Cable lobby and Republicans fight proposed ban on early termination fees / Customers should be allowed to cancel cable TV without penalty, Democrats say::Customers should be allowed to cancel cable TV without penalty, Democrats say.

  • shalafi@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    Another example of a thing I figured 10+ years ago.

    Take a headline, strip it of political references. Just the facts in question. Ask yourself, “Will this initiative hurt people?” Doesn’t matter if you feel those people deserve to be hurt. Merely ask, “Will people be hurt?”

    And now you know who’s voting for it! I played this game with myself for years. Never got it wrong.

    • Nollij@sopuli.xyz
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      11 months ago

      The problem with this is that with most initiatives, there are winners and losers. Someone is hurt, but someone else (possibly many people) is helped. Even a Robin Hood-like approach hurts the rich, however small and insignificantly.

      Can you refine that rule?

      • shalafi@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        You’re right and I should refine it!

        How about; “Does this initiative hurt more people than it helps?”

        Fair question my friend!

        (And yes, sometimes the needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many in the long term. Rare, but it can happen.)