I usually don’t cover Business and Technology in the articles I write but I must make an exception in this case.  The proposed partnership between internet giants Google and Yahoo is waiting on approval from our Legislators in Washington.  Sounds pretty boring doesn’t it.  Well, it is.  However, when you take a close look at what this partnership will bring, you will see that it is a very bad idea. Let’s take a quick look at these two companies. According to statistics provided by Americans for Technology Leadership, Google controls approximately 70% of the Search Advertising Market while Yahoo controls about 20% of the remaining market. If this partnership is allowed, Google will then effectively control 90% of the Internet Advertising Market.  Never before has one company controlled 90% of a single advertising medium, not in television, radio, or printed news. Can you imagine how one sided Network TV would be if one company owned 90% of the TV Stations.

Let’s look at some of the down side to this partnership.

·          This partnership will allow Google to set the price floor for all Internet Advertising which will inevitably raise the price of Online Advertising.

·          The partnership will lead to a decline in quality and service because there will not be an alternative to their service.

·          This partnership will eliminate choice that is critical to innovation and growth in online advertising and search and further expands Google control over millions of Internet users.

·          According to Brad Smith, Microsoft's senior VP and general counsel, "Congress won't need to enact a federal privacy policy; we will already have a national privacy policy – Google’s privacy policy."

Let me be blunt, I am a Capitalist. I believe in a free market where a person can grow his or her business into a giant industry without the government interfering. However, when this business has the power to control a major aspect of everyone’s life, it falls into a category that requires governmental interference.  One of the responsibilities our government has is to provide a path for Economic Prosperity to its citizens which this Partnership will effectively block.  If you are a business owner or just a person who shops online, this partnership will take money from your pocket.  I urge you to contact your Representative and tell them this partnership is a bad idea.  Ask them to take a stand against this partnership and stop Google from Taxing everyone who uses the Internet.   

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