RE: [MLUG] Open Source political philosophy

["Spurling, Shannon" <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

The protectionist rules that most "capitalist" businesses are promoting
are in direct conflict with the ideals of a free market. The truth is,
pure capitalism doesn't work any better than pure socialism. The trick
is to walk that fine line that works regardless of which market
pressures are greater at the time. The reasons Microsoft doesn't like
the GPL is because it takes away their control of intellectual property.
In true capitalism there is no such thing as ownership or protection of
intellectual property, other than what you can hide from every one else.
It becomes pure cut throat anarchy. The government has to step in so
that people play by the rules.
  

Shannon Spurling
WAN Engineer -Specialist

MOREnet, Network Services, Core Network
3212 LeMone Industrial Blvd.
Columbia, MO 65201

Main:(573) 884-7200   Fax:(573)884-6673

EMAIL:PROTECTED
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-----Original Message-----
From: EMAIL:PROTECTED
[mailto:EMAIL:PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Miller
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 11:11 AM
To: MLUG Members
Subject: [MLUG] Open Source political philosophy

On Thu, 8 Apr 2004, box191 wrote:

> Why is it that some people don't realize that open source is
inherently
> based on a socialist political philosophy?

The GPL allows anyone to take the code and sell it, on CDs, say, for as
much money as they want to charge.  That sounds more like capitalism.

If open source is based on socialism, as you suggest, it provides the
first example I've seen where socialism has defeated capitalism in a
direct contest to develop, promote and distribute products.

Mike
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