Oh yeah, definitely this. The economics will probably never allow it to be deployed at a scale where it will make any sort of difference.

Instead, it is used as an excuse to not take any action on climate change which is actually realistic, albeit hard.

Yup.

Sure, the long term productivity and quality takes a nosedive, but the shareholders don't care about that as long as the numbers for the next quarter look better.

I think Poland is tracking a couple of years ahead of those of us further west, so it's useful for us to see how you resolve the damage the right wing populists have caused. I think many of us will face the same problem in the future.

Good luck guys.

Good lord, have we learned nothing? At least wait until they've actually voted, they can still find some exotic way to block us.

Edit: We made it!

Personally, I was fine with paying for "Premium Lite", which was reasonably priced, removed ads, and gave channels you watched some revenue.

But youtube removed this subscription tier a few weeks ago, leaving only the twice as expensive "Premium". Since I, and I assume most others who subscribed to "Premium Lite", has no use for the other stuff included in the more expensive tier the cost is no longer justified for me. Back to finding increasingly exotic ways of getting around their ads I guess.

All of this is correct. I'd just like to add that, additionally, over the last couple of decades we have also systematically and agressively cut most taxes that mostly hit the very wealthy. Yes, (for now) we still have a somewhat functional wellfare system, but the wealth inequality is crazy high, which causes a lot of social stress and conflict.

For some quick examples:

• We have a uniquely regressive tax on real estate. There is a value cap over which no more tax is added, and that cap is CRAZY low, meaning someone with a mansion is not taxed significantly more than someone with a small house.
• We have insanely low taxes on capital gains, which are a bit complicated to explain but essentially means that on a good year you might pay the equivalent of low single digit percent tax on the value increase.

All of this while the tax on actual work is very high, making it harder for those not already born with capital to aquire it.

And the authoritarians keep moving up their positions.

The debate over here is fucking crazy, the post-fascist backed government is sneering at any proposed solution with any nuance or suggested preventative measures included. It's all fucking military intervention, insane deregulation of policing, surveillance, harsher punishments, regressive drug policy, and anti immigration populism.

Do we have an uptick in violence because of a very specific ongoing gang conflict, yes. But Jesus Christ, not anywhere near the level that would excuse anything close to this.

Yeah, people speculated that this was coming.

Also, why the hell do they own bandcamp, lol.

Man I just want to actually be able to buy a Pi 4 at non-scalper rates.

Actual traitor Elon Musk.

And not just to something as banal as his country; to democracy, liberalism, international order and the value of human life.

WHAT?!

Yeah, wow, this is really great if it's accurate enough.