Bill Gates: Creep of the Year?

By JIM HIGHTOWER
MINUTEMAN MEDIA
Just a few weeks ago, Microsoft honcho Bill Gates was named "Man of the Year" by Time magazine, hailed for the humanitarian work he has done through his foundation. Good. But what about the anti-humanitarian work that Gates continues to do through his corporation?
Time didn't mention that Microsoft is a willing accomplice in the denial of human freedoms in China, and perhaps elsewhere. The Internet giant, eager to sell its products in China's burgeoning market of Web users, is ingratiating itself to that country's repressive rulers by cooperating in their repression -- literally selling out Microsoft's own customers there!
Take the case of Mr. Zhao Jing. He's a well-known blogger and advocate of democratic freedoms in China. When the government recently fired the editor of a progressive newspaper, Zhao Jing loudly criticized the repression on his blog, which runs on a Microsoft system. Tyrants have little sense of humor about criticism, and China's rulers wanted this guy silenced, pronto. No problem -- Microsoft did the dirty work for them, closing down the dissident's blog.
Censoring blogs
Gates's corporation also admits that its Internet system in China censors blogs, filtering out words that the government doesn't like, such as "democracy" and "human rights." Well, says the company, naturally we don't agree with them, but if we're to do business in China we have to comply with local laws.
Now that's a hoot! Giants like Microsoft don't comply with our own laws! They either hire squads of lawyers to skirt the law of the land or hire skads of lobbyists to twist the laws to their liking. Also, China's rulers need Internet companies as much or more than the companies need China.
Tell Microsoft and Bill Gates to stop their cowardly and avaricious complicity in repression -- and to start standing up for free expression everywhere.
Jim Hightower is the best-selling author of "Thieves In High Places: They've Stolen Our Country And It's Time To Take It Back," on sale now from Viking Press. Distributed by MinutemanMedia.org.