[benhurmarcel]

> If we can't get back in, I don't know how it'd go for grandma's iPhone.

I can tell you about grandpa's iPad. We couldn't find the proof of purchase after he locked his iCloud account (memory isn't great at that age). It's now a paperweight.

The lesson is to keep the receipt.

[asiachick]

I would say the lesson is call your congressman and pass some laws.

Landlords in the USA can't kick people out instantly AFAIK. Banks I'm guessing have regulations that prevent then closing your account and throwing your money in the trash. I'm pretty sure the electric company can't shut off your electricity on a whim.

People are dependent on Google and Apple and their devices and services to similar levels. email and messaging services are similar to phone service which is regulated. Apple and Google both provide payment services (Apple Pay, Google Pay) so are providing some of the services a bank offers.

Sure they should be able to close problem accounts at some point but IMO they can't just walk away from responsibility based on a one sided TOS.

[e40]

Many of those laws you speak of were created in a different era. The last 2 decades have been the time of increased corporate power and reduced individual power. Citizens United, for one.

[type0]

> I'm pretty sure the electric company can't shut off your electricity on a whim.

They can absolutely can, albeit by mistake.But it's not comparable to googles and apples, since you get your electricity back just by calling them.

[PKop]

Good idea, but the lesson there would likely be that the $ trillion corporation owns the politicians, or would have more representation than average person, so recourse through that path is out as well.

[etrabroline]

So are you going to be voting for Joe Biden or Donald Trump?

[PKop]

Neither... maybe Biden simply to shakeup and push further towards an "accelerationist" change of the system (because he won't improve things either).

I voted for Trump in '16 to increase manufacturing, close the trade deficit in the midwest, and end neocon wars in the middle east (I fought in Iraq and Afghanistan).

I also support restricting immigration, though I know that's controversial around here. In any case, Trump has failed miserably on all counts. He's more concerned with the stock market than almost anything else, and has stacked his administration with neocon retreads, not pulled troops out etc.

Unless and until some sort of massive restructuring of our political and monetary system, the whole thing will continue to be controlled by banking and finance. No party serves my interests (a more nationalistic economic and industrial policy, and a more socialistic yet conservative social/cultural policy). We have left wing social culture, and market/finance dominated economic policy. Worst combination in my opinion.

[cosmojg]

Actual lesson: don't buy Apple devices.

I'm sure a tablet running LineageOS or something similar would serve grandpa just fine, and you'd never have to worry about losing access.

[jdofaz]

Can you give an example of a currently produced tablet someone could buy new and install LineageOS on?

[7786655]

I checked the website, a Lenovo and two Samsungs are listed as supported and not discontinued.

[bosswipe]

Would be worth it to take them to small claims court.