***** Long Post*****
I did today! Emailed everyone I could think of and sent snail mail as follows:
I am a 53 year old registered Republican and have been so since old enough to vote. I had HIGH hopes when WE won the majority but now all I have is an attitude that all politicians are the same and unless something drastically changes I am ready to change my registration to Independent.
The reasons are many, but the "straw that broke the camels back" is this fiasco with Microsoft and the Justice Department. Another example of "MY GOVERNMENT" looking out for my best interests.
The other instances that I can think of off hand when "MY GOVERNMENT" tried this:
(1) the greatest steel company was destroyed,
(2) the very finest telephone company was broken up (now I get "slammed" by phone companies I have never heard of and I have to dial 23 numbers to make a long distance call from a motel room or pay phone),
(3) cable was de-regulated to lower rates (almost immediately we had rate increases and another is due very soon). There are many more that I am sure you are well aware,
(4) the "fair" government regulators once divided up the air travel market. I guess we will have the same happen to the computer industry. The same quotas that are required for race and gender balance can be applied to product market shares. To demand "equal outcomes" when you beat someone in the marketplace removes the incentive to be ones best and excel.
Now the "Washington Elite" has decided to destroy the greatest Technology Company - Microsoft, and there are a number of Republicans actively involved in the process!
I just do not understand how this will benefit the consumer. For years we were at IBM's mercy and then Apple Computers mercy (they would not allow anyone to install their operating system except them). Then, came along
Bill Gates with a "Better Idea":
(1) Build a good product and offer it at a GREAT price so EVERYONE can afford to own a computer (the reverse of IBM's marketing philosophy-IBM's OS2 operating system which was released just before Microsoft's Windows 95 went for $650 to $850 per copy Vs Windows 95 for $85 per copy).
(2) Let anyone install the operating system on a PC (just the opposite of Apple. Apple had the best operating system and a far user-friendlier computer. But the company's management made a business mistake. Apple
refused to license companies to clone its product. This restricted output made their computers relatively expensive. The result was a big market for the inferior PC, which Microsoft and OTHER software companies exploited.)
(3) Encourage programmers, etc. to develop software by making available proprietary code from Microsoft (there are many small businesses in existence because of Microsoft's market philosophy)
The Justice Dept. is legislating the offense to fit Microsoft. A company cannot violate a law that is not on the books. I shudder to think that they can make up a law and apply it retroactively as they are doing in the case
with Microsoft!
What is going on here is a danger to U.S. business and I for one have had ENOUGH!
Let me say that I am not in the computer business nor am I in anyway affiliated with Microsoft. I AM using Microsoft's products in my business and at home. In fact, I am typing this on a product from Microsoft which automatically corrected any spelling errors, told me my sentence was too long (which I ignored), and told me some or my sentences were fragmented (which I also ignored)! All this for around $100. Now tell me how you can improve on this by allowing the Justice Department to continue with this agenda. (I use "you" because if you are not part of the solution - you are part of the problem).
I am a consumer that wants "MY GOVERNMENT" to leave Microsoft alone (or any other business that has not broken a law but only performed better than others in the marketplace). If Microsoft doesn't perform, the market will handle the problem much better than the Washington Elite.
I saw a portion of the hearings that was held on this matter and to watch CEO's of major corporations whining for the government to give them an advantage or to take one away from a competitor is discouraging at the least.
Sun Microsystems, Netscape Communications, and Novell are trying to achieve through antitrust politics what they could not achieve in the marketplace (what losers do to winners).
There are Republicans as well as Liberal Democrats involved in this mugging and I am sure some of the whiners are large contributors. This is the reason for my first statement concerning changing my party affiliation.
Unless this is stopped NOW, I for one will:
(1) Change my party affiliation
(2) Vote against Republicans and Democrats alike
(3) Contribute monetarily and with my time to defeat any incumbent
(4) Influence as many voters as I can to do the same
Enough is enough! I'm mad!
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