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| NOVEMBER 22, 2024 Editor’s Note: Rumors of gold’s demise have been greatly exaggerated! If you want to know how far this new breakout could go, join Geof Smith today to learn more! Hey y’all, This morning, I opened up Google Chrome to Google some information about the DOJ's case against Google, so I could come over to a Google Doc and write a newsletter about it. Meanwhile, I had a YouTube (owned by Google) window open playing some music in another tab and a Google Sheet with my calendar. And if I’d picked up my phone to search for something, chances are, I’d have used a Google interface there, too (and it’s not even an Android phone! I have standards!! (Just kidding, Android users 😆) It is staggering how often and how unthinkingly we use Google products in our lives. And perhaps that’s part of why the Department of Justice seems keen on making Google and their products less ubiquitous. I believe I’ve talked about this in a previous newsletter (I don’t have time to Google it right now), but recently, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google was a monopolist. And yesterday, U.S. Regulators proposed their “solutions” to this “problem,” which includes Google selling off its extremely popular browser, Chrome. Now, Chrome is far and away the most popular browser in the world. In fact, a pure majority of internet users access the internet through Chrome: And while I can’t attest to why everyone uses Chrome, I can tell you why it’s on every computer I’ve ever used: because it’s the best browser. Chrome makes life easier, it integrates with the many Chrome apps, sites, and programs I use on a daily basis, and it’s simple with cool features that I appreciate. Was I “monopolized” into this decision? Probably not. I’ve preferred Chrome for over a decade now, dating back to when it was just on the rise, around the time it crossed over with Internet Explorer to become the most popular browser in the world. And speaking of Internet Explorer: why was that festering pile of junk ever the #1 browser in the world? Exactly. Because it was the default browser on all Microsoft computers. Windows STILL represents the HUGE majority of operating system use in the world, and yet, Microsoft Edge, its default browser (renamed to live down the embarrassment of having ever been Internet Explorer) is not the most popular browser in the world. Why is that? Because Google built a better browser. And that brings me to my main point: in my personal opinion, the government really shouldn’t be in the business of punishing successful businesses. Yes, there is a line businesses shouldn’t cross. But I think we can all tell the difference between a 19th-century “company store,” labor exploitation, “robber baron” type of monopoly, and a modern-day monopoly of choice. Does Apple negotiate exclusivity contracts and use every resource at its disposal to make sure iPhones remain the most popular cell phones on the market? Of course they do. But that’s not why people use iPhones. They use iPhones because it’s a better phone (this time I’m not sorry, Android users ❤️) Companies are always going to push to control the market, and we want them to. That drives innovation and progress. But when the government starts to decide how much success is TOO much success, we have a problem. Because, after all: NO one can challenge the Department of Justice’s monopoly on prosecuting cases. And, for the record, I think both sides of the political aisle have gotten far too comfortable with this sort of thing over the last ten years. Whether it’s Democrats busting up monopolies for equity’s sake or Republicans busting them up for “free speech” reasons, both sides have become a little too comfortable putting their finger on the scale of free markets for my tastes. As a trader and investor, though, you need to watch this situation carefully. Does this case go away immediately when the Trump Administration ascends? Or will Google really have to sell off major parts of its business? And if it does, how will that affect the stock? Those questions remain to be answered. But for my tastes, I’d rather we didn’t have to ask them. Either way, I hope you have a great weekend and, if you’re traveling for the holidays like I probably will be, I hope you stay safe! To your prosperity, Stephen Ground Editor-in-Chief, ProsperityPub |
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