After seven years, I have quit...

This morning the email read:

Thanks for 7 years of contributing on Google Maps

Congratulations on reaching such an incredible milestone. Every bit of knowledge you've shared has made Google Maps grow into an even bigger, more helpful place for the community.

Over the last 7 years (you have made)175 contributions...Keep contributing.

This afternoon I removed all of my reviews and all of my pictures from Google Maps. It had been great way to share my opinion, promote or discourage business, vent, praise, and otherwise have a small voice in things. But after today's obeyance by Google, I've decided to add my voice in another manner: I removed every review I had ever posted to Google Maps.

Before lex Titia and the Second Triumvirate.
I think Crassus would have made an excellent member of this Triumvirate

It's a small thing that helps my well being. It allows me to leave a review with real world results in real time. After seeing the changes to Google maps from a state north of the Gulf of Mexico, I can not express how positive it felt to see my reviews disappear one by one over the course of an hour. (Using those three little dots was is so easy.) It allows me to take back something from the billionaire oligarchs. It is a small but very satisfying action.

While I may not be able to leave gmail and blogger at this time, it is a step in the right direction. I don't know how much I'll be able to walk away from the billionaires stranglehold on our economy but there are definitely some real world actions I can take to reduce their take, their influence, and their economic buying power.

We vote with our dollars. We vote with our actions. At this time of economic uncertainty it is important to adopt actions which, though small, can have positive results for us as individuals, even if only for our own peace of mind.

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Now excuse me as await the next ukase. I must grab the duct tape for a small repair, plan the week's meals, and work on the budget which shrunk even more from rising insurance costs. Even if your neighbors don't believe in climate change, your insurance company sure as hell does. I pity those poor folks suffering from the California wildfires but suspect none of us can prepare for the next fire decree.