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by jchw1 days ago |
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upvoteby arrowsmith1 days ago|
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If all manufacturers except one were altruistic good guys, the one malevolent bad guy would undercut the altruists and drive them out of business.

Regulation is the solution to this prisoner’s dilemma.

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upvoteby phyzix57611 days ago|
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Heavy regulations are the reason why we have the John Deere semi monopoly. The regulatory entry cost is in the millions for any new player to enter the market so no one wants to compete and provide better service.
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upvoteby jawilson21 days ago|
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Why isn't this an apples-oranges comparison?

Good regulation: right to repair, manufacturers must supply manuals.

Bad regulation: JD bribed senators to write regulations that make it insurmountably difficult for new players to enter.

Calling regulation bad because corruption is baked into the US Constitution makes it really hard to get anything done.

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upvoteby cucumber37328421 days ago|
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>Why isn't this an apples-oranges comparison?

Every regulation looks good or at least defensible in abstract, especially when some peddler is trying to sell it and the consequences aren't obvious yet.

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upvoteby skeeter20201 days ago|
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This is just not true - their machines are purposely opaque and loaded with DRM. Regulation in this area could potentially make the entire system more efficient and cheaper for everyone at the cost of JD's predatory practices. In addition to owners there are lots of independents who could work on JD equipment, but they are all literally locked out.
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upvoteby 1 days ago|
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upvoteby samudrijan1 days ago|
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It depends on who writes the regulations. Today money writes the regs and people pay the price. Take money out of politics. But all three branches are captured. Anything that resembles returning power to the people is derided as socialism. So the result is power over the people.
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upvoteby snypher12 hours ago|
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I can start building tractors tomorrow, what regulatory entry cost are you talking about?
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upvoteby pvab31 days ago|
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the cost of starting a company that makes a line of tractors combines and sprayers is probably second only to an aircraft manufacturer in difficulty and complexity
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upvoteby taylorfinley1 days ago|
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I think China has this all sorted, we should just have a free market without tarrifs. Let the market provide us the best, un-enshittified products we can find. I am old enough to remember when that was a conservative position.
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upvoteby pocksuppet1 days ago|
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The conservative position is always whatever benefits conservatives at this moment. Back when they supported a free market, a freer market benefitted them. When market regulations benefitted them, they supported a more regulated market.
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upvoteby sire-vc22 hours ago|
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Supporting whatever benefits you is called a 'political position', not a conservative one.
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upvoteby pocksuppet14 hours ago|
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It's conservatives. Leftists are often found supporting things that hurt them, and liberals usually don't support anything at all.
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upvoteby Eisenstein1 days ago|
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So are for some regulations but not others. I think that is most people's stance. It's more constructive if we talk about which specific ones.
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upvoteby mindslight1 days ago|
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Given how each tractor manufacturer is essentially associated with its own specific country, I'd say this industry is a great example of how mature industries tend to consolidate into monopolies while getting propped up by regulatory capture greased by concerns over natural security. So while the regulatory costs you cite may indeed be onerous, simplistic calls merely for "less regulation" don't bear out.
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upvoteby dreamcompiler1 days ago|
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I call bullshit until you cite evidence. Farm equipment doesn't even need to comply with road vehicle requirements. What special regulations does a farm equipment manufacturer need to comply with that don't apply to any other industrial manufacturer?
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upvoteby phyzix57611 days ago|
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$50,100 per employee in regulatory safety and compliance costs.[0]

Up to $8k per engine unit produced in EPA regulatory fees.[1]

Between $100k and $500k per engine model variant for EPA testing and General Compliance.[2]

$100k to $200k for Transient & Steady-State Dynamometer Testing.[2]

$150k per engine variant for Useful Life Deterioration Testing.[2]

[0] https://www.msci.org/federal-rules-costs-small-manufacturers...

[1] https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-U...

[2] https://www.epa.gov/regulations-emissions-vehicles-and-engin...

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upvoteby laughing_man1 days ago|
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That's normal stuff for anyone producing a vehicle, isn't it?
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