Why Florida's AG is Meddling in Your Car-Buying Freedom

Alright, Florida, let's talk about what's really grinding my gears today. Our unelected Attorney General, James Uthmeier, is out here throwing his weight around, trying to stop Scout Motors—a Volkswagen subsidiary—from selling electric trucks directly to you, the consumer. Apparently, letting you buy a vehicle without a middleman is "harmful" to state businesses and, get this, *consumers*. Yeah, you heard that right. The guy appointed by Governor DeSantis to fill Ashley Moody's shoes is telling us we can't be trusted to make our own purchasing decisions. Bro, what's the deal?

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Uthmeier's jumping into this legal fray to defend the politically connected auto dealerships, who've been battling for years to keep their stranglehold on the car-buying process. These folks have been cozying up to the Legislature and state courts, desperate to make sure you can't buy a car without them skimming their cut. And now, with Scout Motors trying to shake things up by selling directly to drivers, the dealerships have found a new champion in Uthmeier. Surprise, surprise—turns out the auto industry and their lobbyists have funneled nearly $90,000 into his 2026 campaign. Smells like cronyism to me, and I'm not here for it.

Let's break this down, because it's as absurd as it sounds. Scout Motors wants to sell you an electric truck. You, a free adult with your own money, want to buy it. No one's twisting your arm, no one's getting scammed. It's a simple transaction between a willing buyer and a willing seller. So why is Uthmeier acting like this is some grand threat to the fabric of Florida's economy? Why is he so hell-bent on making sure you can't skip the dealership and their jacked-up prices? Oh, right—because those dealerships are lining his campaign coffers. Funny how that works.

Here's the libertarian take, and I'm not gonna sugarcoat it: Get the government off our backs, bro. The state has no business sticking its nose into a private transaction. If Scout Motors wants to sell directly to consumers, and consumers want to buy from them, that's nobody's problem but the dealerships who can't compete. And if those dealerships are struggling to justify their existence, maybe they should innovate instead of running to Tallahassee for a bailout. The market's not a charity, and it's not Uthmeier's job to prop up a business model that's clinging to life.

This whole saga is just another example of the government picking winners and losers. The auto dealerships have had a sweet deal for decades, thanks to laws that force manufacturers to go through them. It's a racket, plain and simple, and it's designed to keep prices high and options low for the rest of us. Now that companies like Scout Motors are trying to disrupt that, the dealerships are crying foul, and their buddies in government are all too happy to step in. Uthmeier's out here claiming he's protecting "state businesses and consumers," but let's be real—he's protecting his donors. Meanwhile, you're stuck paying more for a car because the state's rigging the game.

Libertarians have a better idea: LET THE MARKET DECIDE. If direct-to-consumer sales are a bad idea, the market will sort it out. Customers will vote with their wallets, and businesses will either adapt or die. That's how it's supposed to work in a free society. We don't need Uthmeier or the Legislature playing referee, passing laws to shield one industry from competition. Competition's the whole point! It's what drives innovation, keeps prices down, and gives consumers more choices. When the government steps in to "fix" things, all it does is screw over the little guy while the connected cronies laugh all the way to the bank.

And let's not forget—this isn't just about cars. This is about freedom. Every time the state meddles in a transaction, it's another chip away at your ability to make your own choices. Today it's car dealerships; tomorrow it's something else. Maybe they'll decide you can't buy your groceries directly from a farmer or your clothes from a small business. Where does it end? If we let Uthmeier and his pals keep pulling this nonsense, we're handing them a blank check to control every corner of our lives.

So, what's the play here? First, call this out for what it is: a shameless power grab by a guy who's more interested in campaign cash than your freedom. Second, let's send amessage to Uthmeier and every other politician who thinks they can bully the market into submission. Come November 2026, when he's running for that AG seat (if he even gets the nomination), let's remind him that Floridians don't take kindly to being told how to spend their money. We're not here for the old fixeroo, and we're not falling for the "it's for your own good" shtick.

In the meantime, let's cheer on companies like Scout Motors that are willing to challenge the status quo. If they can deliver a better product at a better price, more power to them. And if the dealerships can't keep up, well, that's their problem—not ours. The market's brutal, but it's fair. Unlike the government.

So, Uthmeier, listen up: Stop trying to save us from ourselves. Stop propping up your buddies at our expense. And for the love of liberty, stop pretending you're the hero in this story. You're not. The real heroes are the consumers and businesses who just want to make a deal without you sticking your nose in it. Let's keep Florida free, and let's keep the market free. Anything less is just un-American.

See you at the polls, bro.