The suit against Microsoft Corp. shows the government's hypocrisy. The Department of Justice, along with a number of states, brought the case over purported illegal monopolistic practices, accusing the company of stifling competitors, innovation and lower prices. But what of the federal and state governments' own monopolies?
Social Security is an obvious example, along with the Post Office. And at the state level, there's taxpayer financing of public education.
Social Security is also an immense system. Most workers cannot refuse to belong to it. Yet, Social Security provides a poor return to retiring participants, even though many innovative ideas would improve the system. But the government so far has refused to open up the system to competitive forces.
Still, the government is enraged about Microsoft. It may or may not have a legitimate case against Bill Gates' company. Yet, government monopolies such as Social Security have been, over the years, far more costly to the public. One only could wish the government monopolies at least worked as well and served the public as well as Microsoft. But no one in the Justice Department has even thought of bringing a case against Uncle Sam.
