Re: POL: Reaction to Microsoft Ruling

From: Zero Powers (zero_powers@hotmail.com)
Date: Thu Apr 13 2000 - 22:13:46 MDT


>From: "Michael S. Lorrey" <retroman@turbont.net>
>
>Ok, point taken. Now counterpoint: OPEC. OPEC is a monopoly. It is
>outside the US, and it exercises quite a bit of control over pricing in
>many nations, but not in the US, however those prices have significant
>effects on prices in the US. The US does nothing about this monopoly.
>Looks like capricious enforcement to me..

Hmmm... Interesting point. Although, looking at it from a practical
standpoint, what sanctions could we possibly obtain by suing OPEC? Remember
OPEC is not a corporation. It is not even a single nation, but a
multinational organization of 11 separate member nations.

So sure we could sue them, and levy a fine, right? And then if they didn't
pay, we could prevent them from selling their product within our borders,
right? And then what? Seeing as how they supply almost half of the world's
oil and they possess most of the world's crude oil reserves, the good ol' US
of A would be completely up a creek without a paddle. You think gas prices
are high now? Just wait until we try to sue OPEC. Nope, that just won't
work.

-Zero

"I like dreams of the future better than the history of the past"
--Thomas Jefferson

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