Re: [hangout] Re: eGovOS conference in D.C.; I'm not attending that

[Ruben I Safir]

On 2003.02.06 17:25 David Sugar wrote:
> I never said freedom is not a competitive advantage. 


Freedom is the single MOST competitive advantage.
This is historically proven...see  IBM PC, Spain and Adam Smith



Ruben

> However, even if it were 
> not so, this would not make proprietary software ethically valid; the social 
> harm it does is far too great for that.  As it happens, as we found in this 
> country, freedom and commercial success certainly do go hand in hand.  Free 
> software is in many ways is also an extension of the scientific method and 
> principles that have empowered scientific progress in the last few hundred 
> years.
> 
> In any case, I do happen to strongly agree with your thesis that there is a 
> strong connection between free software and free markets, and that freedom is 
> an absolute requirement for business and market success.
> 
> On Thursday 06 February 2003 17:15, Ruben I Safir wrote:
> > The fredom of the software is a competitive advantage, in fact, it should
> > be a show stopper for all business consideration.
> >
> > It's Free Software like in Free Markets
> >
> > They've heard of Free Markets in Washington?  No?
> >
> > > That being said, Derek is quite correct that one of my objections to
> > > eGovOS is that it lends false credence and legitimacy to the idea that
> > > "shared source" is somehow a valid and morally equivilent form of "Open
> > > Source" or that there is only a competitve points to consider and
> > > distinguish free and propretary software.  Do we conclude that there is a
> > > moral equivillence between freedom in western democracies and the old
> > > soviet system?
> > >
> > > On Thursday 06 February 2003 16:38, Derek Neighbors wrote:
> > > > David Sugar said:
> > > > > I recall that I originally had offered to help with a gnue
> > > > > presentation at  eGovOS this year.  For a number of reasons, and
> > > > > contrary to previous plans,  after reviewing the circumstances of the
> > > > > eGovOS event, I have chosen this  afternoon not to attend this year's
> > > > > eGovOS conference in mid-march after all.   I think Derek may well
> > > > > guess some of my reasons for making this decision.   Instead, I am
> > > > > considering extending my visit to Prague next month by several  mire
> > > > > days, especially if it would help enable further discussions with
> > > > > their  government and the Czech free software community in promoting
> > > > > the development  and adoption of free software in the public sector
> > > > > by the Czech national  government.  I may also try to see some of
> > > > > thier city.
> > > >
> > > > I was going to email RMS and what was up with this conference as he at
> > > > one time seemed to have a relationship with Tony Stanco, but figured
> > > > best to leave well enough alone.
> > > >
> > > > I fully agree that the event should be boycotted by GNUe and anyone
> > > > else that is sick of seeing Free Software slowly being eroded into
> > > > "Open Source" software and further watered down to "Shared Source"
> > > > software, that negates the whole purpose of being of Free Software to
> > > > begin with.
> > > >
> > > > It is a shame as the conference is a good idea, but sadly I think poor
> > > > judgement is being exercised. :(
> > > >
> > > > -derek
> > >
> > > ____________________________
> > > New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
> > > Fair Use -
> > > because it's either fair use or useless....
> 
> 
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