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> I often wonder if something so amazing and vital as the internet and web could actually get made in the current climate. I’d say the answer is no, it couldn’
by adamcstephens 5y ago
> I often wonder if something so amazing and vital as the internet and web could actually get made in the current climate.
I’d say the answer is no, it couldn’t. The internet was created during the tail end of powerful antitrust in America, which had the government actively fighting against the monopoly size of corporations. Both IBM and AT&T, had they not been kept in check with antitrust regulations, would have likely stifled the internet and the growth of the personal computer.
Hell, even the last dying gasp of antitrust in its feeble attempt to check Microsoft, paved the way for Google and the monopolies created since.
The answer is to actively support the ideas of anti monopoly and antitrust. To break up companies and punish them for suffocating the good parts of capitalism.
- prirun 5y agoPart of Microsoft's "punishment" for monopoly practices was to give away free copies of Office to schools. With that, every parent has to have a copy of Office to read .doc files from their school. Ingenious! They use their punishment to increase their market share. I don't think breaking up companies should be the emphasis, but rather the merging of companies. AT&T was already broken up once. Now look at them.
- adamcstephens 5y agoYep, preventing the mergers first is part of the solution too. Unfortunately, we’ve allowed too many, and need to break up companies across industries. edit: and figure out a way to tell future generations not to give up on these laws next time? To your point, they may find themselves in this same place again.