Re: Judge Jackson's Final Judgment in DOJ v. Microsoft.
Date: June 7, 2000.
Source: Office of Rep. Armey.
| Statement by House Majority Leader
Dick Armey (R-TX). Re: Judge Jackson's Final Judgment in DOJ v. Microsoft. Date: June 7, 2000. Source: Office of Rep. Armey. |
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I'm shocked that one judge would presume to know exactly how the high-tech economy should evolve. Who could witness the explosion of new high-tech products created in recent years and still think that any one man could possibly predict how that market will or should develop from here? No one person can possibly presume to anticipate all the wonderful innovations millions of creative minds will invent, given the freedom to work together and try new ideas.
Judge Jackson is basing his ruling on a zoom-lens snapshot of one moment in time. But that picture is already outdated. Company mergers and product innovations have dramatically changed the playing field since this case was filed. Competition is bringing prices down and creating products and services we never dreamed would become so universal so quickly.
Our children have access to every kind of learning tool on the Internet. We have dozens of ways to keep in touch with family and friends across the globe. The Internet holds information and services that everyone can use to improve their quality of life - from learning more about their health to booking vacation plans on-line. And we pay less and less for the computers that bring us access to all these wonders. A free and open high-tech market has made all these products and services possible - and continued freedom is essential to developing the technology that puts these digital opportunities within everyone's reach.
Judge Jackson's ruling will divert innovative companies from creating better products. Worse, it will send the message to innovators around the world that in America we punish success.
It is this ruling, not Microsoft, that is damaging to consumers, as it would deny consumers new products, better accessibility and lower prices. I'm confident the appeals court will reject Judge Jackson's notion that any one man can foresee how this world of possibility should unfold.