Microsoft's Economic Stimulus Package

Interesting comments just now by Esther Dyson on NewsHour, comparing Microsoft's $75 billion dividend to a tax rebate. Since MS operating systems and applications are so peravsive, their costs can be seen as a tax on doing business. And since so many people will see a share of the payout, the move has the effect of an economic stimulus package.

"Microsoft announced yesterday a combination of dividends and stock buybacks which will return $75 billion to its shareholders. Jeffrey Brown discusses the largest cash disbursement in corporate history with Esther Dyson, editor-at-large of CNET, and Tom Taulli of Current Offerings, a technology and corporate finance research firm."

Listen here (realaudio)