Richard Stallman on Ron Paul

[Richie]

http://www.stallman.org/ron-paul.html

Is it worth our time e-mailing this guy about some of the negativity in that?

[specsaregood]

Well he is a communist, so no wonder he prefers Kucinich.

[inibo]

Richard Stallman is a self-important boob. We should not contribute to his ego by giving him any attention at all.

[torchbearer]

Well he is a communist, so no wonder he prefers Kucinich.

Try to take the guys clothes... all of sudden he'll believe in private property.

[jblosser]

Try to take the guys clothes... all of sudden he'll believe in private property.

You don't know RMS, then. He's many things but inconsistent is not one of them. He'd starve to death before he changed his convictions. And not all of his convictions are harmful to society; he did more than his part to bring us the tech that backs the internet.

Honestly this is better than I would hope from him. Make sure you read it to the end, he's endorsing Ron for voters who are Republicans.

[torchbearer]

You don't know RMS, then. He's many things but inconsistent is not one of them. He'd starve to death before he changed his convictions. And not all of his convictions are harmful to society; he did more than his part to bring us the tech that backs the internet.

Honestly this is better than I would hope from him. Make sure you read it to the end, he's endorsing Ron for voters who are Republicans.

So, he doesn't get paid for what he does? How does he eat?

[steph3n]

"I have fundamental disagreements with Ron Paul. I support a welfare state and the New Deal."

that is the reason, he says it himself, although he is misguided on what true free trade means. It is not worth mailing him :)

[Richie]

So, he doesn't get paid for what he does? How does he eat?

I've been wondering this myself for ages. If you browse his website, he has basically traveled the world. That money has to come from somewhere.

[anotherone]

I've been wondering this myself for ages. If you browse his website, he has basically traveled the world. That money has to come from somewhere.

He got money from MacArthur 'genius' grants. He probably gets speaking fees and has other sources of money.

I really like what RMS has done for computing in designing the GPL. But an important aspect of the GPL is that we are not forced to use GPL software.

The terrible thing about Socialism, is that everyone is forced to take part in it.

RMS will never change his views on this. He is incredibly stubborn, which has positives and negatives. The positive is that GNU software is popular. The negative, is that he will always remain a Socialist.

In short, there is no point in trying to get him to understand our message of Freedom. He feels financial "equality" is more more important than freedom. I don't think many people base their political views on what RMS has to say, anyway.

[jon_perez]

Stallman ended it with: The only Democratic or Republican candidate, aside from Kucinich, that clearly stands for human rights, democracy, and an end to torture, secret prisons and the occupation of Iraq is Ron Paul. I urge Republicans to support him for that party's nomination.

Isn't that enough? Do we really have to go ragging on everyone who don't share our views 100%?


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[Richie]

Isn't that enough? Do we really have to go ragging on everyone who don't share our views 100%?


This is more then I expected from Stallman, so we probably shouldn't waste our time in e-mailing him. I just don't like his communist views, but as other people have said, nothing is going to change them.

[fcofer]

Stallman ended it with: The only Democratic or Republican candidate, aside from Kucinich, that clearly stands for human rights, democracy, and an end to torture, secret prisons and the occupation of Iraq is Ron Paul. I urge Republicans to support him for that party's nomination.

Isn't that enough? Do we really have to go ragging on everyone who don't share our views 100%?


I agree with you. This is an excellent endorsement. If you don't like Richard Stallman's views, fine, but you pretty much have to respect the man.

He disclosed immediately that he is a believer in the welfare state, but that he was nevertheless endorsing Paul as the Republican nominee because only Paul, among the Repubs, could be trusted on the war and on civil liberties. Isn't this exactly the sort of message that we want to convey to other left-wing "socialist" types who favor civil liberties?