Mass. warms to Microsoft Office standard

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For me, a return visit.

In fact, the people's elected representatives are speaking on this issue. They called the two(!) people responsible and avaialable to a hearing and let them listen for hours to all those whom their decision had put at risk.

Then the people's representatives put over-ruling the MA officials' actions into a piece of legislation.

And the Governor is welcoming Microsoft's action as satisfactory, though, as Mr. Berlind points out, the provisions may not be as damaging to Microsoft as those the officials would have preferred to inflict.

The people and government of MA are united in removing this blotch,I think it's reasonable to say.

Though you do have a point.
If those who "ain't rich" decide that the qualifications for a group of document formats is the most important issue in MA at the time of the next election, they can march into the voting booths and vote in those who favor ODF. Assuming that any candaidate has bothered taking a position.

Once the petty dictators have been overthrown, I think the issue will be remembered only with shrugs.


And it's worth noting, though I'm getting ahead of your curriculum, that many State officials remain in place long after the representatives present when they began their tenure.
This group is variously called, examples being the "bureaucracy" and the "permanent government".
One reads sometimes about what happens when this group opposes the views of the elected officials and their "political" appointees.

But more significant is the tendency of some officials to use their positions to implement their own views. Think of Monti and his attempt to control the design of the products sold in Europe, how those products can be sold, and what share of its market as Monti defines it the product can obtain.

Eastern Europe was at one time under the control of such people, and you should take my word that you wouldn't want to live under such conditions.
Those governments may be gone, but you might consider France as a reminiscence.

The MA officials are solidly in this tradition, of course. The good news is, they have proven to have less discretion to exercize.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 11/28/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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