----- Original Message ----- From: DJA <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Randall Shimizu wrote:
> The government looks at monopolistic practices to determine if a > company of a monopoly. The EU believes Microsoft is monopoly Quite > frankly I was suprised how easily Microsoft got off. Part of the > problem is that a portion of the republican part is very libertarian > at heart.
There might a portion, but it's pretty much invisible in practice. Don't mistake a "Don't bite the hand that feeds you" motive for a "It's not the government's job to regulate, or compete with, the private economy" philosophy.
> It just depends who has the most influence at the time.
I don't think anyone can reasonably argue that any Libertarian bent within the Republican party of the last couple of decades [1] has ever had much if any influence on party politics. I'd say none in the current Administration and Congress.
> As a conservative...
"Conservative"? Just what does that mean anyway. Usually, as in this case, the terms "Liberal" and "Conservative" really have no meaningful defined context. I certainly don't think they mean what most people think they mean.
> ...I am for free markets.
So you really meant "As a Libertarian,...".
> The problem occurs when a company uses monopolistic practices thus > creating disequilibrium in the economy.
Agreed, and discussed throughout the thread above.
[1] I'm not indicting just Republicans here, so don't git yer panties all in a bunch. Democrats aren't any better. I'll even out myself as a registered Libertarian - one who thinks that for the sake of intellectual honesty, the Democrats should rename themselves "American Socialist" while the Republicans go by "American Fascist". :-P
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Best Regards,
~DJA.
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