Deadline for Microsoft... will they have to pay ?

[MazeRat7]

<snip>
Microsoft has until the middle of next week to comply with last year's antitrust ruling from the European Commission or it will face fines of as much as $5 million a day, the European competition regulator said Monday.
</snip>

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/05/23/yourmoney/msft.php

While this specific story is about Microsoft, the real story here is that the EU has basically de-nutted several US companies over the past several years. They are basically telling them to either play by their rules or don't play.

My thinking is that since the dysfunctional cabal that is driving our US political machine is rooted in corporate interest and since international corporations "need" the European market to survive... aren't they basically "de-nutting" themselves by aligning with Bush et al and basically pissing these people off...

Just asking.

MZr7

[spindoctor]

1. I don't think there is a connection

The difference between the US and Europe is that European politicians don't get the kickbacks (bribes) that our corrupt representatives get.

Therefore they are slightly more inclined to uphold the rules and corporations can't get away with murder.

What is interesting is the reaction (or lack of) from the coporations. It is as if they assume that their problems will be taken care of. Business as usual.