By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 20/04/2026Transitive energy shortages have small effects: when your energy bill goes up for a while (because of extreme weather, say), it makes you angry and sad and might result in an electoral loss for whatever politician presided over the price hike. 12/ 1453
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 20/04/2026But when you get genuine, prolonged shortages - the sort that are accompanied by rationing - you make *permanent* changes. Rationing is so psychologically scarring that it induces people to make long-delayed investments that result in *permanent* changes to their consumption habits. 13/ 1909
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 20/04/2026Maybe you've long known that an induction top would be better for your indoor air quality *and* your cooking than the gas range you have now, but you don't want to buy a new appliance and pay for an electrician to run a high-wattage line in expensive conduit from your breaker to your kitchen. 14/ 1543
