Atomic Bomb Justified Essay - 1643 Words

Was the Atomic Bombing Justified? The Atomic Bomb made a very serious statement at a time when the world was in disarray (â€Å"Manhattan†). World War II was one of the most destructive times in history causing over 50 million deaths and leaving behind mental and physical casualties of war. (â€Å"World War II†) It started in September, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland and continued on a destructive path through Europe. Britain and France declared war on Germany. Two years prior in 1937, the Sino Japanese War was in full swing. Japan wanted to dominate China from a political and military standpoint and benefit from China’s many assets (â€Å"Sino†). United States, Britain and France aided China with financial aid through war supply contracts, which†¦show more content†¦His hiring, leadership, management skills and analytic capabilities were paramount in the success and development of the two Atomic Bombs. America, along with their allies, Britain and the Republic of China called for Japan’s surrender. They said failure to comply would result in utter destruction. Japan chose to ignore the request and proceeded with business as usual. Dr. Robert Oppenheimer and staff came together to discuss the plan of attack, but the final decision fell squarely on the shoulders of Harry Truman, President of The United States who had taken office only a few months before (â€Å"J. Robert†). The United States followed through on their threat. One of the first two Atomic Bombs created by the Manhattan Project, â€Å"Little Boy,† was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945; it developed an explosion corresponding to a 15 kiloton TNT explosive. The bomb generated such a mighty heat of 7,000 degrees. â€Å"Little Boy† weighed 9,700 pounds and was ten feet long and had a diameter of twenty eight inches. â€Å"Little Boy† was responsible for killing about 200,000 people. People perished and the uranium contained in this bomb immediately penetrated people’s bodies closing down bodily functions, the kidneys being one of the first things to fail. Toxic damage to the blood stream gave people very little chance of recovery (â€Å"Little Boy†). On August 9, 1945, just three days after the bombing of Hiroshima, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city ofShow MoreRelatedThe Atomic Bomb Is It Really Justified?1627 Words   |  7 PagesThe Atomic Bomb, was it really justified? On August 6, 1945, after forty-four months of increasingly brutal fighting in the Pacific, an American B-29 bomber loaded with a devastating new weapon flew in the sky over Hiroshima, Japan waiting for a signal. Minutes later the signal was given, that new weapon, the atomic bomb, was released. Its enormous destructive energy detonated in the sky, killing one hundred thousand Japanese civilians instantly. Three days later, on August 9, 1945, the UnitedRead MoreShould The Atomic Bomb Be Justified?1771 Words   |  8 Pages yet many complications can arise that would limit its justifiability. Such is the case of the dropping of the atomic bomb. For decades, there has been an ongoing debate about whether or not America’s action of dropping two atomic bombs on Japan was justified. The atomic bomb is a bomb that derives its destructive power from the rapid release of nuclear energy by fission of heavy atomic nuclei, causing damage through heat, blast, and radioactivity (dictio nary.reference.com). While the United States’Read Morewas the dropping of the atomic bomb justified2496 Words   |  10 PagesDid the USA need to drop bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945? On the 6th of August 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima,1ushering in the nuclear age. The bomb caused the deaths of over 100,000 people,2with the bulk of the destruction pertaining to innocent civilians. Three days later, the Americans repeated their action at Nagasaki. The aim of the US was not, however, to cause complete annihilation of the Japanese, but to seize the fierce nationalism withinRead More Was The Dropping Of The Atomic Bomb Justified? Essay2760 Words   |  12 PagesOn August 6, 1945 the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. This was an extremely controversial military strategy in the United States. Was the United States justified in the dropping of the atomic bomb? The U.S. feared the rise of communism and gave aid to any country against it. The U.S. also fought countries threatening the spread communism. One of these countries was Japan. We began a harsh and brutal war against Japan and against communism. ThisRead MoreWas the Atomic Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima Justified Essay1587 Words   |  7 PagesWere the Americans justified in dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945? The dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and Hiroshima in 1945 by the Americans is a very controversial issue with no definite answer. Both sides of the issue have very justifiable arguments. Reasons for dropping the bomb include the fact that Truman’s options were limited at this point in the war, that the bomb did have the desired outcome of Japans surrender and that the majority of reasonsRead MoreWas the Un Justified in Dropping Atomic Bombs on Japan?2277 Words   |  10 PagesDeepali Shinde Professor Kalra Academic Writing 101 19th September 2015. Was United Nations justified in dropping atomic bombs on Japan? World War II also known as The Second World War was a global war that was fought from 1939 to 1945 in Europe and Asia. The Second World War was debatably the most consequential period of the 20th century. World War II led to vital advancements in technology and set the base for post war social changes, that includes the end of colonialism by the EuropeansRead MoreThe United States Was Justified in Dropping the Atomic Bombs on Japan1244 Words   |  5 PagesStates of America dropped the Atomic Bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The use of these bombs brought a quick end to World War 2, yet caused extensive damage to the two Japanese cities. There have often been disputes as to whether the USA was justified in the dropping of the atomic bombs because of the damage they caused, not only to the cities, but to the people of Japan as well. Many people believe that the USA should not have dropped the bombs because of the damage they causedRead More Use of the Atomic Bo mb Against Japan was Justified Essay1137 Words   |  5 PagesUse of the Atomic Bomb Against Japan was Justified The use of the atomic bomb against Japan was completely justified in both cause and impact. An intense weapon was necessary to force a quick Japanese surrender. The bomb saved thousands upon thousands of American and Japanese lives that would have been lost if the war continued or an invasion occurred. The bomb was the only way to end the suffering of the millions who were being held captive by the Japanese oppressor. The weapon of massRead MoreThe United States Justified By Using The Atomic Bomb Against Japan During Wwii?1947 Words   |  8 PagesThe pressing question still lingers: Was the United States justified in using the Atomic Bomb against Japan during WWII? World War II stands as the bloodiest and deadliest war of all time. It involved more than thirty countries and resulted in over fifty million civilian and military deaths. It lasted six years, beginning with Adolf Hitler’s invasion of Poland in 1939. As the Allied Powers (mainly the United States, Britain, an d the Soviet Union) and the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) wereRead MoreA Closer Look at the Bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki1485 Words   |  6 Pageshistory was changed. Two atomic bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima, and three days later, August 9, 1945, on Nagasaki that ended World War II. Japan had already been a defeated nation from conventional bombs and World War II. Many innocent lives were lost, psychological scars were left on the lives of the bomb survivors, and thus many lives were changed forever. The atomic bombings caused many people to have genetic effects due to the radiation from the bombs. Revisionists have said

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch - 897 Words

Before a Trash, After a Treasure Nowadays, human beings face waste issues that produce significant detrimental emissions to the Earth. Since the majority of nations of world parts have approached the economical sustainability, their resource consumptions shows reverse effects to the environment. Many individuals squander irreplaceable resources that become trash driven widely throughout. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch clearly illustrates the human beings’ current habits as that â€Å"maelstrom of debris twice the size of Texas.† Researchers have found there tremendous amount of plastic, paper, metal and other irrelevant materials (Land 40). Presumably, the consequences may cause the colossal influence to the environment, especially the marine life. According to the â€Å"World Bank,† today many countries are generating a huge amount of waste which rates likely to increase further (Harrison and Hester 67). These studies prove that the governments must seriously consider the growing global problems and focus on the principles of the â€Å"Waste Management† (WM), particularly the Three Rs (Reduce Reuse Recycle) system as a low-cost alternative. In fact, when it comes to waste, people depend directly to landfills which are in reality causing severe damage to the environment including human beings. The case at the Dickson [Country] Landfill can be an apt example for that reason. Environmental News Service reports one family in the country has been harmed by the chemicals. In results, manyShow MoreRelatedThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch2024 Words   |  9 Pagessurfaces (Center for Biological Diversity). Carried by water currents and wind combined, these man made, non-biodegradable materials have accumulated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to form the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), also known as â€Å"the world’s largest landfill.† Estimated to be twice the size of Texas, the Patch spans from the West Coast of North America to Japan (National Geographic). Often thought of as large islands of floating plastic, in reality the GPGP is an area of plasticsRead MoreThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch1163 Words    |  5 PagesThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an accumulation of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Marine debris is trash that culminates up in oceans, seas, and other sizable voluminous bodies of dihydrogen monoxide. Its also known as the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch and the Pacific Trash Vortex. It’s located in a high-pressure area between the U.S. states of Hawaii and California. This area is in the middle of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. For many people, the conception of a â€Å"garbage patch†Read MoreThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch1527 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the effect of the human population’s waste. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of trash floating in the ocean where there is a high density of garbage because of the Pacific Gyre. â€Å"Though their name suggests rafts of bobbing refuse, the patches are instead areas with high concentrations of trash — mostly wee bits of plastic p articles that have degraded from larger pieces of litter such as water bottles. The bits amass within ocean vortices, drivenRead MoreThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch1693 Words   |  7 Pageswaterways, which eventually carries the waste into the ocean. The north pacific garbage gyre spans the majority of the area. The physical gyre stretches from the coast of Japan to California. Four different currents maintain the circular motion of the gyre, which encapsulates large amounts of debris in the center of the gyre, known as the convergence zone. All of these components lead to the term most call as the â€Å"Great Pacific Garbage Patch†. The unfortunate locations of the world’s oceans, downhill andRead MoreThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch844 Words   |  3 Pagesvortex called the North Pacific Gyre. Charles Moore discovered the North Pacific Gyre, or also known as â€Å"The Great Pacific Garbage Patch† in 1997. This garbage patch stretches hundreds of miles off th e shoreline of California and Hawaii. Scientists estimated its size to be twofold the size of Texas or maybe even more substantial. This garbage patch contains some ten million tons of litter. According to Lindsey Blomberg, who wrote the article titled The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, writes, â€Å"What is knownRead MoreThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch Essay589 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch Today, scientists believe the worlds largest garbage dump isnt on land but it is in the Pacific Ocean. It is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, stretching 10 million miles from the coast of California to China floating on either side of Hawaii and swirling beneath the surface. Its estimated to be twice the size of the state of Texas. It consists of 100 million tons of discarded plastic such as water bottles, bags, DVD cases, toothbrushes, toysRead MoreEssay on The Great Pacific Garbage Patch1288 Words   |  6 Pagesfive oceans, the Pacific Ocean is the world’s largest and deepest ocean. It spreads over an area of 165.2 million square kilometers. More than 25,000 islands float within the Pacific. Within the Pacific Ocean lies an unusual island, an island that is more than twice the size of Texas and is earth’s largest landfill, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (McLendon). Society is unaware that the excess use of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials has ended up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and isRead MoreThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch Essay1629 Words   |  7 PagesAlex Ibarra ENG 150-274 December 12, 2012 The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Living on this earth is a privilege and unfortunately we sometimes take advantage of it. Stories of deforestation, air and water pollution really make a person think of just how much our planet is being harmed. A major concern is water pollution. Water covers at least 70 percent of the planet which makes our rivers, lakes, and oceans essential. Many of these bodies of water are being polluted and although they may beRead MoreThe Great Pacific Garbage Patch Essay examples1257 Words   |  6 Pagesfact, it’s a whole lot. There is a place between California and Hawaii called the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, but is better known as the â€Å"Great Pacific Garbage Patch†. This area is the largest landfill in the world and is completely in the ocean. What are the effects of the landfill on the environment and how can it be prevented and rehabilitated to its original state? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an area of the ocean filled with mostly rubbish, most of which are not biodegradableRead MoreEffects Of The Great Pacific Garbage Patch On The Ocean s Plankton And Algae1639 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effect of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch on the Ocean’s Plankton and Algae Introduction: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is the effect of the human population’s waste. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of trash floating in the ocean where there is a high density of garbage because of the Pacific Gyre. â€Å"Though their name suggests rafts of bobbing refuse, the patches are instead areas with high concentrations of trash — mostly wee bits of plastic particles that have degraded from

Learning and Development of People Project Proposal for Finances

Question: Discuss about theLearning and Development of People Project Proposal for Finances. Answer: Proposal Objective Background Information A meeting was convened between the junior managers and middle managers of our company mid this year. During the meeting, finance manager explained the challenges that the company was currently facing which included a focus on staffing, use of finances, public relations, corporate planning and employee conflicts. The manager explained how the approach to learning and development would be the most appropriate in addressing these issues. After engaging in the discussions, the managers agreed that the approach to learning and development program would be highly beneficial to the company.it was agreed that the finance manager would provide a detailed proposal that describes specifically the learning and development interventions and how it works. This proposal itemizes the finance managers proposed a program which includes; objectives, work profile, problem statement, skills needed, and its details. Key Objectives The following objectives outline the directions for learning and development: To create a culture of learning by developing a range of supporting approaches to learning and development. To improve access to cost-effective and quality learning opportunities. To develop a skilled workforce that is competitive in the market. Needs Analysis conducted Over 90 staff responded to a survey that was conducted in July 2016 during their annual seminar. Several areas of interest were identified which needed to be looked into. They include; time management, project management, conflict resolution, communication and the use of computer software. Workgroup Profile Group Composition, Roles and Demographics The learning and development program will involve those staff in the marketing and accounting departments. Among these staff, there are some who have been employed permanently while others are contractors. The groups will be heterogenic comprising a mix of the genders, age, personalities and nationality to provide chemistry for proper interactions and achievements. The groups will have a balance of male and female staff, young and old, blacks and whites which will increase the effectiveness of the groups. The staff in the marketing department are important to the organization since their roles are to monitor competition, transmit brand values, innovation, improve sales process and customers and come up with marketing plans. On the other hand, those in accounting are required to maintain proper books of accounts of the company. Human Capital and Experience Level The company has human capital that uses to further its goals and objectives. Staff knowing computer, finance, accounting, management and many others are part of the company's human capital. All these employees have different levels of experience which include entry, skilled and supervisory. Key Capabilities The companys major competencies include leadership and management. According to (Overton, 2017) leadership is a critical factor in the success of any business. From the research conducted by the company, it was identified that effective communication, management of change, effective engagement of employees and consultation are some of the areas combined to develop leadership capabilities. They are more innovative and willing to embrace change. The core management capabilities include the establishment of clear roles and goals and encouraging employee involvement in performance management. According to (Van Dooren and Holligan, 2015) attainment of organization goals requires managers to view performance management as their core responsibility. This allows the staff to work under minimal supervision since they have a clear direction. Problem Statement/ Competency Gap In as much as there are increased effects of learning and development among employees in organizations, the literature on the human resource development issues are still limited (Jackson and Jiang, 2014 p.33),(Burke and Noumair, 2015)and the increased concern from the company's customers towards the low quality of services. It is worth noting that the existing studies in relation to people learning and development in organizations. Cummings and Worley (2015) have taken a general view of human resource management (HRM) which has created a gap on performance issues such as effects of unclear strategies, poor customer service, lack of professionalism, and many others. These issues have led to customer dissatisfaction leading to decreased overall performance. To close this gap between the need for development and its accessibility, various inexpensive methods have been identified which will, in turn, allow managers to have a better understanding of some aspects in learning and developmen t. Needed Competencies/ Skills Description and Analysis of Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies Communication skills. Managers need to listen to the concerns of the staff with full attention. This will allow them to manage conflict that arises in the organization in a way all parties get satisfied (Shockley, 2014). For employees to develop their full potential managers, need to provide positive, constructive feedback which motivates them to perform better. Leadership Managers need to exhibit some leadership skills to execute training for workers effectively. The long-term vision for the department has to be developed and made clear to staff to ensure objectives are met (Anderson, 2016). Current LD Policy Analysis Currently, the company uses training as learning and development strategy. The process of training takes place on an individual level or as a team. Staff survey has been widely used in identifying areas that require development though throughout the little training attention was given to ensure consistency existed between learning and the overall organizational strategies. Overview Of Proposed Learning And Development Strategy Understanding the learning and development methods is very important to any organization. For this company, widely accepted and cheaper styles will be adopted which will look at personality traits of staff and aptitude when learning. The strategy adopted aims at aligning training goals with corporate goals and reduce the time to competency. These strategies include: on the job training, workshops, internal and external courses, compliance training, coaching and mentoring. Description of Benefits There are tremendous reasons on why the organization needs to adopt these strategies. Some of these reasons include; Improvement of the performance of the business and its productivity. This will help the organization gain a competitive advantage over its competitors in the market. Secondly, employees' skills and knowledge for the current roles will be improved. This will allow them to fulfill their organization's long-term and short-term objectives. Thirdly, it helps in organizational development whereby change can be easily managed, and shared values can be fostered among the staff. Proposal Details Individual Interventions These proposed learning and development strategies are extremely aligned with the objectives of the organization, and their adoption will mark the beginning of increased performance in the company. Many fast-growing organizations have adopted the 70:20:10 model of learning and development. Michael M Lombardo and Robert W Eichinger found that learning and development are most effective when it includes a combination of different learning approach.70 percent represented structured on the job learning, 20 percent represented relationship base learning, and 10 percent represented formal learning. On the job training methods are cost-effective and less disruptive because employees are always at work, training is given on the same machines, and the trainee will be earning while learning. Some of these methods include; coaching which is a one on one training and is efficient in the identification of weak areas quickly. Mentoring focuses on developing employees' attitude towards the job. This should be done by a senior manager (Wilson, 2014). According to (Manuti and Morciano, 2015 p.9), Formal learning is conducted mostly outside the job environment and requires study materials and full concentration from the staff. They include, simulation is the use of an artificial environment which is similar to the exact situation. The techniques to be used in training include; case study, role playing and in-basket training (Phillip, 2016). Benefits and Outcomes Learning and development not only provides benefits to individuals but the organization as well allowing the business to run effectively. Investing in development is worthwhile because of the following outcomes; Through development, the organization will be able to identify weaknesses, skill gaps within the existing workforce and train them to fulfill their roles effectively (Ford, 2014) Through continued learning, staffs have a higher sense of job satisfaction which improves their motivation towards work. Regular learning allows staff to be in touch with the latest technology and can use them comfortably and to its potential. Design Considerations The results of a survey done by the organization showed that employees were more comfortable with on the job training learning styles rather than the off the job because of the practical knowledge give. The formal method of learning will involve groups which will be composed of mixed demographics. The groups will have common goals which have to achieve at the end of the learning period. The employees will be provided with some reinforcements to ensure transfer of training. Some mechanisms to reinforce the training includes giving handouts, popping a post-training interview and provision of continual tips. Implementation Factors The success of any learning and development program depends on the implementation of certain factors affecting it. Since the business has some of the training resources, partial outsourcing will be the sort to complement what is available.in addition financial, human, material resources have to be mobilized for effective learning to take place. Learning should be arranged when it is required the most. Due to this reason, learning will take place at the time when the business is busy, and the dates will be blocked in advance. Validation of Learning Formal and informal ways of measuring learning will be adopted. They include; Balanced scorecards will be used where results are matched to strategy and vision of the company. Use of adoption reporting. This report will show whether the solutions reached the intended learners. Accountability cards and partners will be used in trying to change some behaviors that require observation and coaching. Learning And Development Proposal Evaluation Short-term retention of knowledge is the best way to evaluate the success of learning program. This can be done through, Knowledge Transfer Opportunities allow employees to work together, find and share information which is a great way to share knowledge (Agote and Guo, 2016 p.72).Knowledge transfer can also be achieved by the use of technology which captures key information to be used in the future Workplace Reinforcements Supervisors need to use positive reinforcement to increase productivity and morale of employees. They need to encourage good conduct by rewarding good behavior (Sessa and London, 2015). Conclusion/ Action Plan Learning and development haven't been given keen interest in the previous years, something that has caused a lot of losses to the business. Based on the interventions discussed above the following needs to be implemented for improved performance: Employees must be mentored and coached so that they can improve their knowledge and skills. The old practice of training department making all decisions doesnt seem to be effective hence learning requires inputs from the staff themselves (Roseman and Brocke, 2015 p.116)The human resource department needs to develop proper learning and development systems that are aligned with the organization goals. Bibliography Anderson, D.L., 2016. Organization development: The process of leading organizational change. Sage Publications. Argote, L. and Guo, J.M., 2016. Routines and transactive memory systems: Creating, coordinating, retaining, and transferring knowledge to organizations. Research in Organizational Behavior, 36, pp.65-84. Burke, W.W., and Noumair, D.A., 2015. Organization development: A process of learning and changing. FT Press. Cummings, T.G., and Worley, C.G., 2014. Organization development and change. Cengage Learning Ford, J.K., 2014. Improving training effectiveness in work organizations. Psychology Press. Jackson, S.E., Schuler, R.S. and Jiang, K., 2014. An aspirational framework for strategic human resource management. Academy of Management Annals, 8(1), pp.1-56. Manuti, A., Pastore, S., Scardigno, A.F., Giancaspro, M.L. and Morciano, D., 2015. Formal and informal learning in the workplace: a research review. International Journal of Training and Development, 19(1), pp.1-17. Overton, D.O.C.D., 2017. The Relationship between Knowledge Transfer, Team Learning, and Project Success in the Information Technology Field (Doctoral dissertation, Capella University). Phillips, J.J. and Phillips, P.P., 2016. Handbook of training evaluation and measurement methods. Routledge. Rosemann, M. and vom Brooke, J., 2015. The six core elements of business process management. In Handbook of business process management 1 (pp. 105-122). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Sessa, V.I. and London, M., 2015. Continuous learning in organizations: Individual, group, and organizational perspectives. Psychology Press. Shockley-Zalabak, P., 2014. Fundamentals of organizational communication. Pearson. Wilson, J.P., 2014. International human resource development: Learning, education, and training for individuals and organizations. Development and Learning in Organizations, 28(2). Van Dooren, W., Bouckaert, G., and Halligan, J., 2015. Performance management in the public sector. Routledge

The Case Against Microsoft Is Based Not Just On Bad Economics, But On

The case against Microsoft is based not just on bad economics, but on a fundamental misunderstanding of government's decision-making role when it comes to market operations. This misunderstanding has led to an attack on one of the US's most successful firms. It is difficult to measure consumer harms, much less harms that may only occur in the future. A common misconception about antitrust law is that its purpose is to ensure fair competition. That's not true; antitrust law's purpose is to protect consumers. If fair competition maximizes their welfare, so be it; if monopoly maximizes their welfare that's what the antitrust laws provide for. It's not clear that Microsoft has a monopoly in the first place. Past Microsoft customers are not a captive market, as the Department of Justice portrays them. Rather, Microsoft must continue to add features and functionality to its products to get its Windows 95 consumers to become Windows 98 (and beyond) consumers. Consumers are free to change operating systems at any time. There are such alternatives as Linux with the graphic interface, the Mac OS but the point is that even if there were none Microsoft's ability to raise prices is strictly limited by the mere possibility of such an alternative's emergence into the market. Predatory pricing that is, the practice of lowering prices to drive out competition, thus enabling massive price increases later? Well, maybe. There are compelling academic theories that question the possibility of predatory pricing in a free market, but economists universally agree that one component of predatory pricing must be high entry/exit costs. If the competition can enter and exit the market at very low cost, driving them out serves very little purpose, since as soon as you, the monopolist, get around to raising your prices, they'll come right back in and compete those profits away. The purpose of this discussion of pricing strategy is to show that Microsoft, despite its size, still fears its competitors both the ones it sees now and the ones that don't exist yet. That is because they aren't quite confident that they have kept up with consumers' preferences about how an important tradeoff is to be made. Microsoft products are similar they represent a certain level of standardization and innovation. This is the source of all the nonsense being bandied about regarding network effects that is, the advantage that Microsoft allegedly enjoys because its systems interact more efficiently with one another than with other firms' applications. It is just a side effect of Microsoft's choosing standardization over innovation a corporate strategy they should be free to pursue. It is perfectly legitimate for consumers to express their preferences about the best way to make this tradeoff; indeed, they do so every day, with their money. It is inappropriate, however, for the government to substitute its judgment of how the standardization-innovation tradeoff should be made for that of the market. Why? Because the market is simply better equipped to make such decisions. Basic economics tells us that prices convey information to firms more efficiently than any other information mechanism. Joel Klein and the other attorneys at the Department of Justice cannot, practically by definition, make informed choices about how to make the various tradeoffs in the software industry. For them to try to do so demonstrates not just hubris but ignorance. And that, at bottom, is the issue in the Microsoft trial. It is not about whether Microsoft is a nice company or whether Bill Gates is a nice person. It is about whom gets to make decisions on how software is made and sold. Do firms get to make those decisions, informed by consumer preferences? Or does the government do so with its well-documented susceptibility to private interests? I think the answer is clear. Bibliography The case against Microsoft is based not just on bad economics, but on a fundamental misunderstanding of government's decision-making role when it comes to market operations. This misunderstanding has led to an attack on one of the US's most successful firms. It is difficult to measure consumer harms, much less harms that may only occur in the future. A common misconception about antitrust law is that its purpose is to ensure fair competition. That's not true; antitrust law's purpose is to protect