It’s always the “Suits”. I recall international Harvester Farmalls” Red Power”dried up and blew away because of Corporate Greed. Deere should have learned from their most capable rival. A $600. Repair for $4000. and not even in a timely manner is one of the Reasons a man can’t make a living on a quarter section like my Grandfather do.
Decades ago, I was working on my car. Two older women, neighbors up the street, were walking their dogs and stopped to talk. They were amazed a girl was doing that. So I told them: "I'll let you in on a secret. If you can follow a recipe, you can follow a maintenance manual!" Of course like cooking, you have to know the implements and you get better with experience. I was trained to work in the engine rooms of ships when that was very rare for people with XX chromosomes. I did that for years and was even elected to a maritime union bargaining committee.
Similar when I was a building engineer, meaning I can fix basic electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, cabinets, furniture, etc. There is a certain amount of feel to such work, but a lot of it is attending to the details. The most important factor with repairs is diagnosing correctly. But you can learn. Another secret: you have an advantage because women aren't afraid to read the instructions! ;-) When I started, I knew very little about how to do anything like this. BTW, all before I transitioned (I'm trans female to male) and I'm still not exactly butch.
I also find it deeply ironic, if not disturbing, how intellectual and managerial classes denigrate work with one's hands as if it didn't also require the use of our brains. Besides, there is a deep sense of satisfaction in repairing or making something. Unlike the office paper pushing and jobs of questionable contribution. As I pointed out when in grad school in my 50s, I'm not just another pretty brain--I can fix things.
Nowadays, manufacturers completely seal their equipment rather than use screws to fasten parts together. The result is, you have to literally break open the equipment or device to affect a repair. Companies don’t want you to fix anything you own. It’s about paying extra for very limited product warranties or planned obsolescence altogether.
I tried fixing a fan. I figured it needed a new capacitor. I couldn't remove the motor housing without wrecking it. Instead of making it fixable, the manufacturer made it disposable. I wasted a fair amount of time and energy figuring all of that out. It teed me off. And then I started thinking about the tons of the same kind of stuff that ends up in landfills, and all the harm it does, and I got even more bent out of shape.
It's a twist on the old "planned obsolescence" con. It's planned obstruction instead. Whatever the settlement was, it should have cost the greedy fascists who want to rent you what you do for a chosen living a hell of a lot more.
It will get even worse unless we follow Schweitzer's example and fight. Too many companies these days don't want us to own anything. They want to license instead of sell or at the very least charge for licensing various services on cars (mostly electronic) every year. Jim has long pointed out Monsanto's crappy non re-plantable GMO seeds before. Merry go-round is right--and pay every time. Ticks!
It seems to me that the more money that a corporation speaks the more the suits are blinded by the dollar signs that are the highest priority for justifying their greedy reality and for craving ever more control and power over the living reality of the here and now. The corporate economic structure is destroying our country.
The "Right to Repair"is also being fought for by E.F.F. and other champions of not being held hostage. I happened to see a YT video by a mechanic about why dealership car mechanics are in short supply. Because they're paid by the job (likely determined by corporate accountants) not by how long it actually takes. Therefore the hourly rate was ridiculous. The comments, almost all by mechanics from all sorts of fields, were explicit condemnations of greed and billionaires.
It’s always the “Suits”. I recall international Harvester Farmalls” Red Power”dried up and blew away because of Corporate Greed. Deere should have learned from their most capable rival. A $600. Repair for $4000. and not even in a timely manner is one of the Reasons a man can’t make a living on a quarter section like my Grandfather do.
I am not smart enough to fix a LOT of things (even with the foreign language booklet). But when I think I CAN, I want the dang right to try!
Decades ago, I was working on my car. Two older women, neighbors up the street, were walking their dogs and stopped to talk. They were amazed a girl was doing that. So I told them: "I'll let you in on a secret. If you can follow a recipe, you can follow a maintenance manual!" Of course like cooking, you have to know the implements and you get better with experience. I was trained to work in the engine rooms of ships when that was very rare for people with XX chromosomes. I did that for years and was even elected to a maritime union bargaining committee.
Similar when I was a building engineer, meaning I can fix basic electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC, cabinets, furniture, etc. There is a certain amount of feel to such work, but a lot of it is attending to the details. The most important factor with repairs is diagnosing correctly. But you can learn. Another secret: you have an advantage because women aren't afraid to read the instructions! ;-) When I started, I knew very little about how to do anything like this. BTW, all before I transitioned (I'm trans female to male) and I'm still not exactly butch.
I also find it deeply ironic, if not disturbing, how intellectual and managerial classes denigrate work with one's hands as if it didn't also require the use of our brains. Besides, there is a deep sense of satisfaction in repairing or making something. Unlike the office paper pushing and jobs of questionable contribution. As I pointed out when in grad school in my 50s, I'm not just another pretty brain--I can fix things.
Nowadays, manufacturers completely seal their equipment rather than use screws to fasten parts together. The result is, you have to literally break open the equipment or device to affect a repair. Companies don’t want you to fix anything you own. It’s about paying extra for very limited product warranties or planned obsolescence altogether.
I tried fixing a fan. I figured it needed a new capacitor. I couldn't remove the motor housing without wrecking it. Instead of making it fixable, the manufacturer made it disposable. I wasted a fair amount of time and energy figuring all of that out. It teed me off. And then I started thinking about the tons of the same kind of stuff that ends up in landfills, and all the harm it does, and I got even more bent out of shape.
Yep. For sure!
Do they let you repair a flat tire?
Well, ah, no...but they can fix it in a month and only charge you $2000.
sigh
wow! talk about monopolies! john deere is no dear!
"Oh the merry-go-round broke down, As we went 'round and 'round.
Each time 'twould miss we'd steal a kiss, While the merry-go-round went,
Um-pah-pah, Um-pah-pah,
Um-pah, Um-pah, Um-pah-pah.
The merry-go-round broke down, But you don't see me frown.
Things turned out fine and now she's mine, 'Cause the merry-go-round went,"
And now the tractor's mine too!
Seems that when John Deere left the "puttin' Johnny" era, it also shed its policies for dealing fairly with its customers.
Got that right!
Good news for a change!!
It's a twist on the old "planned obsolescence" con. It's planned obstruction instead. Whatever the settlement was, it should have cost the greedy fascists who want to rent you what you do for a chosen living a hell of a lot more.
It will get even worse unless we follow Schweitzer's example and fight. Too many companies these days don't want us to own anything. They want to license instead of sell or at the very least charge for licensing various services on cars (mostly electronic) every year. Jim has long pointed out Monsanto's crappy non re-plantable GMO seeds before. Merry go-round is right--and pay every time. Ticks!
It seems to me that the more money that a corporation speaks the more the suits are blinded by the dollar signs that are the highest priority for justifying their greedy reality and for craving ever more control and power over the living reality of the here and now. The corporate economic structure is destroying our country.
Good luck with iPhones!
Yes. I refuse to even own one.
It's such a relief and an inspiration to learn that the people united can challenge power and win!
The "Right to Repair"is also being fought for by E.F.F. and other champions of not being held hostage. I happened to see a YT video by a mechanic about why dealership car mechanics are in short supply. Because they're paid by the job (likely determined by corporate accountants) not by how long it actually takes. Therefore the hourly rate was ridiculous. The comments, almost all by mechanics from all sorts of fields, were explicit condemnations of greed and billionaires.
Next corporations will pass a law forbidding you tube videos on ho to open the case to get at the part to fix
Good news indeed. I’m forwarding this to my friends and relatives in Montana 😊🙏