**OT** - Ian -
<< The government's job is to level the playing field (for individuals and corporations) while minimizing interference (so as to maximize incentive to the most productive).
Is this in the constitution somewhere?
Or is it merely a role that you, personally, would like the government to perform?>>
Actually yes, parts of it are in the constitution, broadly speaking. In particular, in regards to equal rights for all (and monopolies obviously violate this dictum). And as for the government attempting to set the playing field to maximize competition, and hence innovation and hence standard of living - I would think that this was something that we would all obviously want. If not, well you are welcome to live in a communist state or Korea where there is no attempt to maximize competition. What do you believe is the role of government if not to adjust the rules on the playing field?
<<Have you considered the impact on society when government is given a monopoly for many key aspects of life and business?>>
Where do I talk about the government doing business? They just regulate the ways in which businesses can do their thing. (Imagine the alternative - we would be living in a world owned by Standard Oil, and the pollution would be outrageous. Green mail (i.e. corporate blackmail) would be legal. ...) They are both the rule makers and the referees, but they should never be the players. However, for the health of any game it is important not to change the rules unless there is a blatant shortcoming.
<<Perhaps you can testify for DOJ. Matter is before the courts. MSFT seems to have such a strong belief that their actions are covered by their consent decree that they've shown surprising behaviour considering their circumstances.>>
Sarcasm. Nice. In any case, I expect that Microsoft's only tactic at this point is to delay. If they can just delay long enough, no matter how stupid they look in the meantime, the whole thing will be moot. They will become the dominant browser, at which point the majority of pages will use Microsoft specific standards (and you thought their being nonstandard was just arrogance?), and that is the death spiral for Netscape. I suspect that that is their general tactic in all things competitive.
Clark
PS Someone suggested that I might think of Intel as another monopoly in need of regulation or a wrist slap. Not hardly. They have used innovation to stay on top, not strong arm marketing tactics based on an extant monopoly. And they have viable competition in AMD. Thus, although they might be floating in cash, I would be worried if the DOJ moved in on them. |
