Changetheview
@Changetheview@lemmy.world
- Comment on Tax time 11 months ago:
Exactly. The IRS has TONS of information on every individual and business. There may be some unreported items, but that’s the exception to the rule.
The IRS has a “transcript” with all of the many reported transactions associated with each person/entity. And you can request this transcript, which many people with complicated tax situations do so they can verify that everything is reported correctly and their records match the IRS data.
- Comment on Solar power expected to dominate electricity generation by 2050—even without more ambitious climate policies 1 year ago:
Thanks for sharing that info. Definitely sounds like it might have been a good idea in the past but now overdo for a change. Sad that the current PM wants to continue destruction to get votes.
Seems like a good example of how policies need to be implemented with a forward-thinking mentality. Can’t rely on future changes.
- Comment on Solar power expected to dominate electricity generation by 2050—even without more ambitious climate policies 1 year ago:
The cost of solar and wind is becoming so attractive, it’s hard to see why anyone would do otherwise.
The elephant in the room (at least for the US; I’m not as familiar with UK policies) are the subsidies. It sparks new investments because many of the incentives are specifically related to new projects. Other ones mess with the valuation of the equipment, making long term tax burden much lower. It’s not the only energy industry to receive subsidies. But it’s pretty asinine to continue to support the one that’s destroying our world.
“In one case, it’s going to profit, amplifying the incumbent status of the oil and gas industry. In another, under more aggressive decarbonization policy and low oil and gas prices, it’s actively working against the climate goal by spurring additional production.”
- Comment on Cruise Self-Driving License Revoked After It Withheld Pedestrian Injury Footage, DMV Says 1 year ago:
For sure. The US was once a leader with its public infrastructure and programs, from education to the highway system. Paying BIG money to provide these incredible public services.
Now it seems like a lot of people in the US want to live in a place with zero public projects, crumbling roads, and unregulated utilities. Even wealthy people who waste money on the dumbest stuff don’t want to pay for top-notch public services. I truly don’t understand how you’d want to be so wealthy but live in a place that’s not well cared for. Drive your insanely expensive car on a road filled with potholes. But selfishness and greed are definitely part of the picture.
- Comment on Cruise Self-Driving License Revoked After It Withheld Pedestrian Injury Footage, DMV Says 1 year ago:
Creating new public infrastructure in the US can be extremely expensive, but it’s definitely still worth pursuing.
Nearly every in-depth study shows that for every $1 invested, the economic return is somewhere around $4-$5. And on top of that, failing to have adequate public infrastructure can cause serious economic consequences, which are compounded in areas with a lack of affordable housing.
Even though this article is a little old and sponsored by a party with a vested interest on the topic, I think it’s worth a read:
www.politico.com/…/when-public-transit
In my opinion, the problem for the US is convincing people/businesses that it’s worth it. Shifting away from cars and increasing investments in public infrastructure are two fairly unpopular measures right now, despite the actual economic evidence being overwhelming positive.
To me, it’s a solid example of where great leaders are needed to do something temporarily unpopular for the long term benefit of the constituents.
- Comment on Think anyone would notice? 1 year ago:
That’s a good point, but for Sweden, it is indeed 480 paid days. It’s a government calculation related to your income and there is a point (after 390 days) where it drops to the minimum payout, but it still paid leave.
There are also government-mandated options in Sweden to receive a slightly lower pay in exchange for working fewer hours. I don’t have the exact details here, but it’s something like 75% pay for 75% hours.
Pretty incredible coverage for new parents in that specific country.
- Comment on Finding a Tech Job Is Still a Nightmare | WIRED 1 year ago:
As much as I feel for the people hit hard right now, I think this is an economic indicator that‘s going to cause many downstream consequences if it continues.
On top of the downward trends by the tech titans, venture capital funding is plummeting. That’s because the VC investors can see that the likelihood of a big successful buyout is decreasing, mostly because the big fish are tightening their belts and facing higher borrowing costs (interest rates).
Many big companies have effectively outsourced R&D, waiting until a startup creates something worth buying instead. Then the VC employees either got a nice payout or employment with the big company (or both).
These often massive transactions were the source of serious economic growth. Those people had stability to spend in a way that many others wish. In the face of crappy outlooks and flat wages in tons of other fields, tech has long been the outlier making plenty of middle income people shoot up in wealth. And it did bring along others for the ride.
That growth drying up is not good for anyone. Well, unless you’re waiting on a market crash.
- Comment on FCC announces plans to resurrect net neutrality rules. 1 year ago:
Especially if you don’t give a flying fuck about using an established process or doing so legally
- Comment on UAW workers explain why they’re ready to strike 1 year ago:
This is sickening. 3% raises every 2 years. Ridiculous. But it’s so much worse. It reads like a horror story.
An industry veteran, 23 days working in a row, still struggling to pay grocery bills.
98% expected uptime on the factory floor, in some cases without climate control where the interior of the facility is at 120 degrees.
It’s just pathetic that this is how workers are treated in this century. We made such massive improvements in the 20th century. And now we’re just slipping right back. Literally allowing children to take on overly dangerous jobs and treating every worker like disposable trash.
The people making bank on the backs of these workers should be ashamed.
- Comment on How did indigenous people survive hurricanes in the carribea 1 year ago:
Not exactly what you’ve asked, but I’ve seen and spoke to people about this while traveling.
It absolutely still happens in many places that use more primitive construction methods. I’ve visited places in Belize where locals told me about devastation after hurricanes. It can flatten entire areas, especially the poorest ones. I’ve also witnessed it in parts of Mexico, although steel and concrete construction is much more common. Thatched roofs can be found in certain areas, and of course, people without means still use anything they can get their hands on to build homes - like thin metal sheets. A bad storm can destroy many homes, if not entire communities. Roads wash out and make transportation extremely challenging.
Sometimes people come together to rebuild. It might be as easy as taking down more local trees or gathering the materials that the wind threw everywhere. It’s still a pain, especially when most people capable of laboring would rather be working for income instead of rebuilding their home.
The unfortunate reality of today is that these events often cause mass exodus. People don’t have insurance, and the literal land they have might be the only asset between them and absolutely nothing.
This is when predatory investors can come in, offer pennies on the dollar for land, and grab up large sections for almost nothing. Then the people use whatever they get to try to make a fresh start, quite often in a different location where housing already exists, like the closest city. It would be possible for this to be a mutually-beneficial exchange, but it’s more often predatory as hell with extremely desperate sellers and buyers who don’t offer anywhere close to actual market value in a normal time.
Seeing this devastation makes you quite thankful for things like disaster relief, disaster loans, emergency responses on a large scale, and insurance. None of those programs are perfect, but the alternative is tragic (unless you’re wealthy and don’t care about the well being of others).
- Comment on The End of Airbnb in New York 1 year ago:
It applies to anywhere. The problem isn’t one situation. It’s this same story, repeated thousands of times in every city across the globe.
Bobby wants to live in a house. Monthly rent prices are usually around $1,000 per month in his home town.
Joe wants to make money by renting out a house on AirBnb. Hotel prices are usually around $200 per night in the same location. If Joe rents out his house for just 10 nights a month, he can make $2,000. This easily covers Joe’s expenses and puts the extra cash in his bank account. If he rents it out for 25 nights, he’s putting away a lot of cash.
When houses are up for sale, Bobby can only spend a similar cost as his rent. Joe has been watching his bank account climb and is ready to spend a lot on another house to put on AirBnb. Joe can make a profit even if the house is double the price.
Bobby’s landlord sees housing prices rise. Decides to either (1) increase Bobby’s rent to $2,000 - which he can’t afford or (2) sell the house to someone like Joe for a major markup.
Bobby has to move in with roommates and will never be able to afford to buy a home when competing against all the Joes out there.
- Comment on The End of Airbnb in New York 1 year ago:
Huge. The short term rental housing boom is unlike almost anything we’ve seen before. Estimated put short term rentals as about 20% of the global real estate market.
If that demand drops rapidly, it will mark a major shift in real estate. Tons of buyers and capital will be wiped off the table.
I agree with the usual perspective that housing prices almost always rise over time. But this is an unprecedented event in scale, and if reversed, it will have unprecedented ramifications.
- Comment on The End of Airbnb in New York 1 year ago:
It is a serious crisis in many places throughout the world. Especially considering the income stagnation. I have lived in many cities and have heard this cry across multiple continents, from coast to coast, and at most income levels (except the ultra wealthy).
What I’m hoping becomes more popular are ways to make the short term rentals not as profitable. I really like the idea what other cities are doing by limiting the number of days they can rent it out.
Sure, rent it out for 45 days a year and get $10k total revenue and try to scrape out a profit. Or rent out the unit as your primary residence for the entire year for a similar cost.
It’s not absolutely perfect, but it will greatly reduce those willing to buy places to use as an investment for short term rentals. And that should put negative pressure on housing prices, while also opening up more units for primary residence housing.
- Comment on Netflix’s test of streaming games is small, but it’s poised to be a big deal 1 year ago:
Money is the key and I agree it will take some massive disputation to overcome the current state… But just because someone holds the cash now, doesn’t mean they always will. History teaches that lesson over and over again, especially with new technology.
Uber vs taxi monopolies. Netflix vs Blockbuster. Apple vs BlackBerry.
- Comment on Netflix’s test of streaming games is small, but it’s poised to be a big deal 1 year ago:
The technical challenges are real and there’s definitely some time before it goes mainstream, but it seems almost inevitable for this to be the future of gaming.
Streaming movies was once thought unrealistic. Subscription music used to be a fringe product. Even online gaming through consoles/PCs has gone through tremendous change.
Like all the other streaming products, the creators are the ones positioned to get the short end of the stick. Hopefully that can be avoided.
- Comment on What's the Best Non-Alcoholic Alternative to an Ice Cold Beer at the End of the Day? 1 year ago:
I agree. Really hits the spot sometimes!
- Comment on What's the Best Non-Alcoholic Alternative to an Ice Cold Beer at the End of the Day? 1 year ago:
NA beers can be great. Lagunitas sells a Hop Water that’s pretty good too - very light though. And most high-quality ginger beers pack a lot of flavor.