[Am-info] Re: MS and not reporting earnings

[sturde@az.com]

In <20020213170102.B8E0B29B7D@lists.essential.org>, on 02/13/02 
   at 12:01 PM, am-info-request@venice.essential.org said:

> "The US Securities and Exchange Commission  investigation into Microsoft
>thinks the company may have been holding back cash in order to manipulate
>future earnings, according to the Wall Street  Journal. "OK

I read the article and it is fascinating.  MS wants to project the image
of "Onward, Forward and Upward" and a quarter when earnings reported
realistically would not support the image, must be buffered against.  You
need something held in reserve to report when reality is inconsistent with
the dream.  Actually over the issue, MS fired its chief account which it
hired from Price Waterhouse.  He sued for wrongful discharge (again
according to the WSJ article)  He lost on the age discrimination issue,
but MS settled on the issue that reminds me of the ancient Persian
messengers (I believe):  "You kill the messenger who brings bad news."  No
wonder Alexander destroyed the Persian empire.

James Sturdevant

-----------------------------------------------------------
sturde@az.com

-----------------------------------------------------------