ike17055

spice-boy said:

ike17055 said:

The European elites continue to demonstrate that they have no real understanding of free markets and competition. 

Free market = predatory capitaism with help from lawmakers who in turn fund their campaigns for re-election. 

The free market requires legal boundaries to ensure a level playing field -- not targeted protectionist interventions predicated on the belief that a successful company should be punished for making life difficult for non successful ones. 

rotateleftbyte said:

ike17055 said:

The European elites continue to demonstrate that they have no real understanding of free markets and competition. 

You could not be more wrong. Google has a virtual monopoly of search (>80%) so they have to play fairly. Promoting their own products and services above those of a competitor is an abuse of that market.  That gives a freer and more equal market than otherwise.

In fact, it is You who could not be more wrong. "Freer" and "more equal" are essentially contradictory in the marketplace. The freedom to succeed, or fail, is dependent largely on individual or organizational abilities and desire to exceed and outperform the practices of all others, not equality. The power of the consumer to choose ultimately picks the winner, not socialist interventions toward equality. This is the fundamental piece of free markets that European decisionmakers are missing. 

gatorguy said:

cropr said:

wizard69 said:

This is a prime example of the EU's obsession with successful American companies.    Frankly i think the goverment here in the USA needs to take a more active roll in adressing this harassment.     In the end that is exactly what it is.   

By the way iagree with Google, links to other search sites just waste my time.  The last thing we need is crappy service from Google because the EU can't compete.  

Small correction: Google was found to be dominant in their field, not a monopoly. There is a difference in the two besides just the spelling. 

Europeans and socialists in general do not get the distinction. If you succeeded, it must be because you cheated, or your uncle controls a contract with the central government. Socialist thinking. If your product is better, well, you should share and we can all be equal. And then there is just the general "shakedown" approach of all socialist societies. "We need the money. We can take it by force." Can't do that do non-nationals, except now you can, through EU legal mechanisms.

cropr said:

ike17055 said:

The European elites continue to demonstrate that they have no real understanding of free markets and competition. 

The American elites continue to think that the American law is applicable all over the world and that their view on anticompetitive behaviour is by definition the correct one.

Europe's view of competition: wait for American companies to carry the lead in innovation, and then cry and whine about "unfairness" and use legal maneuvers to entitle the lagging companies to be treated "fairly." The decay and rot of socialist thinking. 

cropr said:

ike17055 said:

The European elites continue to demonstrate that they have no real understanding of free markets and competition. 

The American elites continue to think that the American law is applicable all over the world and that their view on anticompetitive behaviour is by definition the correct one.

As long as European "leaders" expect us to pick up the tab for their own defense, they could at least not bite the hand that feeds their government extravagence for everything under the socialist sun -- except the most basic government responsibility: defense.