Open Source and Values

[Jim Herrmann]

I've been reading George Lakoff, and doing a lot of thinking about 
values, lately.  My own values as well as those of others.  I know what 
it is about open source software that appeals to my values.  You can 
look at the list in my sig and get an idea of the values I'm talking 
about, and you can imagine how OSS fits into them, but I don't want to 
bias the discussion too much beforehand with my opinions.  I will offer 
those up later.

What I would like to know from some of you guys is, which of your values 
are best served by OSS?  Please let me know either directly in 
confidence, or publicly to the list, where you consider yourself on the 
conservative/moderate/progressive political spectrum, and what it is 
about OSS that appeals to you.  I'm especially anxious to hear from my 
LUG friends on the right of the spectrum, as that is more difficult for 
me to understand.  Once I've heard several opinions, I plan to formulate 
some kind of summary explanation, or theory, that connects different 
values and the open source movement.

Thanks for your input,
Jim Herrmann

-- 
Progressive Values ARE American Values
Responsibility, Empathy, Freedom, Opportunity, Prosperity, Fairness,
Trust, Honesty, Open Communication, Community, Cooperation