Re: MD the metaphysics of free-enterprise

From: ml (mbtlehn@ix.netcom.com)
Date: Sat Jul 10 2004 - 20:34:03 BST

  • Next message: Dan Glover: "Re: [Spam] Re: MD the metaphysics of free-enterprise"

    Hello MSH,
    Good to hear from you.

    >
    > msh says:
    > Hi Mel. Not sure where you get your Microsoft history, but it sounds
    > like it's from their publicity press releases. I'll be happy to give
    > you a crash-course, starting with the fact that Bill Gates and Paul
    > Allen were first known as Trafo-Data, or something, in the mid 70's.
    > Lemme know if you're interested.
    >
    After Microplop 'stole' their operating system, they follow IBM's
    example and Marketing was king over Quality. My window into
    their history is partly watching as they developed, partly from
    Borland, and general BizPorn Mags and books---Not a fan, I
    use Linux on most of my Systems...but gotta give the devil
    his due. Most folks still would not use a PC without MS's
    pre-literate-grunt-click operating system.

    > msh says:
    > Or, maybe, some of them preferred making a living without exploiting
    > others, even if it meant being exploited themselves. And, since you
    > seem to be confused by the word, I'm using "exploited" in the
    > economic sense of paying an employee less than the value of his
    > product, so that the product may be sold for a profit.

    Sorry for the subtlety, but I was gently trying to point at a piece
    of ideology to which you seem wedded, you use EXPLOIT in
    a paternalistic manner. You seem to allow no possibility of
    free will on the part of the employee, which truly would be a
    low quality position. Apologies if I am mistaken...truly.

    FYI, my employees came to me and asked to form a
    partnership and buy out our Capital partner. We did
    and the following year we sold to a competitor and all
    those poor exploited folks banked nice fat checks and
    moved on. Several have asked me to call them on the
    next venture.

    I was not an exceptional "massa", it's just that this is how
    the real world of small businesses works in dynamic
    markets. In static markets there is a lower quality experience
    for all.

    >
    >
    > mel:
    > I think history and economics shows this assertion not to be true.
    > Economies South of the Rio Grande are traditionally paternalistic
    > systems run by a small group of elite in each country. Only at the
    > village and produce market level are they dynamic and free. If you
    > are looking at real money you must make deals with the "right"
    > families. That was a Spanish creation, but the families are also the
    > ones who traditionally 'pick' their country's rulers.
    >
    > msh says:
    > I find it difficult to believe that you belive this. And don't know
    > what to say, after that. I can recommend some books on American
    > interventions in Latin America, I suppose.

    My opinion on Parternalistic Economies is based on having
    read about them and having known the scions of two of the
    "RIGHT" Familias, un de Venezuela y un de Guatemala.
    En Argentina y en Mexico, hay lo mismo cuando las moneda
    es miliones. Also from some amount of international mining
    business involvement. Sorry, on the ground, you gotta be with
    the right people or a project goes nowhere.

    In Argentina a mine goes undeveloped without the right partner
    and the world's reputedly richest gold property (in Northern Mexico)
    could not be developed due to too many hands held out in the local
    government, because there was not certain governor's brother
    involved.

    Lo siento amigo, pero Paternalismo es la verdad!

    Much as Yankees like to think themselves strong and smart, we get
    duped and played the patsy by one group or another in Latin
    countries. As my father is fond of stating, no matter what you do
    you are going to be wrong.

    Wrong has been done and injustice prevails and will coninue
    until we get a clue what their system is... Change will come,
    but we are so little aware (especially in every white house admin
    I've ever seen) that we are bound to miss it.

    thanks--mel

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