MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-06-13 |
| FROM | David Sugar
|
| SUBJECT | Subject: [hangout] The false profet (editorial)
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It was just yesterday when I first read of Brasil's decision to migrate
a significant portion of their public sector infrastructure from the
proprietary Microsoft Windows environment to free (and open source)
solutions, such as GNU/Linux. I recall in the past when other nations
had attempted this, at least one American company would choose to both
publically and privately undermine these efforts. Sometimes, as in the
case of Peru special law 1609, the Ambassador of my own nation would
choose to disregard his objective role of serving the common American
public interest, and instead promote the exclusive interests of a select
predatory proprietary software vendor, at the expense of valid American
commercial business interests, such as existing American Free and Open
Source software vendors.
Similarly, I expected to hear various statements from those that appose
free and open source solutions in response to Brasil's actions.
However, I did not expect these same false arguments to be made by one
who claims to represent our community. Perhaps Mr. Stanco should read
the very excellent letter from Senior Villanueva Nunez
(http://proposicion.org.ar/doc/gob/VillanuevaNunez-080402.html), who
explains well why it is both appropriate and necessary to use government
procurement policy in this manner. Clearly there are people who do
understand free software in relation to government policy; it is a shame
the founder of the "The Center of Open Source & Government" appears not
to.
Mr. Villanueva, among many others, explains why selecting free and open
source solutions is non discriminatory, since any vendor is free to
offer such solutions. Certainly, sovereign governments have the right
to choose conditions of sale for products they procure. Governments in
many ways may already choose to influence social policy and to encourage
or discourage specific behavior through both direct and indirect
financial means. Governments, as public institutions, do not spend
money on their sole behalf, but on behalf of the people they represent,
and as such have a direct responsibility to achieve the maximum value for
the people's money that they spend. Not all value is solely by price or
cost. Certainly, I believe no government or society should be forced to
accept or tolerate what it feels are immoral or unethical business terms
or practices. As such, I think Brasil's choice of procurement law is
both a proper and just means for Brasil's government to socially and
responsibly spend it's people's money.
David Sugar
GNU Bayonne Maintainer
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