Re: [tlug] Re: [OT] Say _no_ to the Microsoft Office format as an ISO standard

["Josh Glover" <jmglov@example.com>]

On 09/07/07, Stephen J. Turnbull <stephen@example.com> wrote:

> Josh Glover writes:
>
>  > So leave the market alone, governments. Antitrust laws are slow,
>  > unwieldy, and often enforced in a highly politically motivated way.
>  >
>  > Who needs 'em?
>
> We all do, son.
>
> The cases that Microsoft has lost that stayed lost proves that they
> *will* play "On The Edge, Inc".  It's true that Microsoft doesn't play
> anywhere near the kind of hardball that the robber barons of the 19th
> century did, but it's not obvious to me that without strict laws, they
> wouldn't push the envelope.
>
> Second, having laws tells the law-abiding citizens what their rights
> are.
[...]
> And if you want to know why antitrust is necessary, just look at NTT.

These are all good points, but didn't the AT&T and NTT monopolies
happen *because* of government diddling in the markets (i.e. NTT *was*
the government before it got somewhat privatised, right? And AT&T had
the full cooperation of the US government when they were establishing
their stranglehold).

I am just not convinced that antitrust laws are the best way to
protect citizens from the excesses of capitalism.

But I do feel that laws on the books should be enforced or overturned,
so it is a shame that there is no real bite to antitrust. Like you
sad, big companies pay the fines as a cost of doing business.
Intentional fouls was a perfect metaphor, and one that I will be
stealing forthwith. ;)

--
Cheers,
Josh