Open Source Values

[csappenfield at kc.rr.com]

While it might be comforting (especially after the trouncing in the recent elections) to think of conservatives in general as jackbooted nitwits who love "hierarchy and authority", it probably just isn't true.  For example, conservatives worship free markets, which are nothing if not "anarchy, lawlessness, [and] chaos".
Conservatives also like property rights.  Free software comes with enormous property rights, in exchange for which we give up some methods to profit from those rights.  Free software allows cooperation, but doesn't force it- installing Linux on your computer doesn't make you a member of some commune, regardless of what Forbes would have you believe.
Business conservatism, rather than political conservatism, is what really opposes Free software.
  

----- Original Message -----
From: Jim Herrmann <kclug at itdepends.com>
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2005 0:03 am
Subject: Re: Open Source Values

> I agree with the statement below, and is why I have a hard time 
> understanding the appeal to the conservative person, which 
> typically 
> believes in hierarchy and authority.  I really want to hear from 
> Hal and 
> Bill on what about OSS that appeals to their values.  I'm 
> listening.  
> Trying to understand.  Help me out here guys.
> 
> Thanks for the input Monty,
> Jim
> 
> Monty J. Harder wrote:
> 
> >To the conventional, authoritarian mind, this is 'anarchy, 
> lawlessness,>chaos!'  They can't conceive of a society without 
> government experts
> >giving the imperial imprimatur to certain endeavours; they are
> >frightened by the notion that people who aren't even licensed to
> >practice computing could build systems to do mission-critical work.
> >
> -- 
> Progressive Values ARE American Values
> Responsibility, Empathy, Freedom, Opportunity, Prosperity, Fairness,
> Trust, Honesty, Open Communication, Community, Cooperation
> http://musicalprogress.org/
> 
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