this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2023
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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.

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[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 65 points 11 months ago (3 children)

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.

[–] charles@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago

The cruelty is the point

[–] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 0 points 11 months ago (1 children)

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 3 points 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.)