Mark,

Thanks for your thoughts. Couldn't agree more. All this is is a government not wanting to lose its power to a business entity. At the end of the day it comes down to power. Gaining it and using it. Money is just a means to an end and with the recent turn away from taxation directly to taxation through court judgements it's not surprising to see.

I personally hope Bill gives a huge chunk of his $$ to those who are vigorously contending to maintain & grow the free market. Thomas Sowell in one of his hugely brilliant books points out that the millions and millions of brains and eyes in the free market, as an aggregation, are ALWAYS more knowledgeable than the few on a comittee or Congress. It's a simple matter of more processors. <g>

The free market works for that very reason. Bill has every right to defend his place and the BILLIONS that the government action caused to be damaged and/or lost with this most recent judgement.

Best,

DD

>>Hi All,
>>
>>I just saw this on TV then went to find the article. MS is trying to monopolize the popularity market ;-)
>>
>>http://cnnfn.com/2000/04/07/companies/wires/microsoft_wg/
>
>I had seen an article in this morning's Business section of our Ft Worth paper about these ads. While I believe in a free and open market [free trade also], I also think government plays too big a role in private business. On the other hand, to have a freely competitive market place, government may have to intervene. I can think of very few occassions where gov't should intervene, one of which is this case [to a certain and reasonable degree] and in labor abuses.
>
>As for the ads, Sic'em, Bill! Again my free market ideals are showing. The gov't lawyers and talking heads have had a heyday at MS expense with free air time to boot. MS has had to pay for theirs. Did anyone [government] help Bill and his partners when they had nothing? Nope. Was it their lives and capital at risk? Yep. I hate class envy. I also despise those who think wealthy people were just lucky. Those who work the hardest tend to make their own lucky breaks.
>
>For whatever MS is found guilty of, the punishment should fit. Nothing more.