On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 8:55 PM, Kevin Dean <<a href="mailto:kevin@foreverdean.info">kevin@foreverdean.info</a>> wrote:<br><div class="gmail_quote"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Please note this is an OFF LIST reply, since it is off topic for<br>
Openmoko mailing lists.</blockquote><div><br>Huh? I agree, this is off topic but your reply did go out to the entire list.<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
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<div class="Ih2E3d"><br>
On Wed, Jun 11, 2008 at 9:02 PM, Lowell Higley <<a href="mailto:higleylh@gmail.com">higleylh@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
> If I make an observation.. I am an American by birth but have lived all over<br>
> the world.. In the middle of the Pacific, Korea, and now Europe (again).<br>
> One of the things I have noticed is that the laws in Europe tend to protect<br>
> the consumer whereas the laws in the US tend to protect big business.<br>
<br>
</div>Why do you instantly assume there two sides are opposed to each other?<br>
Now, let me say I agree that corporations (definition: a legal entity<br>
recognized by the government for the purpose of shielding the<br>
individual for personal responsibillity for their actions) are in<br>
general a bad thing since it means if a person does something "bad"<br>
while conducting business they don't suffer penalties. If, however, a<br>
person running an honest business manages to be "big", I see nothing<br>
wrong at ALL with them. </blockquote><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><br>
Businesses (big AND small) provide services and products to people.<br>
They don't use violence to get what they want (even Microsoft doesn't<br>
send the police or military to your house for refusing to buy their<br>
licenses). If people said "I don't like how you conduct business and I<br>
refuse to give you my money!" those businesses (large and small) would<br>
stop doing that thing because they want to stay in business!<br>
<div class="Ih2E3d"></div></blockquote><div><br>First, the observation was a generalization.. notice the word "tend".
No "assumptions" were made. No one said the two sides were opposed.
If that is something you drew from the observation then I think that is
something you added...not me. Again, notice the words
"tend to". Nothing is absolute nor did I infer it was. Perhaps I should have used the verbage "laws tend to favor" and not "protect"? Would that make a difference?<br> </div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<div class="Ih2E3d"><br>
> I could give many examples but I think this whole "contact vs. no contract"<br>
> discussion is a perfect example. imho.<br>
<br>
</div>I was raised as a liberal Democrat. That said, I can sit back and<br>
(with the best of them) argue the liberal perspective about how "big<br>
business takes advantage" of the "little guy/working class".<br>
<br>
I was also raised to believe that I should question everything and not<br>
accept what other people tell me without some proof. In EVERY<br>
arguement against "big business" there is one key factor - the<br>
government. How "big" might Microsoft be if the government (which<br>
funds every government school and university in just about every<br>
nation of the world) didn't pick teachers who demanded their<br>
assignments be submitted in .doc format? How many business might exist<br>
worldwide if the government didn't mandate licenses and zoning and all<br>
kinds of other things that prevent people (who create wealth by simply<br>
existing!) who have very little money from starting honest businesses<br>
and earning money by providing services and goods to people? How many<br>
deaths might be avoided if the government let people and their doctors<br>
determine if a medication was "safe enough" for their specific<br>
situation?<br>
<div class="Ih2E3d"></div></blockquote><div><br>No one has asked you to accept anything. It was merely a "personal observation." It was not some sort of law or edict I came down from the hills with to force on anyone. If you want evidence of why I believe my observation is correct, I'd be happy to share them with you. However, I don't think this is the time or place for it. <br>
</div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="Ih2E3d"><br>
><br>
> Just a personal observation... shoot me down if you like.<br>
<br>
</div>I don't mean to shoot you down. I just find it disconcerning how many<br>
people "attack" business owners, demand regulation which forces up<br>
prices and reduces control and than blame businesses for increased<br>
prices and decreased control. Hopefully some people will critically<br>
evaluate things...<br>
<div><div></div><div class="Wj3C7c"></div></div></blockquote><div><br>No one "attacked" business owners. I merely pointed out a difference *I* believe exists in the laws between the US and Europe. Not once did I ever say business(es), big or small, was doing anything wrong in either the US or Europe. Again, if you would like I will share with you why I believe my observation is true... I could also point out why I think both systems is good for consumers and business alike (they would obviously be different lists). However, I don't think it is appropriate to post to the list because it is wildly off topic, as you previously highlighted. <br>
<br>Sometimes I think messages on this list get blown way out of proportion. Right now, I believe that is the case with this entire thread. If I offended anyone with my observation, I apologize, that was not my intent.<br>
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