Yep, they are heavily politicised, ever since they bought Boston Dynamics, aka DARPA back in 2013, I have been weaning myself off Google.
Lesson I learned - Stop giving away my 'power' to others, especially those I am in no way aligned with. I saw it as an opportunity and challenge to seek and find new innovative platforms that do not censor differing perspectives and voices.
Hence, ended up here on Steemit, same as yourself. That and a few other 'pies'.
I'll end with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:
'No law can be sacred to me but that of my own nature... how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions...' He could have been writing about Youtube, right? Keep the faith dude!I feel your pain @lukewearechange Have a follow, retweet, and a 100% up vote to cheer you up! Been in your shoes to a lesser extent re:Youtube monetisation and lost revenue.