[Am-info] How a Monopoly is Created and Maintained

[John Poltorak]

On Thu, Apr 25, 2002 at 01:45:37PM -0500, Doug Henning wrote:
> This is from http://www.moneynews.com
> -------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 1. Microsoft: Lining Wallets of Politicians?
> 
> Microsoft's lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., have left several
> industry insiders wondering if the software giant is
> attempting to undermine law enforcement efforts.
> 
> Fortune Magazine reports Microsoft may not be able to gain ground in any
> anti-trust legal snafu, but its efforts to beef up its
> lobbying staff and make nice with lawmakers have increased ten-fold.
> 
> The company donated more than $4.6 million to federal candidates and
> parties, both Republicans and Democrats, in the 2000
> election - more money than any other company but AT&T and more than twice
> the amount that its biggest rival, AOL.
> 
> More on the donation front - Microsoft also gave $36.6 milllion in cash and
> $179 million worth of software to a variety of
> charities in D.C. associated with politicians such as Senator Hillary
> Clinton and House Speaker Dennis Hastert. In fact, House
> Majority Leader Dick Armey was so confused by technical jargon that
> Microsoft launched a Capitol Hill campaign to have
> technical experts teach lawmakers the ins and outs of technology.
> 
> Microsoft conducts brown-bag lunches for Congress' 178-member Internet
> Caucus and hosts 200 lawmakers, aides, scholars
> and presidential wannabes at its headquarters, according to Fortune.
> 
> It appears Microsoft's efforts are working. Lawmakers concerned with online
> privacy invasions threatened legal action to
> solve the problem on behalf of computer users. Microsoft stepped up its
> government affairs division and helped politicians
> translate computer jargon into plain English. The company's computer
> translators worked with politicians and software
> engineers. The end result? No legal action and a new Microsoft product with
> better privacy control for computer users.
> 
> Industry insiders say Microsoft's lobbying attempts undermine law
> enforcement efforts and borders on obstruction of justice.
> The software giant refutes the claim, stating its political donations and
> lobbying are just parts of a traditional business formula.

This reminds me of the Soviet Union at its height of corruption when 
everyone was on the make and the state simply couldn't function.

The Communist Party had a stranglehold over everyone, but after the 
dissolution of the SU they quickly disappeared.

I see strong parallels between the Communist Party in the Soviet Union  
and Microsoft in the USA. No one is prepared to speak against them until 
the inevitable is on the horizon, when suddenly all the rats start 
deserting the sinking ship.

 
> Doug Henning


-- 
John