The system is geared towards negative presumption of the recent past even as it glorifies and reveres the long past (ancient philosophers and religious figures).

Just in case most of us figure out that anything we think of as new or intractable problems are things that we knew about and were deliberately ignored or actively campaigned against by the same forces that do it now.

Seems unlikely given that ascetic hermits around the world are known for living to a ripe old age.

What’s the downside for them? They either win big or things stay roughly the same and they might pay some extra tax but not much. No one (of them) is losing their bulk of their wealth or their freedom. Might as well roll the dice.

No probably about it.

Mechanical watches lose 10-15 secs per day which declines as they get older or aren’t serviced, a $40 Casio might miss 30 secs per month, never needs servicing other than a battery change.

Mechanical watches are no longer utility items, they are fashion items that happen to tell time.

I think the term “car free” is a misnomer, more like “car as a non primary form of transport for most people most of the time” is more accurate but doesn’t roll off the tongue as well.

There are a lot of people with mobility issues in such cities that are serviced in different ways, a lot of times with specially licensed cars etc.

Since you gave advice on the battery and fuel:

Tyres go bad through the vehicle’s weight, so either raise the vehicle enough so they don’t touch the ground, or remove wheels and put it on stands.

Once you make sure the car is secure release the handbrake so it’s not engaged for a long period to prevent it from fusing.

Clean thoroughly inside and out to make sure dirt doesn’t adhere to paint or seats, that no food is left inside the cabin that can go bad and smells that can embed themselves in the seat foam etc.

Cover with a car cover to protect seals, paint, seats from the elements.

First move of any new management is to take the worst possible stocktake and shine the worst possible light to last management’s figures. Then any meagre positive movement or even if things remain the same will look like improvement.