Change is bad.

I'm pretty skeptical of Elon Musk. It just seems quite coincidental that as soon as the government says they're going to subsidize some industry heavily, he's there. He hasn't actually created a self-sustaining market yet, but maybe soon.

But he has at least the patina of an entrepreneur, so I assumed Freepers would bow down to their Randian superman overlord as they have so many times in the past. However, he also heralds change. Freepers cannot abide that. So when he makes the claim that one day self-driving cars will be the norm, and that indeed cars you drive will be outlawed, Freepers lash out with reflexive paranoia.

allendale knows all change is just another avenue for tyranny:

Soon you will need an EPA permit to own an internal combustion engine.

Kaled knows driving is already tyranny:

There are already so many regulations (like ridiculously low speed limits) that it already is effectively illegal to drive on the roads. It's just that the cops don't try to stop everybody -- just enough to meet quota.

P-Marlowe worries what will happen once cars have electronics in them:

This clown has never heard of an EMP.

Suddenly all those cars that don’t have humans driving them will stop working altogether or start acting uncontrollably.

yldstrk doesn't trust no gizmos to do human work:

What a frickin moron. Would you rather have a computer try your case for you? Fly your plane for you? Cut you open?

Humans are as good as it gets. No robot is better. More expendable yes, not superior.

central_va makes with the racial funny:

Will the Asian robotic cars be the worst drivers?

mountainlion foresees problems that no one has ever considered:

There seems to be a lot of ignorance among city dwellers. I live in the mountains on a dirt road. Think how much money it will cost to prepare all rural roads for this city dweller utopian wet dream. How are the cars going to put on chains to drive in the ice and snow? How are the cars going to find the road and not say try to take off on a frozen river. This idea is not totally useless but not much more than 50% practical.

WhiskeyX is another one for whom all roads lead to opression:

The logical outcome of such a move would be to make every trip subject to the control and monitoring of the State. The next step will be a requirement to first justify and obtain a permit to use the State’s resources to embark on any and every trip in the State controlled and managed vehicles.

Noamie argues cars are a human right:

What will the poor drive, tell me?

They can hardly afford the used cars that we have today and I hardly think that a self-driving car will be cheaper.

Freedom of movement is one of the pillars of liberty. In this country that often requires a car. Take that from the poor and you are a disgusting human being.

Darksheare has almost pure invective:

My response to Musk and his brand of socialists: Kiss my white phosphorescent backside you parasitic putz!

Boogieman sums up Freepers' position:

From my cold, dead hands.