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The best way to understand Bill's lobbying error is to take a look at the current 800 pound gorilla Google. Now, imagine Google's founders remained geeks, avoi

The best way to understand Bill's lobbying error is to take a look at the current 800 pound gorilla Google. Now, imagine Google's founders remained geeks, avoided lobbying at Washington. What do you think would have happened once complaints from its competitors started pouring in? Microsoft was hammered because it bundled internet explorer with its operating system and other anti-competitive practices. Google mandates Google some to be installed by its OEMs. It also bars them from releasing phones with forked android versions. Google also tried to leverage its dominance in search to cut a slice out of Amazon's biz. http://www.zdnet.com/article/android-oem-requirements-unveiled/ http://www.zdnet.com/article/android-oem-requirements-unveil... In my opinion, Google's founders would have made exactly the same mistake as Bill if not for Eric Schmidt. His two lost battles with Microsoft taught him many things two of which were: 1. How to prepare for the upcoming battle with Microsoft 2. The importance of lobbying

ZenoArrow 11y ago
Politicians should serve the will of the people. Any successful lobbying that gets in the way of that should be seen as a failure, not something to be encouraged. Of course changing the system to hinder the ability of companies to lobby is the goal we should be aiming for, but in the meantime let's not give companies that do so carte blanche to continue.
- Decade 11y ago
  Don't hate the player when he didn't even want to play. Hate the game. It's a prisoner's dilemma. Either you lobby politicians, or somebody else lobbies the politicians and locks you out.
  - ZenoArrow 11y ago
    I can and will blame both. Not all companies lobby, not all companies have the resources to effectively do so, yet small to mid size companies continue to turn a profit. The argument that large companies have to do so just because they can is ludicrous.

ZenoArrow 11y ago

Politicians should serve the will of the people. Any successful lobbying that gets in the way of that should be seen as a failure, not something to be encouraged. Of course changing the system to hinder the ability of companies to lobby is the goal we should be aiming for, but in the meantime let's not give companies that do so carte blanche to continue.

Decade 11y ago
Don't hate the player when he didn't even want to play. Hate the game. It's a prisoner's dilemma. Either you lobby politicians, or somebody else lobbies the politicians and locks you out.
- ZenoArrow 11y ago
  I can and will blame both. Not all companies lobby, not all companies have the resources to effectively do so, yet small to mid size companies continue to turn a profit. The argument that large companies have to do so just because they can is ludicrous.