On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 07:09:00 -0500 (EST), Sid Dabster sid_dabster@yahoo.ca wrote:
I think there are better ways to do something then founding a political party if you want to help Free Software. Help building a local Free Software organisation which focus on the political issues.
Several people have said pressure groups are better, and hinted that they exist, I know of no multi-platform anti-M$ pressure group. In fact one of the main problems is that there is no medium sized or large organisation against Microsoft and everyone is complaining on their own in isolation, and feeling powerless.
So is this Political party you propose a pro-Linux party or a anti-Microsoft party? Because being pro-Linux and anti-Microsoft ARE NOT MUTALLY EXCLUSIVE!!!
First of all in order to sell your manifesto to impartial observers whose support you want to gather you can't go in there just saying "I am anti-Microsoft"
The term anti is a negative term, it's going to make you sound like a bitter oddball. I think the only terms I could give my support to that include the term 'anti' would possibly 'anti-software patent' because software patents are an issue that do affect a majority of people (anyone who uses a computer) and patents have a social impact on most peoples lives (preventing innovation, restricting freedom of expression etc)
Also possibly depending on other circumstances anti-war may be an acceptable political point-of-view.
But simply being anti-Microsoft is not going to get you any serious support.
Explain to your electorate *why* you are anti-Microsoft... practice that spiel on us first.
Are you anti-Microsoft because they support the use of Software Patents? If so then you need to describe your party as an anti-software patent movement (which by the way I would be behind much more than your current idea)... as IBM are currently the worlds biggest holder of software patents.... Novell must be in there too as well as companies such as Sun, SCO etc.
Is using Microsoft Windows Server any more or less ethical in terms of the Free software ethos than using say Novell Netware? Neither are free, neither protect the freedom of rights of their users.
What about Solaris on SPARC? That is a non-free OS. Are you also campaigning against Sun?
Are you suggesting running a anti-MS party because they are anti-competitive? Well this has already been through the courts and they have been fined. What is your answer to that when your electorate asks?
( Can I just say at this point I am neither a MS user or apologist. I just don't like Linux users to be portrayed as fanatical anti-Microsoft campaigners simply because it is fashionable. There needs to be substance to this stance as well )
You need to chip away at the practices that makes MS an unsavoury company. The fact they don't protect the freedom of their users, their strategy of locking users in, their practice of selling software to poor 3rd world countries and forcing them into a expensive upgrade cycle.
Being Anti-MS isn't enough
~sm