[ale] VA Linux IPO - The Sad Thing ?

[Chris Kilroy]

Hegel was wise enough to see that the best (and perhaps only) solution to a stated problem was
a synthesis of two diametrically opposed proposition.

Platittudes abound on both sides of this argument, and as such i will try to keep my comments
brief.

In defense of the "statists":
Unchecked capitalism is what produced Microsoft.  And it is obviously bad for many individual
entities within the market when a company like that becomes so powerful.  However, it may be
argued (and i think that is a subject for real economists) that at this stage in the
development of IT/computer industry/etc. it was better overall for the explosion of the
American market to have this standard OS, admitedly as inferior of a product as it is.  But i
don't think so.

In defense of people who like to make money:
The bottom line is there is nothing wrong with making money.  If what "we" want is for Linux
to exist as a viable competitor to Windows at both the server and home end user level, then
there is no way that will happen without companies making money off of it.  It is good for the
computing world that RedHat is doing so well in the stock market, it gives them lots of $$ to
invest in development and hire people like "US".


my 2 cents

-Chris

Benjamin Scherrey wrote:

> jj at spiderentertainment.com wrote:
> >
> > Well I just hope they put the money to good use and not because *scholes
> > like Microsoft. Remember that when Bill was with his partner, they had
> > some great and good visions.
>
>         No they didn't. They just saw that software was where the profit was
> and that IBM, a hardware company, failed to realize this and gave it
> away. Their "vision" was to hold on as tight as they could to this
> tiger until they can't hold on any longer. They've stayed true to that
> vision and now our government's going to punish them for it. There's
> no need. That tiger's about dead and its probably too late for them to
> switch to a new one.
>
> > That vision just got shaped along the way.
> > I honestly hope that the money from the IPO will be used in good faith.
> >
> > And believe me, that remains to be seen. Well, hope for the best, expect
> > the worst.
>
>         What exactly are you ranting about here?!?!? Good faith? You mean in
> line with your socialist tendencies? Lets hope to God they don't!
> Please define the "best" and "worst" as you see it?
>
> > Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely, we'll see.
>
>         Which power is this? Absolutely? What tripe!
>
> > Frankly me biggest fear is that all these IPO companies will eventually
> > turn on the people they have dependent for so long. And they will do
> > that without even realizing over time.
>
>         You're afraid of the boogy man. Every kid fears him but none can
> define exactly what he'd do to him. Just how could they turn on the
> people they've been dependent on for so long? Frankly, my concern is
> that, if a majority of them have your and Mr. Waldrop's petty
> attitudes, then no such company that tries to make a place for itself
> in the free market will ever make it because their support will
> dwindle out from them as soon as they're successful. Fortunately, I'm
> a Libertarian and believe in the free market and that the majority of
> people will act in their own enlightened self interests which is how
> Linux became so successful and other products and companies who follow
> such a business model. The short-sighted and ignorant will hopefully
> just sit there and gnash their teeth because other people made good
> even though they didn't "deserve" it. Unfortunately, many of these
> people have banded together and created this belief that we live in a
> "democracy" and have taken it upon themselves to punish the successful
> for now doing their bidding. How long's it going to be til the Fed.
> brings anti-trust charges against RedHat for "monopolizing" the Linux
> market when Microsoft's dominance fades? You people simply won't be
> happy until everyone is as miserable as yourselves!
>
> > Microsoft knows that, and that's what they are counting on! and they will make corporate
> > espionage to excel this process. Can you believe that Microsoft promoted Redhat,
> > before it's IPO ?. Infact they will do anything to make this happen; and
> > that my friend will be the end of stock civilization as we know it.
>
>         Wow - you just seriously liabled Microsoft and demonstrated your
> extreme paranoia. The end of civilization as we know it?!?!?
> Incredible.
>
> > When microsoft shares drop to 65-50$ that's when I'll buy em. As they
> > will go to 200 when Linux falls.
>
>         When Microsoft drops to those net prices it will either be as a
> result of their natural loss of market share via the free market or
> the theft of their business by the statists like yourself who've
> declared they don't deserve it. Either way, that would be exactly
> *not* the time to buy cause its the beginning of the end for them.
>
> > Don't take me wrong, I prefer Unix over microsoft without any doubt, but
> > I just seen this kinda thing too many times.
>
>         Please tell me when? Meanwhile, you people who seem to be unable to
> stand using the dominate product, please return back to your Amiga
> machines. I understand they've got plenty of mechanisms in place to
> make sure they never achieve market share again. You'll all be much
> happier as underdogs in that environment.
>
>         regards & later,
>
>                 Ben Scherrey
>
> PS: For those of you who think I'm reacting too harshly, let me say
> that these attacks and diatribes against people and companies in our
> industry simply because they're successful cannot be left unchecked.
> All that's needed for evil to win is for good men to stand by and do
> nothing. Don't let people get away with these kinds of personal
> attacks and anti-freedom sentiments without having to understand that
> such things will be challenged.
>
> PPS: For the rest of you who agree with me but are disturbed by my
> poor grammar, sorry - I just typed it as it came out. Its late and I'm
> catching up with email and just couldn't believe that these kind of
> messages have been on here for a couple of days with only mild
> "corrections" when their very premise should have been blown out of
> the water immediately. Next time I'll be more clear and concise.
> --
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