Comments on: Microsoft Chooses New Lobbying Director with “Strong Ties to Democrats” http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/ Free Software Sentry – watching and reporting maneuvers of those threatened by software freedom Fri, 25 Nov 2016 09:41:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.9.14 By: paul (the unverified) http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-2/#comment-44873 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:33:53 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44873 Lobbyists have singlehandedly introduce more pork into the legislative process and screwed up the dynamic of the free-market more than anyone else.

What we have today with these lobbyists is an extension of the sales and marketing communications departments of big business. It is easier for a big company to legislate their market dominance than it is to earn it through real innovation and customer service.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-2/#comment-44701 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:49:53 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44701 It is when only big business ‘elites’ get their say that gaps in a society widen. The issue is that, at least in the existing US administration, mega corporations virtually run the country, regardless of who gets elected (they fund both parties and campaigns).

Small companies haven’t a budget for “government affairs”, so groups like ACT (sponsored by monopolists) steal the voice of small businesses, which is a disservice to them.

All that I say here is very conventional and you can find information about it in literature.

]]> By: Jo Shields http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-2/#comment-44698 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:47:42 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44698 He’s not paid for it, though.

Roy places a LOT of importance on the question “were you paid to do that?” on the basis of the all-important rule “follow the money”

]]> By: Sydney Sider http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-2/#comment-44688 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:34:15 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44688 It is really hard to understand why you object to lobbists Roy… after all, isn’t that what you are? Your cause might be your own (or that of a small group of friends… Peter, Bob et al.) rather than that of a large corporate, but you lobby for your cause all the same.

You’re a lobbist by any deffinition.

]]> By: Roy Schestowitz http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-44678 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:17:35 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44678 Exactly. He should steer away from the likes of Gates. He used to brag about his campaign not being funded by lobbyists, unlike McCain’s.

His victory should be sobering, not intoxicating.

]]> By: pcolon http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-44667 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:01:25 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44667 If anyone knows the effectiveness of the blog it is he. A large part of his presidential campaign was thru the blogs. If he ignores it now, then he learned nothing.

]]> By: Sydney Sider http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-44633 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:35:16 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44633 haha, that would work… we should run the country based on advice from the multi city trade channel.

]]> By: Jo Shields http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-44611 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:06:05 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44611

Where would you advise our nations leaders go for advice on the tech industry?

Azeroth? The head of Obama’s FCC transition team is a level 70 Tauren Shaman…

]]> By: Sydney Sider http://techrights.org/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-44610 Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:50:12 +0000 http://boycottnovell.com/2008/12/08/ms-lobby-ties-to-democrats/#comment-44610 It is good to complain about the system, but it is not much help unless you can come up with a better alternative.

Where would you advise our nations leaders go for advice on the tech industry? multiple conversations from representivies of some of the most successful companies in the industry, or should they browse the blogs with the rest of us?

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