Comment Re:Will Microsoft Ever Stop? (Score 2, Informative) 323
I'm not familiar with the SEC action you're referring to, but the SEC has nothing to do with antitrust law.
Nor do I accept your premise that antitrust law was used to reward or punish M$ for giving or failing to give campaign contributions to either party.
The Clinton Administration prosecuted M$ because they believed antitrust law promotes and protects competition. The Clinton Administration's prosecution became more, not less, vigorous with time.
The Cheney Administration believes in the "Chicago School" of antitrust which - after you peel away the rhetoric - holds that the purpose of antitrust law is to increase the net wealth of society. (Actually, I believe Cheney, Bush et al. are plutocrats, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here.)
M$ clearly engaged in anticompetitive behavior, but it is not clear that the net wealth of society has been reduced. Consequently, Cheney's people don't believe the M$ did anything wrong, even if the conduct was illegal.
Nor do I accept your premise that antitrust law was used to reward or punish M$ for giving or failing to give campaign contributions to either party.
The Clinton Administration prosecuted M$ because they believed antitrust law promotes and protects competition. The Clinton Administration's prosecution became more, not less, vigorous with time.
The Cheney Administration believes in the "Chicago School" of antitrust which - after you peel away the rhetoric - holds that the purpose of antitrust law is to increase the net wealth of society. (Actually, I believe Cheney, Bush et al. are plutocrats, but I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt here.)
M$ clearly engaged in anticompetitive behavior, but it is not clear that the net wealth of society has been reduced. Consequently, Cheney's people don't believe the M$ did anything wrong, even if the conduct was illegal.
