Sorry, business is not suppose to work that way. There are legal and moral issues that a businessman is required to respect. And you are absolutely correct, the Enron and Worldcom examples are indicative of where business in our country has evolved to - "slid" to, is probably a more apt comment. As a businessman, and I was a Vice-President for an International Corporation with headquaters in New York city until I retired 5 years ago, I was concerned with the every growing tendency that started (probably) in the mid-1980's for corporations to start playing "games" with their balance sheets and their employees lives. "Paper" profits started becoming more important than real profits; and, dumping thousands of loyal, long term, U.S. employees to bolster profits by a few more percentage points by closing plants here and sending the work abroad.
I know this topic is getting far afield from where er started; but, to bring it back closer: A business is supposed to treat their customers with due respect. Buying up competition for the sole purpose of causing a competing product to disapear is simply not right, legally or morally. Nor is using illegal tactics to limit your customer as to what they can offer. And courts have agreed with that position,as M$ has found out more than once.
Boarders: Up until July 1st of this year, I was sort of in the same position as you. In 1990, I decided to lease out one of the homes that I own, but rarely used. When the fellow signed the lease agreement, I told him that I expected him to treat the home as if it was his own, and keep it up as if it was his own. He replied that he would try, but he probably was only going to be there for 2 to 3 years. He finally moved out after almost 12 years of leasing from me - not once did I bother making the journey to that city to check on him or my property, simply depending on an exchange of letters at Christmas to keep me updated. When he informed me that he finally was able to purchase his own home, I flew there to get the keys and arrange selling of the property. I was amazed to find how well the fellow and his family had treated and kept the property.
The moral of this? You just might have better luck with your tennents if you give them a bit more leeway and respect - and the same could be said for M$!!
Last edited by Woogieman at Today at 12:21 pm
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