It seems inevitable that we're going to be in for more lowering in the difficulty unless new asics etc can increase the hash rate so as to make mining at current prices profitable. The current prices have to be squeezing out so many of the smaller miners.
I believe the Norway government move to be ill timed and not fair at all, the falling prices of bitcoins are already hurting and this news is like rubbing salts on miner wounds. I don't think that new asics can come out so soon, I hope the government considers giving them some subsidy. I feel the best thing for miners to do at current levels is to stop mining, and be patient till things improve.