.............................................................. >From the New Paradigms Project [Not Necessarily Endorsed]: From: Lloyd Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: EMBOLDENED FEDS SWING ANTITRUST TURRETS TOWARD VISA, MASTERCARD Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2000 5:52 AM From: Howard Rothenburg <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: SNET: EMBOLDENED FEDS SWING ANTITRUST TURRETS TOWARD VISA, MASTERCARD -> SNETNEWS Mailing List EMBOLDENED FEDS SWING ANTITRUST TURRETS TOWARD VISA, MASTERCARD The U.S. government, fresh from its victory in the Microsoft case, accused the Visa and MasterCard credit card networks of violating antitrust law and blocking competition through exclusionary tie-ups with banks in opening arguments at a federal trial yesterday, according to Reuters. (http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,36945,00.html) Visa and MasterCard, which control more than 75 percent of U.S. credit card sales, do not truly compete with each other, U.S. Justice Department lawyer Melvin Schwarz told a packed federal courtroom in New York. They also thwart rivals, barring them from working with their member banks, he alleged. "The government will show defendants have not bothered to innovate or have been slow to innovate, and continue to do so," Schwarz said. News stories did not state what makes the Justice Department experts in credit industry innovation. The government's revitalized penchant for suing companies that "thwart rivals" or are "slow to innovate" can only lead to more trouble. In "It's Time To Reexamine Antitrust Legislation," D.T. Armentano writes that "Microsoft's latest difficulties with the U.S. Department of Justice reveal the absurdity of attempting to apply 19th century antitrust law to a 21st century computer and telecommunications marketplace." (http://www.cato.org/dailys/11-13-97.html) In "Rewriting the Rules for High-tech Antitrust," Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies Robert A. Levy examines a "post-modern world of high-tech antitrust, where big is once again bad, lofty profit margins are a wake-up call to government regulators, executives are brought to heel for aggressively worded e-mails, pricing too high is monopolistic, pricing too low is predatory, propping up politically wired competitors is the surreptitious aim, bundling products that consumers want is illegal, and successful companies are rewarded by dismemberment." (http://www.cato.org/dailys/11-03-99.html) -> To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics Forwarded for info and discussion from the New Paradigms Discussion List, not necessarily endorsed by: *********************************** Lloyd Miller, Research Director for A-albionic Research a ruling class/conspiracy research resource for the entire political-ideological spectrum. **FREE RARE BOOK SEARCH: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ** Explore Our Archive: <http://a-albionic.com/a-albionic.html> <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html <A HREF="http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
