SkyNTP

This isn't a hate crime, it's terrorism, since it was politically motivated.

everybody else, whether influencer or consumer, get fucked over in the process.

Enshittification correctly defined.

You sir, have added absolutely nothing to the conversation. This post is a waste of space.

The real people in power are those who tell the best stories.

This tale is as old a civilization: a sword is powerful, but more powerful yet is a pen to instruct a thousand swords.

Maybe we have forgotten that, in this analogy, the pen isn't literally a pen in an oval office, rather it is a tweet plugged straight into people's brains.

Too many of you incorrectly assume that the real power of persuasion can only come from inside the Whitehouse, or some other institution, just because historically that is where it came from.

aren't they pretty staunch bloc supporters rather than lib or con

Pretty easy choice these days

The scientific process derives consensus from not observing what is expected in a theory, rather from repeated failure to observe counter examples to what is expected. This is the whole point of "reject the null hypothesis".

Stated more plainly, a scientific theory is solidified when you put yourself in the shoes of your own fiercest critics, and attempt to question your own idea (in good faith) and fail to observe any evidence to substantiate that criticism. A scientific theory, is then put under that scrutiny for real, and gains consensus when others fail to observe any counter examples for themselves.

So to answer "what to look at", the answer is always, what would your competition look at to try to disprove you? Then look at that, to see if there is anything of substance to discredit your own idea, and save everyone the time and your embarrassment in case there are easy counter examples.

Just check your tea leaves.

It's insane to me that any government would approve "digital licence plates". Clowns making decisions "because we can", not "because we should". Result: a circus.

Lots of great points in the comments. But I think so far no one has really addressed your core complaint head on, which is why society tolerates a double standard here.

Parents get a pass because they are supporting more than just themselves... It may appear that the parent who is getting a free pass is pulling less weight, if you look at this exclusively through the lens of comparing contribution to the company's productivity. But if you expand that lens a bit, you see that raising a child is also work to be valued (which you benefitted from yourself, btw). Frankly, a company with a work culture that considers its social responsibility to the community beyond merely spitting out products is a really good thing.

If you are ok with the double standard of handicapped parking, you should be ok with this too.

I now only buy offline or local-only software and products. If it doesn't exist, I hack it.

AFAIAC, all that that achieved was to push me off of those MS products.

All prices are set based on what consumers are willing to pay.

The only way prices ever go down is by exercising a decision not to buy something or to go somewhere for an item.

It will not come from the government, unless the government mandates a specific rate.