yey, the EU fines computer memory producers a zillion dollars for cartel stuff. I feel so much better now.
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20100520PR200.html
Brilliant commentary is appreciated. I hope to read it when I'm done barfing.
"We settled with the Commission to avoid the distraction and cost of further proceedings. After almost eight years of litigation and investigative activity, we believe it is time to move forward and refocus on the growth of our business," Nanya spokesperson Pei Lin Pai said in a statement.
In other words: they have been harassed for so long that further resistance might seriously affect their profitability. Good to know that my tax money is funding the tireless struggle of tenured bureaucrats against productive elements.
The EU fined Intel (full disclosure: my employer) a record $1.5 billion. The logic is simple... it's called "pay to play" or "if you want to peddle your wares in our neighborhood, you better pay up." This "cartel fine" is the same damned thing. For all their culture, art and long and varied history in human affairs, the Europeans are so hopelessly brainwashed in economic and business affairs. Europe really makes me despair about the long-term prospects of individual liberty, at times.
Clayton -
LMAO!!!
What about the Americans then? What percentage of Americans are brainless idiots who worship their military and the atrocities commited by their military? 90%? 95%? 99%? Pot calling the kettle black much?
ps : no antitrust legislation in Amerika either?
I've given up all hope on Western Europe, save for Switzerland, Spain (assuming it fractures) and a few of the micro-countries like Andorra and Luxembourg, but I think there's hope yet east of Deutschland. The Polish Mises Institute seems to be doing quite well, and from what I hear, Estonia's telecommunications industry is booming. The people of Eastern Europe have far more experience with socialism, and the EU is slowly but surely printing itself into oblivion. Before too long, Germany will probably become the breadline of Europe.
According to a couple of polls, people in "Communist" China are notably more pro-market and conservative about government activities than pretty much anyone in Western countries.
“Socialism is a fraud, a comedy, a phantom, a blackmail.” - Benito Mussolini"Toute nation a le gouvernemente qu'il mérite." - Joseph de Maistre
That doesn't surprise me in the slightest, and it's not just because China has only recently come out of communism and was the victim (though how much this is known in China is unknown to me) of quite possibly the largest democide in history.