Boycott Microsoft!

Even the most apathetic and stupid Americans know that our government is horribly corrupt, helping the rich at everyone else’s expense. Anyone with a clue about politics knows that corporations effectively control the government, along with the media and most other major institutions. It isn’t much of an exaggeration to say that corporations are the root of all evil.

Most U.S. citizens prefer to stick their heads in the sand or, at best, cast a lame vote for whatever candidates the corrupt Democratic and Republican parties trout out each fall. But some of us prefer to fight back, and few targets are more tempting than Microsoft and its founder, Bill Gates.

If you already understand WHY Microsoft should be boycotted, skip down to HOW you can boycott Microsoft. And if you’re already boycotting Microsoft, learn how you can help spread the word.

Aren’t Boycotts History?

Many people seem to think boycotts are history. Some corporations are so big, we just can’t live without them. (Imagine boycotting gasoline!) In our ever more complex society, it’s hard to even know what corporation owns a particular brand name or produces a particular product or service. And how do you rally enough apathetic Americans to make a boycott work?

Microsoft is a very special situation. Not only can most people live without it, most people would actually be better off without Microsoft. Believe it or not, there are higher quality alternatives to most Microsoft products that are often cheaper to boot. In fact, most open source software is free.

Nor are Microsoft’s products and services hard to identify. On second thought, Bill Gates has managed to disguise a few services. But his flagship product, Windows, has Microsoft written all over it. Ditto for Microsoft Office.

In fact, it’s really hard to miss a Microsoft product because Bill Gates is so damn greedy. Purchasing a Microsoft software program is like buying one big, endless advertisement.

Rallying apathetic Americans to boycott Microsoft is another story. It is admittedly very, very tough. Even many web designers who complain bitterly about Microsoft nevertheless support it, like prisoners of war.

Fortunately, we have an ally named Bill Gates. His extraordinary greed, arrogance and corruption and his penchant for designing crappy software are shaping public sentiment.

Why Boycott Microsoft?

Where do I begin? Microsoft is one of the world’s most powerful and corrupt corporations. Its founder Bill Gates, is the richest person in the world and almost certainly ranks with George W. Bush as one of the ten most hated people in the world — and not just because he’s rich.

However, money does tend to corrupt, and Bill Gates was born with the world’s biggest silver spoon in his mouth. He apparently inherited his greed, arrogance and corruption from his father, a notoriously corrupt and powerful Seattle attorney and founder of the lobby/lawfirm Preston Gates & Ellis. One of PGE’s most famous employees was Jack Abramoff, one of the most sensationally corrupt political lobbyists in American history. PGE also employs Slade “Skeletor” Gorton, one of Washington State’s most famous former senators.

People who are clueless about Microsoft software may nevertheless hate Gates because he’s a leader in outsourcing Americans’ jobs to other nations. Or they may hate him because he’s such a powerful supporter of the Republican Party, or because he supports some of America’s most corrupt Democrats as well.

More politically savvy people fear Bill Gates as some sort of super snoop who lives in their computers and may be conspiring with the federal government to spy on us.

Few people are aware of how ruthlessly Bill Gates exploits education and America’s children. Talk about a double whammy — screw taxpayers and consumers, then screw their children for good measure.

Speaking of taxpayers, Bill Gates loves corporate welfare. He even screwed Seattle taxpayers out of millions of dollars when he relocated his phony philanthropic foundation’s headquarters to the Seattle Cernter. What kind of philanthropist can’t even pay fair rent?

But what if you don’t care about politics? What if you just want a computer that works the way it’s supposed to and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Well, you can still boycott Microsoft by spending less money on superior software. Or you can spend more money on an Apple Mac that will pay for itself in the long run. Or purchase the new Mac Mini, which is very affordable. Ironically, one of the main reasons so many millions of people stick with Microsoft is that they simply aren’t aware of the alternatives. This is due in part to Microsoft propaganda.

The Time is Ripe

I have long blasted Microsoft on political forums, including Democratic Underground (DU). I noticed that Microsoft threads often turned into heated discussions, as “Microsoft whores” rallied behind their master. Since defending Bill Gates against charges of monopolism and corruption was becoming increasingly tougher, the Microsofties sought refuge behind Bill Gates’ alleged philanthropy.

After I was banned from DU, I continued to monitor its forums and noticed an intriguing development: Bill Gates’ defenders virtually disappeared, and people began to increasingly sneer at his “philanthropy,” many people finally recognizing it for the sham it is.

This is powerful evidence that Bill Gates is losing his public relations campaign, and for good reason. Some of Bill Gates’ most powerful allies, notably the Republican Party and the sinister lawfirm of Preston Gates & Ellis, are under fire.

Having lied, cheated and bribed his way through the U.S. court system, Bill Gates is now being held accountable by the European Union and various foreign nations.

Outside politics, Microsoftware has become an ever bigger joke. The next major upgrade of its flagship product, Windows, is long overdue, even after being stripped of many of its features. Vista was originally scheduled for release in 2006 (2005?), but it won’t even be available for the 2006 holiday season.

Given all of Microsoft’s self-imposed headaches, it isn’t even clear if there will be a big rush to upgrade to Vista even after it is available.

People probably won’t upgrade to Internet Explorer 7.0 en masse until Vista becomes available. In the meantime, the mighty Firefox Internet browser has attracted an almost cult-like following. In fact, there are several browsers that are superior to Internet Explorer.

While the world waits for Longhorn-Vista to come limping out of the chute, other competitors are sharing the spotlight with Firefox. Apple seems to announce a new sensation every week. Indeed, it’s interesting to ponder how many more operating system upgrades Apple will produce before Microsoft finally releases Vista.

People who aren’t yet ready to part with Microsoft can now operate Windows on Apple computers with the help of a software program called Boot Camp. Even more exciting are programs that allow Apple/Mac software and Windows to operate simultaneously.

VIRUSES

(Vista, Democratic Underground, etc.)

How Can I Boycott Microsoft?

People offer many reasons for not voting. However, the most common reasons that I’ve heard seem to focus on personal obstacles and the general dereliction of candidates and politics in general.

Windows

Office

Google

In fact, there’s activists — what next?

Spreading the Word

The medical profession was taken over by corporations long ago, as family doctors were replaced by HMO’s and health benefits began to deterioriate. I began working in public education just in time to witness the de facto privatization of America’s public schools.

Thus, it couldl be argued that doctors and teachers are no longer professionals, since they have so little control over their professions.

Fortunately, I found an exhilarating freedom as a website designer and publisher. I can work out of my home or on the road with a wireless laptop. I can choose my hours, my topics or specialties and my clients. It is no exaggeration to say that web designers rank among the freest Americans, even if the field is competitive.

Amazingly, most web desingers suck up to Microsoft. They may complain about Microsoft, Microshaft or M$, but they seldom challenge it. Frankly, I think these people rank with teachers as America’s biggest sellouts.

Wake up! You CAN challenge Microsoft, from both a practical and political perspective, and survive. More than survive, you can actually benefit from telling your customers and visitors about superior alternatives to Microsoft.

You can start by bashing Microsoft and/or promoting the competition on your websites, as I do.

Slim & Elegant

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