Summary: Microsoft resorts to familiar tricks in attempt to ratify a decision from which it will benefit financially (while still evading tax)

A FEW WEEKS ago, Microsoft got caught phone-spamming using a peripheral agency. Going a couple of years back, Microsoft was accused of "spamming ANSI" just like it was rigging votes and sending fake letters on behalf of dead people in order to support its position after committing crimes (for which it was found guilty). Microsoft recently used similar tricks to block the Yahoo!-Google deal, but rather than dead people, those who wrote letters were hired AstroTurfers working for the LawMedia Group (Microsoft always externalises these morally-corrupt activities to front groups or PR agencies, just like media companies use the MPAA/RIAA as a punching bag with no products to be mocked).

According to this new report, county executive Dow Constantine was "Inundated with Hundreds of Identical Emails from Microsoft"

2. County executive Dow Constantine was inundated with hundreds of identical emails from Microsoft employees yesterday, imploring him to “use your leadership to make sure the [520 bridge] project remains on track.”

The text of the emails was copied and pasted from Microsoft’s new “Let’s Move” web site, part of a pricey new campaign by the Redmond company to defeat a proposal by Mayor Mike McGinn and House Speaker Frank Chopp (D-43) to revisit the idea of putting light rail or bus-rapid transit on the bridge.

It's about that bridge which we wrote about last week and over the weekend [1, 2]. In order to promote its interests, Microsoft is publishing more of its own 'articles' in R&D Magazine (there has been a lot of that stuff in recent months, which makes one wonder about the integrity of this magazine) and nothing is said about the tax evasion [1, 2] involving a former Microsoft manager who now works in the government. What a huge distraction.

This has also been covered in:

● Microsoft Plays Hardball Over New 520 Floating Bridge

● Mayor Sends Letter To Microsoft Regarding 520 Bridge Plans

● Mayor McGinn pokes Microsoft's CEO in the eye

In an astonishingly cheeky letter to Ballmer, McGinn granted no merit to Microsoft's position of wanting to adopt the current consensus plan for expanding 520; told Ballmer to "share my response with your employees"; and invited Ballmer to "discuss this important project in a town hall with you and fellow Microsoft employees on your campus in Redmond."

● McGinn to Microsoft on 520: Walk the talk

State Sen. Ed Murray said it was like a "punch in the face," and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn implied that Microsoft was being a hypocrite.

● Seattle mayor wants town hall with Microsoft CEO

In a functional system, the government listens to people and controls the corporations. But in this current system, corporations control the government, which does not listen to the people. ⬆