News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Abundance Isn't Going to Happen Unless Politicians Are Sc... by mrguyorama on Thursday March 27, 2025 @05:38PM (#43498486)
This is laughably wrong.

I can stop paying my electricity bill in november and our state's utility companies CANNOT cut me off until the spring, because without heat I would literally die in Maine. There are similar laws for gas utilities.

I can have a billion dollar bill with Verizon, but if I dial 911, they are legally obligated to connect me to emergency services.

Also, ask people who work for utility companies how well any of this works to actually compel payment from the kind of people who are good at abusing debt.

Answer: Fucking not at all. My brother worked for the cable company, rather limited regulation in terms of requiring the company to continue servicing someone who was delinquent. 95% of his job was still disconnects, often involving someone showing up to the door with their rifle to make a point.

Re:Abundance Isn't Going to Happen Unless Politicians Are Sc... by Der_Einzige on Friday March 28, 2025 @02:21AM (#43502110)
All of this is just liberal bullshit that trump and his cronies will eliminate by force (threaten Maine with revoking federal money until they comply).

This idea that the world is so full of structures and systems to protect people is going to be wrong going forward. Person with big stick wins, and instant evictions are good - and your refusal to consider why they would be good is why trump and MAGA are popular and getting more popular.

Re:Abundance Isn't Going to Happen Unless Politicians Are Sc... by defrost on Friday March 28, 2025 @02:28AM (#43502165)
Given there are more renters than landlords it's a literal Laffer Curve of popularity.