RE: why linux?

jt wrote:


> Education is not free.

jt, I haven't yet read the piece that yours was a reply to this, but I
do know the following.  Where the Open-Source or Free Software movements
(especially the latter) speak of things -- particularly information --
being "free", they mean (and I quote) "Free as in speech, not free as in
beer".  In other words, I doubt that anyone is saying that education
should (or could) have no cost (except at the point of use), but rather
that it should be possible for people to educate themselves.  If you can
see the source of an application (or OS) you can educate yourself about
its inner workings.  if you can't, you can't.

> 
> The leaders of the "developed" countries met with the leaders of the
> "undeveloped" countries, year ago last Spring, and announced a goal of
> making K - 12 education "free" world-wide by 2015.  (The leader of the
> summit announced that this goal was not feasible, but they 
> wanted to at
> least set A goal.)

That, no doubt, is talking about having no cost at the point of use:
just like parents in the US and here in the UK, and in other liberal
democracies, don't have to pay for their children's education (in the
form of fees -- we pay by taxation).

> I've heard from a number of respected sources that RMS is a highly
> principled individual.  Nonetheless, it is no small irony but a great
> hypocracy that he is a (very-well-paid, I'm sure) Professor.  Yet he
> declares that professional programmers should NEVER be paid 
> for the work
> they do.

That's just wrong, as far as I know.  RMS has no objection to anyone
being paid; nor to a charge being made for software: just the belief
that the source should be available with it, so its users can educate
themselves and may improve the software for their own use.

Cheers,

Martin.

-- 
Martin McCallion
Senior Technical Consultant
Misys Wholesale Banking Systems
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