MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-02-08 |
| FROM | Ruben I Safir
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] Re: E-Gov-OS conference
|
> So, I've spoken at various e-government conferences concerning Free
> Software, in a whole bunch of countries and governments. Some recent
> ones were in Copenhagen, Brussels, and Washington.
Great:
I spoke to the EU, NYC and Brooklyn Borough Hall
> My feeling is that if we either locked them out or disrupted their
> program, it would only make them look better.
Probibly not. They certainly don't tolerate us at a Microsoft board meeting
> If we lock them out,
> they will say, very publicly, "see, these folks won't let us tell
> you the truth".
>
Minimal risk after they have been conviicted twice of antotrust action.
> If we disrupt their program, they'd say the same,
> and also would point out that we were incapable of taking part in a
> civilized political dialogue.
Politics has little to do with dialogue? Where did YOU learn about politics?
This statmemnt is almost devoid of reality. Do the Republics invite the Democrat
to their national convention? Have youy EVER seen dialogue on a national debate?
I would better expect such naivity from a Junior High School student then I would
from one of the founders of the OSI.
Name the political campaign you've been involced in, and the tell me how it
was won through dialogue.
I've been involved with nearly 30 political campaigns, the last one was for Rudy Guiliani.
The first one was a loss for Abe Beam. Not ONE involved a dialogue.
> We don't want either of those, because
> we want to be seen as the good guys who are fighting the side that
> doesn't play fair.
Fair? Fair is the exclussion of Microsoft from the event. Unfair is the inclussion
of that rouge outfit with aims to hurt me personally IN the event.
You have to pick sides. Your either on their side or our side. Our side is for
Free Software, digital freedom, and the promotion of the community. Which side are you on?
>
> That's why we need to consistently take the high road, and let them be
> the ones seen taking the low road. That strategy has gotten us very
> far in opposition to them, in just a few years.
>
What? Where has this stratergy gotten you? Name one major victory to in getting Free Software
adopted in Government. You haven't gotten anywhere with this stratergy. I face exactly the same problems
getting government to adopt Free Software today as I did 3 years ago. In fact, in many regards, the situation
has gotten much worse.
> Now, if you want to do some political action in connection with
> this conference, I think we can get creative about action that both
> represents us well and gets good press. What I'm mainly thinking about
> so far is demonstrations of what we have to offer the world in terms of
> self-sustaining software technology that can be in the hands of local
> people.
That is not a description of a political action. That is a receipe for a methodolgy of adoption
which completely fails without being backed by a grass roots political to counter the lobbying
and payoffs of Microsoft to government officials. You will not get broad adoption of Free Software
in government until such time that the beuracrats and politicians see it in their best interest to do so.
All the techobabble demonstrations in the world is going to help turn over a single desktop.
Now your squandaring a prime oppurtunity for the community. NYLXS will not sit back and let that happen.
> And you can make lots of fun of the counter-example while doing
> that. You may have noticed that I know how to get press, and could get a
> ton for that sort of demonstration. It plays a lot better than "brats
> break up party".
>
Hmmm.
I've recently been told, 'They can say anything they want about me, as long as they get my
name and phone number right'
I haven't personally been impressed. Your interview on NPR was at best week, and the coverage
of your open book iniative in the Times was nearly silent on anything of importance. If I want press
I'll get Al Sharpton. What I want is results for my membership.
In in NY tongue, "Show me the money"
If I sound upset about this, I am. Your screwing up a good oppurtunity for the community. Our people have worked hard
to get Free Software into government and in business, and your sending mixed messages and giving extreamly valuable time in
the spotlight to Microsoft.
Inclusssion of Microsoft promotes Microsoft. They can take care of themselves. Promote the FSCC (http://www.nylxs.com/fscommerce/) instead.
Ruben
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