Creative Riding Episode 084 “Finding Neutral”
Welcome to episode 84.
**WARNING***
The first segment of this show has a political slant and rant. This is the first show where the topic of politics and legislation has really taken over.
Net Neutrality. The principle that Internet Service Providers shouldn’t be able to speed up, slow down, block or prohibit you from access to any content, applications or content that you want to access.
President Trump’s FCC chairman Ajit Pai wants to roll back regulations on the internet’s content, potentially driving up costs to content providers (This podcast or any of the companies that you follow/use on the internet) and consumers (YOU).
As net neutrality is drawn into questionable deregulation, with it would go access to free speech, access to small business, and possibly the control the right to communicate freely online.
In a changing world, principles like net neutrality are becoming more important. Just like manufacturing jobs at Harley-Davidson are going away, manufacturing jobs around the country have been turning to service jobs over the last 25 years. Agriculture and manufacturing have widely dried up as people rush to learn new skills in technology and computer science. This alone strengthens the need for net neutrality as more and more people turn to that resource to learn, conduct business, communicate socially (via numerous apps), and consume entertainment via streaming sources. All of these things affect us as modern motorcyclists, and it’s sad to see things possibly changing for the worse.
Having mentioned the loss of jobs at Harley-Davidson, the Motor Company has announced Q2 sales figures that show a 9.3% slump. That will lead to more lay-offs according to Matt Levatich, Harley_Davidson’s CEO. This adds to the 250 cuts announced in 2015, and the additional 200+ announced in 2016.
Meanwhile, Harley-Davidson has been rumored to be in the works to negotiate a bid for Italian motorbike brand Ducati, as Audi was said to be looking to divest itself of some assets following the diesel-gate ordeal.
I think that this is purely a wag-the-dog situation. With Harley-Davidson opening a factory in Thailand and laying off workers year after year, we can’t help but look back over the last 12 months.
Almost exactly one year ago, Harley-Davidson stock jumped up slightly with the speculation that private equity firm KKR was looking to buy them. Weeks later they settled their case with the EPA to the tune of $15 million. Not long after that the second round of lay-offs was announced.
On the bright side, despite losing domestic jobs, expansion into Thailand will give H-D access to a market where it has shown growth in recent years, while the aging American market shrinks slightly.
Opening a factory locally will allow the Motor Company to skirt the high import tariffs in the Asian marketplace.
X-Games
On a positive note for Harley, one day after our interview, Chris Wiggins (Speed Merchant #09) took 8th place in the X-Games Hooligan Flat Track Seriesl J.J.Flarity from Waukesha, WI (Hey, I’ve heard of that place!) took the victory.
In the Harley-Davidson Flat Track (pro) class, Sammy Halbert took top spot on the podium.
The track, built especially for X-Games at The Mall of America looked somewhat like a motocross track. Jeffery Carver Jr got both tires off the ground, and that possibly contributed to his flat.
The SoCal Harley Hooligan teams converge in Washington this Fri-Sat to take part in the debacle that is Dirt Quake USA. If you’ve never seen it, YouTube it while the net is still neutral.
http://dirtquake.com/#introducing-dirt-quake
Sorry this was such a politically charged show. Get out there where there is sunshine and rain, good roads, and ride ’em to the end.
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