tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post5087071314992159359..comments2023-04-14T06:24:55.668-04:00Comments on Everyone takes their turn: Hold on to your walletsTom Gagnehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11466965984472091709noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-30312384113445531232007-06-27T12:29:00.000-04:002007-06-27T12:29:00.000-04:00Bill Gates had done some major global issues with ...Bill Gates had done some major global issues with his philanthropy, yet I do have some issues with how it is being accomplished.<BR/><BR/>Windows products are highly over-priced in the USA, with software sales margins 6-7 times higher than most other consumer products. A Windows operating system costs hundreds of dollars in America. Yet dig a little deeper and you will find that Microsoft has made deals with other nations (who are our biggest future financial competitors) such as India and China to sell the operating systems for a low as one dollar a copy. Thus ask yourself, is this transfer of weath out of America by the hundreds of billions (over decades), and the preferential treatment of non-USA residents a good thing? I could understand if there was competition and choices in America for purchasing an operating system, but the fact is that Microsoft dominates and has the best product....thus Americans are forced to spend the money if they desire a legal computer system.<BR/><BR/>In summary, the method of super high profit margins and differential treatment between global customers has me questioning how much good Bill Gates is really doing for America when looking at the big picture, versus our economic competitors which are enjoying discounted products and more charity. In some ways, Microsoft has created a mini-trade deficit with overpricing practices and transfers of charity dollars to other nations...<BR/><BR/>Yet Microsoft is no different than many other industries, like the drug companies that charge Americans a huge premium versus the huge discounts that nations such as Canada receive. It is common practice, with the major difference being the magnitude of weath transfered in the process.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps Americans themselves are to blame for being to naive to barter, and too quick to flash the plastic and buy without questioning the true costs of making a purchase. If more Americans slowed down and did more research, they would be outraged how much more they pay for common products versus the huge discounts given to foreign nations.<BR/><BR/>And such may seem like a small matter, until a few decades down the road when the USA has to bow to the pressures from the new financial superpowers, such as China and India, versus being on top of the world as we currently reside today...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-18907229621235688982007-06-13T07:59:00.000-04:002007-06-13T07:59:00.000-04:00OK. I wasn't clear.It has nothing to do with Bill...OK. I wasn't clear.<BR/><BR/>It has nothing to do with Bill Gates, but it has a LOT to do with being suspicious of anyone exploiting their success in one field to curry credibility in another. Or more specifically, just because he's rich doesn't mean "creative capitalism" is an improvement over capitalism-as-we-know it.<BR/><BR/>As important is recognizing Gate's comment about pressing governments to spend taxpayer money more in-line with taxpayer values is completely backwards, and people should remember THEY are best able to do that, and the best thing to "press" government into would be returning that money to the taxpayers by way of refunds or lower taxes and let taxpayers exercise their own philanthropy.<BR/><BR/>Making fun of Microsoft was just a bonus.Tom Gagnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466965984472091709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19913884.post-8345101443742207712007-06-13T05:48:00.000-04:002007-06-13T05:48:00.000-04:00What's your point? Is it, "I hate Bill Gates and ...What's your point? Is it, "I hate Bill Gates and Microsoft" or something else. Methinks you're using your scorn for the success of Mr. Gates as evidence of an erroneous politcial position which sounds like a logical fallacy to me.Russel Trojanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08099997476446337420noreply@blogger.com