from the libertarian newspaper

[Chuck]

David Nicol wrote:
> 23) Operating systems: Lessons for Libertarians 1.0
> Strike the Root
> by Carlton Hobbs
> 
> "A typical example of socialist distribution vs. market distribution is any
> market where a free society provides many choices but a socialist state
> makes a singular decision for everyone. Not only does Linux not match this
> model of socialist centralization, but Microsoft does. Here is the key, by
> eliminating heavy dependency on proprietary software, you eliminate one
> centralization of abusable power. Linux ties its user into its knowledge
> base, but by its license agreement, that ties users into no one in
> particular, as good ideas can be taken and forked or merged into other
> projects. It leaves the source code open so anyone who desires can become
> an expert." (01/17/07)

An interesting article, but the author doesn't seem to understand some 
basic political concepts. There are different types of socialism. The 
author is thinking about state socialism/communism and misses the fact 
that there is a significant anti-statist or libertarian socialist 
tendency around the world. In fact, around most of the world, 
"libertarian" is synonymous with "anarchist." Libertarian socialism is 
another phrase that is equivalent to anarchism.

I'm working on a paper which will explain how the free software and open 
source movements, as well as much of Web 2.0, are examples of anarchism 
in action. This has been pointed out by writers several years ago, but 
really hasn't gained widespread recognition.

Free software like Linux are examples of anarchism in action in that 
they are cooperative, decentralized, anti-capitalist (to some extent), 
anti-property (anti-IP), non-government, anti-hierarchical and much 
more. The free software movement is "socialist" in so far as it reflects 
the anti-statist socialism of anarchism.

I'll forward a copy of my article in several months when it is finished.

Chuck
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