Microsoft just the tip of the iceberg sjmercury.com
More late commentary, this time Dan Gillmor The title somewhat is misleading.
The details of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing were certainly interesting, even entertaining, as Democratic and Republican senators grilled the tech barons. But the context, not the verbal jousting, was the crucial element.
That context was the growing recognition -- not just in Washington, but in many state capitals and other places where governments still wield power -- that something is very broken in the economic system we all profess to favor. Capitalism may have won the ideological and practical battle for supremacy, but some of capitalism's strongest supporters understand that the new economy is spawning vast new abuses.
And the result is heartening. Apart from libertarians who believe government should totally and absolutely butt out of business, the pro-competition crowd is coming to realize that antitrust enforcement is not an abuse of government power. It is an essential part of that new economy.
Why, there's even some libertarians who are beginning to believe in antitrust, thanks to Bill & Co. Only one Objectivist I know of, though.
No case is more important, though, than Microsoft. No company threatens to control more of our economy's vital links. No company has shown such a combination of arrogance and ability.
And that's why we love them so.
Sending Bill Gates on a PR tour, and arranging ever-more gifts of Microsoft software to libraries, won't change the fundamental facts about this company: It is on a course to control the very choke points of commerce and communications, not just in the United States but potentially around the globe. Behavior aside, for one company to have such such control is simply unacceptable.
Unless you own stock in the company and don't care about the consequences. People like that around here seem to find it totally acceptable, even desirable. To each his own, I guess.
So as you watch these political and economic chess moves unfold, keep in mind that you are the ultimate beneficiary, or victim. Don't treat this as entertainment, even if you enjoy watching big shots squirm. This is about your future as much as theirs.
True enough, but I think it's entertaining too! I thought Dr. Strangelove was funny also. I just don't want to know about Bill's doomsday machine.
Cheers, Dan. |
