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Pastimes : The New Qualcomm - write what you like thread. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Clarksterh who wrote (1657)	4/24/2000 5:55:00 AM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 12235

*Oil stuff and OT rant* <...in my very limited experience, I would say that in general modern US companies are more honest than most. I've been on the losing side of several suspicious deals. Having said that, I think that US companies are among the heaviest users of governmental influence in international relations - not exactly fair, but perhaps offsetting their weakness in bribery?> The USA has a very powerful constitutional basis. It is the best thing about it. The USA has all of my life's savings. I don't hand it over to Jiang Zemin's mob or Bolivia! I trust the legal system and enforcement. It means Clinton would have been booted out but for public support. VIPs go to jail for crimes. Elian gets given back to his father. I have no problem with armed INS people busting in, taking possession of Elian and delivering him to his father. It gives me confidence. The USA moves into Kosovo and nobody thinks of tying USA soldiers to stakes [as happened with the pathetic UN 'forces' several years ago]. People take the USA seriously. That's good! I don't know about 'honest'. Fear might be more accurate. I've sat in a price-fixing meeting on behalf of BP Oil in New Zealand and Mobil, the American oil company, didn't. USA laws apply [some of them] worldwide. That's good. They don't want to go to jail. As you say, using government influence is a common approach. Check out QUALCOMM with Richard Bliss being released from Russia with USA government help. Watch Charlene and Madeleine weigh in on the side of QUALCOMM. Woe betide anyone who tries stealing QUALCOMM IP. I believe bribery is over-rated as an effect and to some extent is maybe a marketing excuse. "We couldn't get the order because the other swine must have paid bribes!" While I've only worked in tame places like NZ and Canada, I've never seen the hint of a bribe [other than some pump contractors and I suspect a bit of bribery by a design consultant]. I wasn't involved in the middle east and have no idea about the levels of bribery likely at senior levels. Sure there were lots of 'top level' contacts between oil industry and government. I think Iraqi sanctions have created huge billions of profits for oil companies. I don't think the sanctions have much to do with how bad Saddam is. Plenty of bad people have been supported by the USA. I think those sanctions kept supply low and prices high[ish]. They are now TOO high and SUV owners are moaning... Stuff like that. Just impressions, no hard facts... Alan Green$pan needs to forget about 'the USA'. He is dealing with a world labour market and world capital flows. Friends from around the world have poured money and skills into USA companies. Companies such as Q! are pouring money and technology out around the world. Mqurice