Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : MSFT Internet Explorer vs. NSCP Navigator -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: miraje who wrote (18980)	5/12/1998 1:01:00 PM
From: Daniel Schuh	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24154

James, "upset stomach" would really be a little strong. Pretty one sided is all, you might get a skewed view of what people really think there. It was a little rude of me to butt in anyway, you guys need a place to vent, and cheerleading is always popular around here. The thread seemed a little short on real info. I'm always looking for more information, but I know all about the Chrysler car radio, who John Galt is, and Microsoft's need to "innovate". Libertarian, I don't know, Objectivism seems a little narrower. Or maybe not, I don't know much about them. All the Silicon Valley guys conspiring against Bill are allegedly libertarian, including archenemy Scott McNeally. Principles are fine, but naive civic virtues guy says you think the laws are bad, you should work to get them changed. Heck, I lived through the Reagan years, you guys ought to be able to handle the headless Clinton DOJ for a while more. As for the tired statist regurgitations, I'll rephrase the old question. To quote Bill, where do you want to go today? You think someplace in Asia is going to come close to the libertarian / objectivist ideal? Ever hear about Lee Yuan Kew's "Asian values", also a popular model in China? Seems somewhat more distant from the libertarian ideal than our own messy politics, but I couldn't say. Lee's big on the courts too, always using them to sue his opposition into oblivion, something Bill's toyed with I hear. Maybe he would get on good in Singapore, but they don't seem to like paying for software any more than the Chinese do. Cheers, Dan. P.S. Did Bill acknowledge your kind gift? Was it Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead? I'm sure he was flattered, but I doubt he has the time for Rand's prolix prose either. Sorry about the stock, I'm sure it'll do fine long term. 50x times earnings seems a little above the historical 40x anyway.

To: miraje who wrote (18980)	5/12/1998 9:21:00 PM
From: Justin Banks	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 24154

<soapbox></lurk> JB - I'm sorry to hear that the libertarian winds blowing through the "How High" thread cause you an upset stomach. I'm glad that current PC technology doesn't support an olfactory function or I'd have to hold my nose while perusing the tired statist regurgitations that permeate this venue. You, sir, are sorely deluded. Whether you're blinded by your capital gains or just blinded, I can't say. Rand believed in just and fair competition in the marketplace. You can't honestly say that MSFT engages in fair and just competition. Their goal, ignore the price, is to crush the competition. Hank's goal was to get rich by producing a better product, not to put his competitors out of business. John's goal was to create a world where those that produce could do so without fear of coercion. In the tech world, MSFT is the coercing party, like it or not. For the time being, they have transcended the state as the ultimate force of punishment and obligation. This is immoral. Merely to say that a monetarily successful business/businessman is above reproach when it comes to an analysis of their methods of production goes against everything Ayn stood for and believed in. If this were not so, I'd chuck my party (with a capital L) membership card right now. -justinb </soapbox><lurk>