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Yes, there's an important distinction
Bribery is a quid pro quo, taking money to do the job.
If the job happens to get done after discussions resulting from the access purchased by a major contribution, then that is free speech (money = speech in US law) and responsiveness to the public in a representative government.

At worst, we're dealing with a legal fiction, and, quoting W.S. Gilbert, 'Legal fictions are solemn things.' Countries wouldn't feel as good about themselves without a few fictions.

If you're running a company, don't let your contributions lapse, even if you're not seeing any results. Think about what happened in 'Burn, Witch, Burn' when the superstitious protections were removed.
Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 11/12/03 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use
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Ballmer is one shrewd CEO  Mike Cox | 11/12/03
Re: Ballmer  dw@... | 11/12/03
You sir...  Mike Cox | 11/12/03
Well,that's reassuring  dw@... | 11/13/03
when does free count as a competitor?  lmaxwell | 11/13/03
Welcome back, Mike...  John Le'Brecage | 11/12/03
Damn, I was aiming for the "Resident Buffoon" slot!  dw@... | 11/13/03
Go Microsoft!  jellyclock | 11/12/03
Ya right.  LinuxHippie | 11/12/03
assume makes an ass of u and me  jellyclock | 11/12/03
Bribery is illegal everywhere.  Anton Philidor | 11/12/03
re : Bribery is illegal everywhere.  lmaxwell | 11/12/03
Actually, I'd call that extortion  rapson | 11/12/03
Thanks for clearing that up for me  michael-t | 11/12/03
Yes, there's an important distinction  Anton Philidor | 11/12/03
Too Confident...  LinuxHippie | 11/12/03
ya but  blahblahblah | 11/12/03
Not be bought?  Ardian Daka | 11/12/03
Fuzzy thinking  Bill Weisgerber | 11/12/03
And this is bad?  John Le'Brecage | 11/12/03
Only bogus arguments...  MacCanuck | 11/12/03
How about it?  Bill Weisgerber | 11/12/03
Are you related to No Axe Bit?  MacCanuck | 11/13/03
put the blame  lmaxwell | 11/13/03
Is it Time to Catch Uo?  ShadeTree | 11/14/03
re: Nothing will fuel the already considerable migration to Open Source fas  Salman Pak | 11/12/03
1% is a few million units  Bill Weisgerber | 11/12/03
no monopoly....  blahblahblah | 11/12/03
The U.S. can't be Believed  cygnet@... | 11/12/03
prescendent  ryusen | 11/12/03
so subservient aren't you ?  blahblahblah | 11/12/03
M$ will go down!  screaming silence | 11/12/03
the only time criminals go down  ryusen | 11/12/03
It'll be interesting to see if the EU has the b@lls to go up against MS ...  Plain Logic | 11/12/03
?  lmaxwell | 11/13/03

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