[MLUG - DISCUSSION] Re: You had to know it was coming

[Edward Terry <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> So, this practice for a company in Microsoft's position is very bad for
> the market, because it locks it down. Just like true socialism can never
> exist, neither can true capitalism. Anti-monopoly laws exist to prevent
> one company from locking down the market like this. 

Actually, true capitalism can exist -- but only with strictly enforced
antitrust laws.  When people think of capitalism, they often think of
private ownership of business, which is important, but they often forget
about competition, which is much more important.  It's possible to have
capitalism in spite of government-owned businesses (such as the U.S.
Postal Service), but it isn't possible to have capitalism without
competition.

In its natural state, capitalism doesn't last very long; it quickly
gives way to monopoly and plutocracy.  But it can be artificially
preserved through government prohibition of monopolies (and duopolies,
which are just as bad).  In order to have true capitalism, we would need
to outlaw monopolies, rather than just outlawing the use of monopoly
power to extend that monopoly into new markets.  The only reason current
antitrust laws work is because most monopolies can't seem to resist
violating them sooner or later.

Most people realize that capitalism is incompatible with socialism, but
many don't realize that it is also incompatible with libertarianism.
Capitalism is one of the major differences between conservatives and
libertarians.

Edward

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