Meetings: 1st WEDNESDAY at 6:30 pm –The Brat Stop, I94 & Hwy 50.

 

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Hi folks, by now the wonderful wacky world of March weather should be over. No wonder so many of my fellow retirees go south! I seem to enjoy the wonderful changes in the weather outside. I guess it’s all about perception. This concept of perception can be extrapolated to some of the legislative issues ABATE is pursuing. Manufacturers perceive that they should be the only ones allowed to repair their products. I do not believe that they are capable of repairing all the units of whatever they produce. If people do not have alternative choices for repairs, do we all wait for weeks or months for repair access? Maybe we just continue to throw things into our landfills and junkyards that could be repaired?

 

The modern technology and driver assist "smart" vehicles on the road these days sure are not making people drive better from what I see. Fully autonomous driving systems perceive and promise safer transportation in the future. I agree that someday the technology will improve and may make that happen. We are NOT there yet. Even California has told Tesla to refrain from implying this technology is safe and reliable. Issues with Waymo type vehicles making dangerous and potentially deadly maneuvers are well documented. Despite all these issues, some, in our government both Federal and State, insist on unleashing this unproven and unsafe technology on ourselves and loved ones. These systems are causing crashes and death, and not enough people seem to notice. Motorcyclists have been run down and killed at highway speeds because these systems don't "see" them. Driverless cars have driven their passengers through active fire scenes, police active shooter scenes and down rail lines. Are we simply trading human error for software error? Where has the American Spirit of doing things for ourselves gone? Why can't we demand the right to repair our own stuff? Why can't we demand that products and technology are safe before being introduced to the masses? Am I Chicken Little or does any of this make sense?

 

Please, come to our next meeting, April 1st, and let’s talk. It's no joke!

Mike