The Legal Mugging of Microsoft


By : Jim Pinto,
San Diego, CA.
USA

I have received a lotttttt of feedback on this poem regarding my apparent support of Microsoft - the company, and Bill Gates, do not seem to be too popular.

My basic point is this : I do NOT believe that the Government should interfere with business. Allow the natural laws of business - competition and free enterprise - to rule.

Since the start of the Microsoft trial, the position has changed. AOL acquired Netscape, Linux is showing promise, Sun announced "free" Office-suite software, etc. etc.

After a lengthy anti-trust trial against IBM (wasting millions of taxpayer dollars and time, let alone millions of dollars for IBM) the case was dismissed. Meantime, look what happened (natural causes) to IBM!

We DON'T need Governments help to regulate free markets !
Monopolists have a way of becoming dinosaurs....


'Twas Thomas Penfield Jackson's court,
Joel Klein the key cohort
With Janet's Reno's full support
For the legal mugging of Microsoft

    Reno has some egg on face
    That WACO thing is a disgrace
    Now, let's put Billy in his place
    With the legal mugging of Microsoft

Sun's McNealy was crying out loud
Netscape and AOL joined the crowd
Oracle, IBM not too proud
To join the mugging of Microsoft

    Microsoft has grown too huge
    With strong-arm tactics, subterfuge
    The evidence is a deluge
    For the legal mugging of Microsoft

The supporting witnesses came in vain
Penfield brushed 'em off with disdain
Microsoft has too much to gain
Proceed with the mugging of Microsoft

    It took 207 pages to describe
    Penfield Jacksons diatribe
    To prove he didn't take a bribe
    For the legal mugging of Microsoft

Joel then he made a speech
Complimenting all and praising each
Praising Janet for her reach
In the legal mugging of Microsoft

    So what will happen now and next?
    Under what precedent, what pretext?
    When the legal muscles are fully flexed
    For the legal mugging of Microsoft

Concession points and remedies
Anti-competitive decrees
Million dollars a day in penalties
For the legal mugging of Microsoft

    Break it up into Baby Bills
    Anti-competitive codicils
    Give away the Windows frills
    For the legal mugging of Microsoft

As the tale continues to unfold
Microsoft's stock-price continues to hold
And Penfield ponders how he'll scold
In the legal mugging of Microsoft

    This may take decades to unreel
    They'll dance and dodge and then appeal
    Justice hopes Bill will make a deal
    To stop the mugging of Microsoft

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