[2155] in OS/2_Discussion
Help stop Microsoft hegemony.
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Christian Loweth)
Wed Nov 21 00:03:48 2001
Message-ID: <3BFB35AD.EF81F5C1@mac.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Nov 2001 00:03:47 -0500
From: Christian Loweth <cloweth@mac.com>
Reply-To: cloweth@mac.com
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Hi,
I posted the following on several forums last week as well as many
Users Groups and the response has been well beyond my expectations.
People are really responding. Sentiments like "Congratulations on a
well-presented campaign." and "I didn't think to send a message to the
Attorney Generals of the remaining 9 states. Thanks for sending the
email
addresses for those folks. I just emailed 9 more letters thanks to you!"
and "Thank you for the addresses. I have expressed my concerns to the
Attorney General of the state in which I live and will urge others to do
the same."
Please feel free to share this info among friends/colleagues if you
wish.
Should Microsoft receive harsher penalties?
I am very disappointed with the Feds proposed settlement. Fortunately
nine states' AG's agree with me. I have sent the following to the
states' AG's dissatisfied with the terms of the USDOJ settlement
agreement.
"It seems to me that Microsoft has indulged in not only anti-trust
violations but racketeering as well. Is this a possible avenue of
approaching their abuses?"
As you can see, my position well exceeds current prosecution parameters.
Even if you don't agree with my extreme position, but desire more
vigorous prosecution, I urge you to write to the Attorneys General to
inform them of your support. You don’t have to reside in these states to
write them. Write to all of them if you wish. The Attorneys General
exist to provide services to their constituency. I believe that for the
most part they take this responsibility very seriously. They want to get
the bad guys. It is my opinion that Microsoft, Gates, Ballmer, et al,
are the bad guys.
Below are the email addresses of the nine states Attorneys General
dedicated to continuing with more stringent anti-trust prosecution.
Included is USDOJ address to express your displeasure to the Feds. For
international readers I have included a link to a USDOJ website listing
other countries who are undertaking anti-trust action.
Please include your name and address. This contributes to your
authenticity. They may want to send you a snail mail confirmation.
Please put it in your own words. And keep it brief. They understand the
issues, so you don't need to re-hash them. It would probably be most
effective if you stated that they press on with their lawsuit to impose
maximum penalties.
A formulation was made years ago by various entities like newspapers,
magazines, politicians, and such. They figured that for every person who
bothered to write to them represented "X" amount of people who didn’t
take the time and effort to write but shared similar opinions. "X" can
equal anywhere from one thousand to ten thousand or more depending the
specific circumstances of the recipient. So, as you can see, the simple
act of writing can have a multiplier effect. That’s why your single
contribution is so important.
If you agree that Microsoft has gotten off too lightly again, I plead
with you to take a few minutes, write to the Attorneys General and make
your opinions known. When we’re all using Microsoft Windows at least
you’ll be able to console yourself by knowing that you at least tried to
resist Microsoft hegemony.
This is the time to strike. They believe that they have hornswoggled a
sweet deal. Their guard is down, if just a bit. This is far from over.
California: microsoftcomments@doj.ca.gov
Connecticut: attorney.general@po.state.ct.us
Florida: ag@oag.state.fl.us
Iowa: webteam@ag.state.ia.us
Kansas: GENERAL@ksag.org
Massachusetts: tom.reilly@ago.state.ma.us
Minnesota: attorney.general@state.mn.us
Utah: uag@att.state.ut.us
West Virginia: consumer@mail.wvnet.edu
US Dept of Justice-Microsoft anti-trust comments:
Microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov
US Dept of Justice-other sites worldwide:
http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/contact/otheratr.htm
This is a real opportunity for those of us who want more stringent
prosecution. Before, Microsoft had only to have one team of lawyers to
deal with the Feds. Now, their efforts will be diluted by virtue of
having to confront nine different government entities. The time to
express your opinion is now. Together we can have a positive impact on
the future of computing if only we take the time to express our opinions
to those who hold the public trust.
Best regards,
Christian Loweth
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Hi,
<p> I posted the following on several forums last week
as well as many Users Groups and the response has been well beyond my expectations.
<p>People are really responding. Sentiments like <font color="#EF1F1D">"Congratulations
on a well-presented campaign." </font> and <font color="#EF1F1D">"I
didn't think to send a message to the</font> <font color="#EF1F1D">Attorney
Generals of the remaining 9 states. Thanks for sending the email</font>
<br><font color="#EF1F1D">addresses for those folks. I just emailed 9 more
letters thanks to you!" </font><font color="#000000">and </font><font color="#EF1F1D">"Thank
you for the addresses. I have expressed my concerns to the Attorney
General of the state in which I live and will urge others to do the same."</font>
<p>Please feel free to share this info among friends/colleagues if you
wish.
<p>Should Microsoft receive harsher penalties?
<p>I am very disappointed with the Feds proposed settlement. Fortunately
nine states' AG's agree with me. I have sent the following to the states'
AG's dissatisfied with the terms of the USDOJ settlement agreement.
<p>"It seems to me that Microsoft has indulged in not only anti-trust violations
but racketeering as well. Is this a possible avenue of approaching their
abuses?"
<p>As you can see, my position well exceeds current prosecution parameters.
Even if you don't agree with my extreme position, but desire more vigorous
prosecution, I urge you to write to the Attorneys General to inform them
of your support. <b>You don’t have to reside in these states to write them.</b>
Write to all of them if you wish. The Attorneys General exist to provide
services to their constituency. I believe that for the most part they take
this responsibility very seriously. They want to get the bad guys. It is
my opinion that Microsoft, Gates, Ballmer, et al, are the bad guys.
<p>Below are the email addresses of the nine states Attorneys General dedicated
to continuing with more stringent anti-trust prosecution. Included is USDOJ
address to express your displeasure to the Feds. For <b>international</b>
readers I have included a link to a USDOJ website listing other countries
who are undertaking anti-trust action.
<p> Please include your name and address. This contributes to your
authenticity. They may want to send you a snail mail confirmation. Please
put it in your own words. <b>And keep it brief.</b> They understand the
issues, so you don't need to re-hash them. It would probably be most effective
if you stated that they press on with their lawsuit to impose maximum penalties.
<p>A formulation was made years ago by various entities like newspapers,
magazines, politicians, and such. They figured that for every person who
bothered to write to them represented "X" amount of people who didn’t take
the time and effort to write but shared similar opinions. "X" can equal
anywhere from one thousand to ten thousand or more depending the specific
circumstances of the recipient. So, as you can see, the <b>simple act of
writing</b> can have a multiplier effect. That’s why your single contribution
is so important.
<p> If you agree that Microsoft has gotten off too lightly again,
I plead with you to take a few minutes, write to the Attorneys General
and make your opinions known. When we’re all using Microsoft Windows at
least you’ll be able to console yourself by knowing that you at least tried
to resist Microsoft hegemony.
<p> This is the time to strike. They believe that they have hornswoggled
a sweet deal. Their guard is down, if just a bit. This is far from over.
<p>California: <a href="microsoftcomments@doj.ca.gov">microsoftcomments@doj.ca.gov</a>
<p>Connecticut: <a href="microsoftcomments@doj.ca.gov">attorney.general@po.state.ct.us</a>
<p>Florida: <a href="ag@oag.state.fl.us">ag@oag.state.fl.us</a>
<p>Iowa: <a href="webteam@ag.state.ia.us">webteam@ag.state.ia.us</a>
<p>Kansas: <a href="GENERAL@ksag.org">GENERAL@ksag.org</a>
<p>Massachusetts: <a href="tom.reilly@ago.state.ma.us">tom.reilly@ago.state.ma.us</a>
<p>Minnesota: <a href="attorney.general@state.mn.us">attorney.general@state.mn.us</a>
<p>Utah: <a href="uag@att.state.ut.us">uag@att.state.ut.us</a>
<p>West Virginia: <a href="consumer@mail.wvnet.edu">consumer@mail.wvnet.edu</a>
<p>US Dept of Justice-Microsoft anti-trust comments: <a href="Microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov">Microsoft.atr@usdoj.gov</a>
<p>US Dept of Justice-other sites worldwide: <a href="http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/contact/otheratr.htm">http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/contact/otheratr.htm</a>
<p> This is a real opportunity for those of us
who want more stringent prosecution. Before, Microsoft had only to have
one team of lawyers to deal with the Feds. Now, their efforts will be <b>diluted
by virtue of having to confront nine different government entities.</b>
The time to express your opinion is now. Together we can have a positive
impact on the future of computing if only we take the time to express our
opinions to those who hold the public trust.
<p>Best regards,
<br>Christian Loweth
<br>
<br>
<br> </html>
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