besides Gene Wolfe, Frank herbert, Isaac Asimov and countless others wrote volumes of SF where the culture was central to the story and as foreign as the environment. Heck, even Piers Anthony tried his best to do this; he just couldn't separate his yarns from his present-day cultural fixations.
What the heck is this sape reading?

99: What's that?
86: An electric snake!
99: Really! What does it run on?
86: Tiny little feet!

Maybe, but probably not. I would expect any government (Washington State or otherwise) that started receiving $775M+ in additional tax revenue would *spend* it, not cut taxes for others. Anyway, isn't there a difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion? I would imagine, given the size of the target, if M$ was evading taxes they would be brought to bear as quickly as the courts would allow.

Those who have been begging for government enforced network neutrality are reaping what they sow, although I'm sure these aren't the fruits they had in mind.