The information technology industry in the US has always had a thread of Ayn Rand's philosophy running through it. Some of the people who were part of the computer revolution in the 70s and 80s knew her personally, and thought of themselves as Randian heroes (which is to say, they were narcissists). This is sort of a foundational aspect of the culture of Silicon Valley, so it's always been there.
I highly recommend the documentary All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace by Adam Curtis.
Yeah, that was my take too. The language in the Act seems pretty straightforward to me, and the judge's statement seems to directly contradict it (but IANAL).
Maybe he's trying to split hairs over the FTC not having direction to regulate how employers deal with employees, and saying that doesn't fall under "commerce"?
Open tiktok or shorts or whatever vertical video platform
What ain't no country I ever heard of. They speak English in 'What'?
Effectively, they did buy an agriculture field.
"I thrive watching other people stress"
"The FTC lacks substantive rulemaking authority with respect to unfair methods of competition,"
Huh?
Under this Act, the Commission is empowered, among other things, to (a) prevent unfair methods of competition, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce; (b) seek monetary redress and other relief for conduct injurious to consumers; (c) prescribe trade regulation rules defining with specificity acts or practices that are unfair or deceptive, and establishing requirements designed to prevent such acts or practices; (d) conduct investigations relating to the organization, business, practices, and management of entities engaged in commerce; and (e) make reports and legislative recommendations to Congress
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Trade_Commission_Act_of_1914
https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/federal-trade-commission-act
The literal text of the FTC Act says:
Sec. 5. [15 U.S.C. 45] (a)(1) Unfair methods of competition in or affecting commerce, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce, are hereby declared unlawful. (2) The Commission is hereby empowered and directed to prevent persons, partnerships, or corporations, except banks, savings and loan institutions described in section 18(f)(3), Federal credit unions described in section 18(f)(4), common carriers subject to the Acts to regulate commerce, air carriers and foreign air carriers subject to the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, and persons, partnerships, or corporations insofar as they are subject to the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921, as amended, except as provided in section 406(b) of said Act, from using unfair methods of competition in or affecting commerce and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-388/uslm/COMPS-388.xml
They are doing exactly what Congress told them to do.
DeWalt (aka default) tools. There's a reason every building contractor is carrying around DeWalt drills and saws - they hold up to daily jobsite use, you don't have to handle them like they're fragile, you can get them dirty and they keep working.
Don't buy Ryobi or Black&Decker unless you know it's something you're going to beat to hell for one job and then dispose of. And don't any buy high speed rotary tools from Harbor Freight.
Think of all the things we learned
Rule of Acquisition #34