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To: Gerald R. Lampton who wrote (14651)	12/5/1997 1:37:00 AM
From: Gerald R. Lampton	Respond to of 24154

You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize the enourmous potential of software monopoly as a populist issue. Think about it: A few years down the road, the country's in a recesson . . . Here's Joe Slouch-potato on the factory floor, his life, both working and leisure, being regulated to an increasing degree by a bunch of machines he doesn't understand. The machines are maintained and operated at the behest of management by a bunch of elitist geeks who could not care less about his job and welfare. Hell, half his friends have already been laid off as a result of changes instituted by the geeks. Then he goes to the bank, you know, the big one that just bought out his local bank, and has to deal with the ATM, that he can't understand. He'd like to get an explanation for some new charges on his bank account, but he has to pay a fee to talk to a human. Then, it's home-ward bound, where he'll slouch in front of the TV, and experience the integrity of the Windows experience -- again. And, to top it all off, the whole software industry, which Joe Slouch-potato also does not understand, is owned, operated and controlled by this fantastically wealthy nerd-goul in Redmond, Washington, a place clear on the other side of the country he's never heard of (well, he has now, thanks to his laid-off friends). He has no control over his life, because it's all controlled from Redomond . . . Will everyone perceive the world this way? No. But enough will to keep Microsoft on the political agenda for a very long time. The big question will be whether anyone can muster enough votes to get elected by exploiting these fears.