Comments on: California Droolin’ http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2004/04/13/california-droolin/ The dynamic new way to bore you with stories about what I watched on TV last night. Or stuff about Macs, libertarianism, prog rock, cockatiels, mountains, travel, science fiction, the Web, and what a totally awesome guy I would be if I were anything like I would like to think I am. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:11:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Ginger http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2004/04/13/california-droolin/#comment-132 Ginger Sat, 17 Apr 2004 00:58:58 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=82#comment-132 Hey Sandy, update your blog with some Qatar tidbits. Include photos. Hey Sandy, update your blog with some Qatar tidbits. Include photos.

]]> By: Sandy Smith http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2004/04/13/california-droolin/#comment-131 Sandy Smith Thu, 15 Apr 2004 00:32:49 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=82#comment-131 I used to think that natural monopolies were fine but almost unheard of without government support. AT&T, the railroad barons, ALCOA, etc. had quite a lot of government help to grow as big as they did. However, Microsoft has convinced me that a) it can happen through people's stupidity (actually they piggybacked on IBM's monopoly on business machines, though to what extent the government was involved, I don't know), and b) it is bad for consumers and the market when it does. But yes, some libertarians are relentless Microsoft defenders as they confuse pro-business with pro-market. The two aren't the same. I used to think that natural monopolies were fine but almost unheard of without government support. AT&T, the railroad barons, ALCOA, etc. had quite a lot of government help to grow as big as they did.

However, Microsoft has convinced me that a) it can happen through people’s stupidity (actually they piggybacked on IBM’s monopoly on business machines, though to what extent the government was involved, I don’t know), and b) it is bad for consumers and the market when it does.

But yes, some libertarians are relentless Microsoft defenders as they confuse pro-business with pro-market. The two aren’t the same.

]]> By: Ginger http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2004/04/13/california-droolin/#comment-130 Ginger Wed, 14 Apr 2004 22:24:53 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=82#comment-130 But don't you libertarians like monopolies? Or at least side with them? But don’t you libertarians like monopolies? Or at least side with them?

]]> By: Jason Lefkowitz http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/2004/04/13/california-droolin/#comment-129 Jason Lefkowitz Tue, 13 Apr 2004 16:29:19 +0000 http://www.sfsmith.com/blog/?p=82#comment-129 "Hmmm...is it because he's merely an idiot, or is he corrupt? I would dearly love to look at a list of his contributors." It's not a him, it's a her (State Sen. Liz Figuroa). And presto, your wish is granted: <a href="http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1072096&session=2001&view=received" rel="nofollow">http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1072096&session=2001&view=received</a> “Hmmm…is it because he’s merely an idiot, or is he corrupt? I would dearly love to look at a list of his contributors.”

It’s not a him, it’s a her (State Sen. Liz Figuroa). And presto, your wish is granted:

http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1072096&session=2001&view=received

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