The Microsoft Situation
RE " Forcing, regulating, or breaking up a company, due to its success, should be viewed with alarm by anyone who values the principles upon which this country was founded."
I do agree that the situation should viewed with alarm.
Hal
PS: Incidentally, the editorial staff of the Los Angeles Times today came out against the current Microsoft situation with a major editorial saying, among other things, that it opposes "extending Microsoft's Windows monopoly into new markets".
The editors of the Los Angeles Times went on to say " Microsoft executives, for instance, are now arguing that just about all Computer Age "lifestyle" activities, from banking to video conferencing and TV viewing, are becoming inseparable parts of the Windows purview.
Microsoft would like us to see this kind of Microsoft-based lifestyle as a breathlessly exciting new world order. But neither the courts nor consumers should accept this vision whole cloth. Microsoft's grand vision could be something else altogether: an old-fashioned, anti-competitive, exclusionary monopoly."
By the way, what is the Libertarian view on the rise and abuse of monopoly power in a formerly free marketplace? My impression is that it is one or more of the following:
1) Just say no.
2) No such thing.
3) Grin and bear it.
4) Eventually it will go away.
5) No permanent damage done.
6) I've got mine, go get your own.
7) The cure is always worse than the disease.
8) Competition between monopolies is the healthy cure.
HR |
