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Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

theguardian.com

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Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#11

Post by PoignardAzur »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #9
michaelt wrote: post #7

It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…

When you have legislators going to $35k/meal events while wearing ‘tax the rich’ clothing, you get the clear sense it’s all a nihilistic game.

Assuming you're referring to AOC going to the MET Gala, I feel you're implying she spent $35k of taxpayer money to get there, while she was in fact invited.

Calling it "nihilistic" is a bit strong considering the robe matches her policy positions and congress votes.

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#12

Post by [deleted] »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #9
michaelt wrote: post #7

It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…

When you have legislators going to $35k/meal events while wearing ‘tax the rich’ clothing, you get the clear sense it’s all a nihilistic game.

[deleted]

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#13

Post by mensetmanusman »

PoignardAzur wrote: post #11
mensetmanusman wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When you have legislators going to $35k/meal events while wearing ‘tax the rich’ clothing, you get the clear sense it’s all a nihilistic game.

Assuming you're referring to AOC going to the MET Gala, I feel you're implying she spent $35k of taxpayer money to get there, while she was in fact invited. Calling it "nihilistic" is a bit strong considering the robe matches her policy positions and congress votes.

It’s well known she didn’t pay for that, but the optics are hilarious.

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#14

Post by Apocryphon »

michaelt wrote: post #7

It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…

Has the tech industry been particularly pro-housing? It doesn’t seem to be where they’re focusing their lobbying efforts, despite some recent actions.

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#15

Post by witherk »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #9
michaelt wrote: post #7

It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…

When you have legislators going to $35k/meal events while wearing ‘tax the rich’ clothing, you get the clear sense it’s all a nihilistic game.

I don't understand this this sentiment. Surely, you can be well off while simultaneously support taxing the rich?

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#16

Post by Proven »

Of course, why would it be?

The idea is to get past all the government-imposed nonsense, improve public image in the process, and get on with one's business. (Honestly I don't even know why they bother with the image part, I graylist and eliminate climatist virtue-signallers when making purchasing decisions and I can't believe that on the whole they benefit from it).

It seems the Guardian fanatics are upset that Big Tech doesn't believe. Compliance is a necessary, but not sufficient condition!

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#17

Post by blfr »

michaelt wrote: post #7

It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…

Oil basically powers the modern world. Everything from food production through material manufacturing to basic transport collapses without oil.

Food abundance, even if it's can be barely called that like corn syrup, is the most basic soma. No politician would even think risking it.

Meanwhile you could swap out Facebook for any other social network with barely any noticeable change in the economy and world. People can scroll through Twitter or Netflix instead. Big tech has very little leverage because they rely on network effects and censorship while being otherwise imminently replaceable.

That they're run by nerds doesn't help either.

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#18

Post by helen___keller »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #9
michaelt wrote: post #7

It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…

When you have legislators going to $35k/meal events while wearing ‘tax the rich’ clothing, you get the clear sense it’s all a nihilistic game.

This has nothing to do with the tech industry's comparative lobbying power. From HN comment guidelines:

> Eschew flamebait. Avoid unrelated controversies and generic tangents.

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#19

Post by dylan604 »

mensetmanusman wrote: post #13
PoignardAzur wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assuming you're referring to AOC going to the MET Gala, I feel you're implying she spent $35k of taxpayer money to get there, while she was in fact invited. Calling it "nihilistic" is a bit strong considering the robe matches her policy positions and congress votes.

It’s well known she didn’t pay for that, but the optics are hilarious.

Only if your optics are so scoped in that you can't see the big picture.

Re: Big tech’s pro-climate rhetoric is not matched by policy action, report finds

#20

Post by epistasis »

Apocryphon wrote: post #14
michaelt wrote: post #7

It's always struck me as odd how many other industries have managed to get many staunch defenders among our rulers, while the tech industry seems so powerless, in comparison. Loads of senators are happy to side with oil companies and deny climate change, in spite of all the evidence and threat to the planet. No-one among legislators is in favour of pointless bureaucracy - and yet tax preparation software companies ar…

Has the tech industry been particularly pro-housing? It doesn’t seem to be where they’re focusing their lobbying efforts, despite some recent actions.

There hasn't been a ton of political activity with housing, but they have been one of the largest contributors to California YIMBY, which has been pushing forward a lot of the state level housing changes (ie the substantial ones):

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/us/california-today-strip...

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