pseudorandom: David Smith: US=MS
“If you want to understand how the world views the US, it is probably very similar to the way we view Microsoft:
– Extremely successful, much of it appears to be undeserved.
– We are totally dependent upon them, and there isn’t much of an alternative.
– Becoming too successful in our niche simply means that we will attract their attention.
– We like it when we see them fail.
– We are uncomfortable when we see them fail because they just keep working at it until they get it right – they will always be back. Unless, of course, it is determined to be an uninteresting market.
– They don’t care about us. We are just a source of revenue. The quality of their products and support is only as much as absolutely necessary to keep us in the fold.
– We hate them, but if they offered us a job, we would join them in a second and gleefully begin to oppress our former colleagues.”