got a flyer in the mail last week from a state legislator soliciting ideas for yet more laws… reminded me of the quote “dying societies accumulate laws like dying men accumulate remedies”… back to basics, remember Keep It Simple Stupid
I love that idea about dying empires accumulating laws like they're going out of fashion... Yet every new law is some new excuse for people to not take responsibility for their actions, to hand over more of their lives to the state.
I know someone who works construction in a Midwestern state. Last summer, he told me there is a new building code law about the cord length on window blinds. Apparently some people had hung themselves with the window blinds. How many? Probably only a small number, but "fear" and "safety"!
It kind of reminds me of something Jordan Peterson has said, which is that if cars were invented today there's no way the government would allow them to be sold to people.
This window cord thing, similar principles operate everywhere. A small sliver of society is affected by something, so we pass sweeping laws and regulations that hinder everyone! Instead of just adopting a bit of common sense.
I have friends with $14,000 giant fridges. They last five years. I asked my fridge supplier why this is. (I build apartments and buy fridges 100 At a time.) He said enviro/green rules means every fridge has to hit energy models. They make the 48” fridge with all the bells and whistles but they can’t put in an adequate size motor to fit the energy code. The motors burn out, they don’t make the same motor, so voila, a new $18,000 (can’t forget inflation) is sold.
That sounds amazing for the environment! A new fridge every five years, genius. Meanwhile I seem to recall from my childhood a crappy, cheapest in the store fridge that lasted for 15 years? Maybe even more.
Yep. Also, adding features like smaller engines with turbochargers reduces the longevity of a car. It gets better gas mileage but doesn't last as long. Have we done the math on whether this nets out an improvement for "the environment?"
I was just watching a short documentary about the Kiel shipping channel in Germany. They have an electric ferry that crosses the channel, and which they claim is "environmentally friendly" because it runs on electricity. How is it charged? Oh no matter, it's got a big ol' diesel gen set downstairs that turns on every four hours to charge up the batteries. Genius!
I'm not a car person, but I read modern cars are at least 40% tech now. It just makes things more complicated and harder to fix and identify the issue. I want a basic vehicle. The only modern feature I use is the backup camera. The other 99% is a waste, IMO.
I pretty much agree with you. I do have a soft spot for heated seats though. But you can't really buy simple cars anymore! Especially pickup trucks. Modern cars are packed full of tech, difficult to work on and they don't last as long. It's a shame.
Great article. In a few short paragraphs you’ve succinctly summarized, as well as sounded the alarm about the warped socio-political dynamics that’s currently taking place in Western culture.
Thanks Ash... Yeah it's pretty wild what's happening. Bunch of people running around doing & saying things completely oblivious of the real world consequences.
common sense is in short supply.
got a flyer in the mail last week from a state legislator soliciting ideas for yet more laws… reminded me of the quote “dying societies accumulate laws like dying men accumulate remedies”… back to basics, remember Keep It Simple Stupid
I love that idea about dying empires accumulating laws like they're going out of fashion... Yet every new law is some new excuse for people to not take responsibility for their actions, to hand over more of their lives to the state.
I know someone who works construction in a Midwestern state. Last summer, he told me there is a new building code law about the cord length on window blinds. Apparently some people had hung themselves with the window blinds. How many? Probably only a small number, but "fear" and "safety"!
It kind of reminds me of something Jordan Peterson has said, which is that if cars were invented today there's no way the government would allow them to be sold to people.
This window cord thing, similar principles operate everywhere. A small sliver of society is affected by something, so we pass sweeping laws and regulations that hinder everyone! Instead of just adopting a bit of common sense.
I have friends with $14,000 giant fridges. They last five years. I asked my fridge supplier why this is. (I build apartments and buy fridges 100 At a time.) He said enviro/green rules means every fridge has to hit energy models. They make the 48” fridge with all the bells and whistles but they can’t put in an adequate size motor to fit the energy code. The motors burn out, they don’t make the same motor, so voila, a new $18,000 (can’t forget inflation) is sold.
That sounds amazing for the environment! A new fridge every five years, genius. Meanwhile I seem to recall from my childhood a crappy, cheapest in the store fridge that lasted for 15 years? Maybe even more.
The world is not a sane place right now.
My Mom in Law had a water tank that lasted from when the house was built in 1963 to when it was sold in 2020!!
They just don't make 'em like they used to, do they...
https://www.autotrader.com/car-shopping/fuel-economy-why-dont-modern-cars-do-better-than-1980s-models
All of the extra safety features on cars have greatly decreased mileage, which ironically, the government wants to improve.
Yep. Also, adding features like smaller engines with turbochargers reduces the longevity of a car. It gets better gas mileage but doesn't last as long. Have we done the math on whether this nets out an improvement for "the environment?"
I was just watching a short documentary about the Kiel shipping channel in Germany. They have an electric ferry that crosses the channel, and which they claim is "environmentally friendly" because it runs on electricity. How is it charged? Oh no matter, it's got a big ol' diesel gen set downstairs that turns on every four hours to charge up the batteries. Genius!
Onboard generator? Good grief!
(Though I thought you were going to say, an onshore power plant fueled by lignite coal.)
No I would never say that, it's politically incorrect to talk about how Germany went super green but then ended up burning a shit ton of coal.
I'm not a car person, but I read modern cars are at least 40% tech now. It just makes things more complicated and harder to fix and identify the issue. I want a basic vehicle. The only modern feature I use is the backup camera. The other 99% is a waste, IMO.
I pretty much agree with you. I do have a soft spot for heated seats though. But you can't really buy simple cars anymore! Especially pickup trucks. Modern cars are packed full of tech, difficult to work on and they don't last as long. It's a shame.
Great article. In a few short paragraphs you’ve succinctly summarized, as well as sounded the alarm about the warped socio-political dynamics that’s currently taking place in Western culture.
Thanks Ash... Yeah it's pretty wild what's happening. Bunch of people running around doing & saying things completely oblivious of the real world consequences.