Open source's next frontier

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... for those who can't afford to pay

What's open source but the ultimate in outsourcing/offshoring? Wages can't get any lower than $0, can they?!

You wrote:
I am absolutely amazed that someone would have hostility toward people doing what they enjoy doing as a hobby and attempting to contribute to the well being of society at the same time.

Tell you what.
Let's assume I do the same sort of job you do. I'll retire and tell your boss that I'll do your work for free. I enjoy the work, it'll make his company more able to compete, and I believe in the open source philosophy that no one should be paid for IT work. (That's exaggerated, but let it ride.)
Your boss is pleased with the offer, fires you immediately, and lets me start work.

Have I really upheld the proud old tradition that neighbors help each other put up barns? Or that, in towns that can't afford full time professionals, people offer to help put out neighbors' fires?
You're expanding the role of voluntarism beyond its appropriate meaning.


You also wrote:
The US right now is extremely unable to compete with the rest of the world. That is why jobs are going overseas in droves. And trying to fight free software will only make the situation worse.

First off, I agree with you about jobs going overseas. The economists had better be right about more advanced replacement jobs appearing, or the country will be sucking wind. Notice how the people-to-people jobs that are assured of remaining are also the least well paid?

But free software's role is not as you say.
The US may not be able to compete in the less sophisticated portable jobs, but supposedly the replacement jobs will be more innovative and complex. Software is, or can be, about as innovative and complex as you'd like.
So, a good number of the replacement jobs can be in software. Or rather, not. Because people with the training are doing the work for free. True, at the moment open source is nowhere near as advanced as the proprietary products. But companies are looking at simple solutions because they see IT as a cost center rather than profit contributor. And all that open source stuff is out there encouraging them.

The only good news is the spread of patents and the establishment of international enforcement mechanisms. Open source can't progress without violating patents; in fact, it's almost certainly in violation of a lot right now.
So, the motto should be, bring the jobs home: support patents.

There are lots of good economic reasons to oppose open source. This has been one of them.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 11/24/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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