The importance of Free Software to Free People

[bcmiller]

This is just one article (http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/blogs/beware_of_skype) that hightlights the concerns about proprietary software. One of the reasons I support Ron Paul is because the constitutional free market would not prop up proprietary software with a patent system that has become intelectual real estate instead of the "better mousetrap" philosophy that made us a nation of inventions.

Also watch the link in my signature, it's a speech by Eben Moglen of the Software Freedom Law Center to help understand the larger issue and why free (as in freedom) software is very american.

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The short version is that most people use programs that have no open source code available to be publically seen. The problem with closed source is that you don't know what it's doing aside from what you are told it does.

You can easily switch to linux and be protected from spyware, viruses and also have free programs like an office suite, games and financial software. All of which are guarenteed to work only for you. Check it out... www.ubuntu.com or pick your own linux www.distrowatch.org

[Triton]

This is just one article (http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/blogs/beware_of_skype) that hightlights the concerns about proprietary software. One of the reasons I support Ron Paul is because the constitutional free market would not prop up proprietary software with a patent system that has become intelectual real estate instead of the "better mousetrap" philosophy that made us a nation of inventions.

Also watch the link in my signature, it's a speech by Eben Moglen of the Software Freedom Law Center to help understand the larger issue and why free (as in freedom) software is very american.

-----------
The short version is that most people use programs that have no open source code available to be publically seen. The problem with closed source is that you don't know what it's doing aside from what you are told it does.

You can easily switch to linux and be protected from spyware, viruses and also have free programs like an office suite, games and financial software. All of which are guarenteed to work only for you. Check it out... www.ubuntu.com (http://www.ubuntu.com) or pick your own linux www.distrowatch.org (http://www.distrowatch.org)
Bump for Richie.

[mdh]

http://www.freebsd.org - FreeBSD ftw. ;)

Actually several of my servers run Slackware and Solaris, as well, but FreeBSD rules the desktop for me. There's an "OS poll" I started floating around General Politics and Other somewhere... some 30% of the voters there are Linux guys, and only 50% use Windows...

[Richie]

Free software rocks. I frequently switch between Ubuntu and Arch, both of which are Linux distributions. You'd think that the free software purists would be libertarian leaning, but they're not. Check out Richard Stallman's website. He has all kinds of stuff about civil rights, yet supports Kucinich and wants bigger government. http://www.stallman.org

[bcmiller]

Free software rocks. I frequently switch between Ubuntu and Arch, both of which are Linux distributions. You'd think that the free software purists would be libertarian leaning, but they're not. Check out Richard Stallman's website. He has all kinds of stuff about civil rights, yet supports Kucinich and wants bigger government. http://www.stallman.org

Yeah I was suprised by that myself. I think the dividing issue for Stallman is environment. I would think for sure he would have been a Paul supporter.

[libertarianguy]

test

[mdh]

The IRC channel crew approached Stallman some months ago about Dr. Paul - he basically said he's a socialist and likes the idea of government robbing us to give to stupid/lazy people and bureaucrats.

[bcmiller]

Well, he helped Ron Paul anyway. If he didn't start the FSF and write EMACS etc... We wouldn't have the internet as we know it or free software like what runs most of the Ron Paul sites.

Let him campaign for Nader and Kucinich. He did his part and I'll always respect him for that.

[Richie]

I e-mailed Stallman about Ron Paul. This was his response:

"I am a Liberal, and I believe the government should actively aid the poor, promote education, provide health care, protect the environment, and so on.

Also the government should regulate business to prevent various abuses (pollution, wiping out endangered species, etc.).

I support Dennis Kucinich for president. As for Ron Paul, I like his support for human rights. That puts him above most of the candidates, whom my conscience could never tolerate. But I disagree with him on everything else."

So, yeah. What lojpre said.

[fsk]

the dividing issue for stallman is communism

If Stallman wants the US to be a communist dictatorship, then someone should read him a copy of the Communist Manifesto. The USA *ALREADY IS* a communist dictatorship.

[Richie]

If Stallman wants the US to be a communist dictatorship, then someone should read him a copy of the Communist Manifesto. The USA *ALREADY IS* a communist dictatorship.

Dang! You're right! For those that haven't read this, here is information. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Manifesto

[Triton]

I e-mailed Stallman about Ron Paul. This was his response:

"I am a Liberal, and I believe the government should actively aid the poor, promote education, provide health care, protect the environment, and so on.

Also the government should regulate business to prevent various abuses (pollution, wiping out endangered species, etc.).

I support Dennis Kucinich for president. As for Ron Paul, I like his support for human rights. That puts him above most of the candidates, whom my conscience could never tolerate. But I disagree with him on everything else."

So, yeah. What lojpre said.He answered you personally? Good job, dude. I think Mom will give you extra credit for that one.