
bulwark of left-wing politics. They oppose this legislation. Based on 
the legislative effort so far, Massachussets (or Democrats in 
Massachussets?) is not deserving of your implication that they're 
hypocrites for having a previous record of being "all for diversity 
and liberty of any person". Of course, if MA defeats the proposed 
legislation, I'd reconsider...

BTW, while you're hugging your guns (concealed guns?) keep in mind 
that what the Massachussets legislature is trying to do is an example 
of "States Rights"--something so cherished by Texans, correct? But of 
course I agree with you: what MA is trying is something that 
logically **should** be done by the Federal government: rights 
protected for ALL car owners in the USA! A national Right to Repair. 
Not state by bloody state. But that doesn't yet exist--perhaps one 
reason being Conservative elements who have tended to fight most any 
(i.e., federal) legislation intended to create uniform standards. 
Them liberals are just aching to push "Socialized Auto Repair" down 
our throats, ain't they? ;-)

Phil

P.S. Disclaimers:  I don't reside in MA or have any blood relatives 
in MA; I have never resided in MA; I have no business, financial or 
political connections with MA. But I do know and admire a lot of 
people I've met from there.

At 7:43 PM -0600 2/13/10, Brian K. Ullrich wrote:
>Freakin' MA. Why am I not surprised? In one sense, they are ALL for the
>diversity and liberty of any person, yet in another, they actually consider
>restricting the ability of their own constituency to repair their own
>vehicles in a cost effective manner.
>
>You know, now that I think about it, there is just so much wrong with this.
>How exactly would the manufacturer enforce it? Create "MA" cars? That works
>in limited capacity, where changes are minor, universal, and the market is
>large enough to justify it (a la "CA" emissions cars). I don't see how that
>would work with what is being discussed here.
>
>Besides, doesn't buying the automobile give you a de facto license to
repair
>it? Or shouldn't it?
>
>This whole thing is disgusting to me. But then again, I'm from Texas.
>
>OK...off my soapbox. I'm sure I've overspoken, or worn out my welcome on
>this topic, but it just irks me that there are some states whose political
>climate is so polarized as to even consider such a thing.
>
>OK...now I'm really done. I'm retreating into my den filled with hunting
>trophies, life-sized wax figures of LBJ and Sam Rayburn, smelling of Lone
>Star Beer brewed with pure Artesian water, and mesquite-smoked BBQ. I'll be
>hugging my guns, my dog, and my Audis. And remembering the day of the
>Conservative Democrat.
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Brett Dikeman [mailto:brett.dikeman at gmail.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 6:17 PM
>To: 200q20V mailing list; quattro at audifans.com; s-car-list at audifans.com
>Subject: US-MA legislative alert: Right To Repair bill
>
>http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/186/ht00/ht00282.htm
>http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2010/02/right_to_repair.html
>
>It just cleared committee- and moves to voting/discussion THURSDAY in
>the MA Senate.
>
>If you live in MA, PLEASE WRITE YOUR STATE SENATOR NOW.  Fax, email,
>call, whatever (actual written notes tend to impress the most.)  Call
>'em too, even if you write.  Get your local independent mechanic to do
>the same.
>
>As someone who owns a (non-Audi) vehicle which suffers from pretty
>horrendous manufacturer lock-in on diagnostics, repair info- even
>firmware (a problem when modules/parts bought from the manufacturer
>have no firmware, and firmware is coded to individual vehicles!) this
>IS A PROBLEM.
>
>  Manufacturers are doing everything in their power to lock out (or
>'tax') both owners and indie shops and non-dealer service chains.  A
>couple years ago Audi was working on piezo-electric bolts for
>assemblies...which would only operate with tools that authenticated
>themselves to the BOLT!  Some day you may not even be able to take
>apart your car without paying a license fee.  They are fighting the
>'right to repair' movement tooth and nail, claiming it would expose
>trade secrets and (horrors!) allow other companies to MAKE PARTS and
>COMPETE!   I can hear your screams of horror now at the thought of
>facing CHOICE when buying parts...
>
>There's a large coalition of parts/service/small business associations
>and chains behind this push, and we can only benefit as owners (I hate
>the word "consumer") and DIY'ers. Check in your state to see if
>there's a similar bill afoot.  More info on the coalition:
>http://www.righttorepair.org/
>
>
>-Brett
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-- 

Phil Rose.....Rochester, NY USA
'06 A3q 3.2 V6 (20K, silver)
'91 200q	(165K, Lago blue)
Gone to Audi Valhalla:
'91 200q   (Tornado red)
'89 100 (Bamboo gold)