I write to notify you of my candidacy for fellowship representative. I had some messages blocked and delayed so there is a kind-of lengthy meta-discussion before the announcement of candidacy. Feel Free to skip the meta-discussion.
--- meta-discussion : VOTING ---
First to say how i feel about elections, and their use in the context of Modern Free Software.
Although, many see this as an opportunity to encourage, endorse, and ultimately grow the Free Software community. The full picture is not so simple. I agree growth is good, but in what direction? Also, where winners are created there are bound to be losers -- so any encouragement would come at the expense of discouragement for others. Therefore i think it is absolutely critical that fairness, and a desire to grow with out commercial motivation shape the elections for FSFE representative.
Regarding the system of elected representatives. The first system of representative governance comes from Rome, beginning in ~700BC. At the time, it was NOT seen as an ideal solution to the challenges of governance. Indeed, it was a compromise based on what was feasible for them at that time.
Although many continue to see this system as an expedient, effetibe, and supremely feasible default-option. Long-term Free Software community members recognize that is not how Free Software has operated. Those will understand it as little more than blindly groping for a handle on the Free Software community by electing/erecting a familiar scaffolding-hierarchy-thing. In the end, you will see it's a community of individuals free from influence of community-managers and sheep-herders; the disturbing trend of paid community managers influencing Open Source projects on behalf of mega-corps.
In my personal opinion, the Free Software community has not been so much about maintaining strict community management practices and governance models based on large corporate structures, but more about promoting Software. I would not otherwise tarnish a valiant effort in the name of Free Software, but i think the FSFE can lead the way on this.
*** Important Meta-Point *** In the past, a system of elected representatives was necessitated largely by technological limitations regarding the speed of a horse drawn carriage. Why should we continue to be harnessed to an obsolete system who's inertia is limiting the growth of Free Software?
Ironically, today, the technological means exist for a Fellowship card carrying individual to vote any time any where for any purpose; specifically, card carrying fellows have the capability to use Strong cryptography in a secure way built into their Fellowship card.
Additionally, the fact that there is only one "official" candidate on the ballot!
If elected, i would not be afraid to make exception to a rule where the intent of rule is preserved. In the case where only one person is on the ballot, write-ins may be allowed in the interest of a meaningful "election."
Additionally, regarding the rule that "To be a candidate, you need to have been an active Fellow for at least a year before the election (so April 4th, 2015). This helps to make sure that the people elected into the GA are familiar with the organization and its work." And, the selection of the Schulze Voting System "For the voting process we will use the Schulze method, a popular voting system used by Debian, Wikimedia and others. It is a well tested method and has proven to be resistant to voting anomalies. "
Don't you think it anomalous to have an election with only one candidate?
Finally, It has come to my attention by means of blocked messages and delayed communications that those running the election would prevent you from voting for me (even as a write-in candidate) out of some misguided sense that they are "helping to make sure the people elected into the GA..."
Although it is my opinion that the FSFE risks it's relevance by using their technology as a door to exclude people from this election. However, weather or not you are allowed to vote for me in this election is not my decision. As i said, if elected i would not be afraid to make an obvious exception in the interest of a meaningful election. Ultimately, this election is not vital to the continued development of Free Software, but your continued support and encouragement is. I am here to let you know that the choice is yours!
If you feel strongly about my candidacy or anything i have written i ask you to please make a vote with your personal engorgement/discouragement/feedback/etc! Write to me! Your message could mean i decide to make the GNUBurgers regardless of the outcome of this election.
--- end-meta-discussion --
Joe Awni - http://joe.cryptobiz.directory
Candidacy
For more than a decade i use exclusively Free Software. Last year, i built a website on 100% Free Software stack: http://cryptobiz.directory (FSF approval pending). This year, i enjoyed traveling across Europe to computer conferences (FOSDEM [where i saw RMS], 32C3) to promote Free Software in innovative ways. Personally, i think the future of Free Software depends on our ability to connect with young software developers. With that in mind, i organized the GNUBurger.
GNUBurgers are made from a GPLv3 instruction set : https://foodhackingbase.org/wiki/Recipe:Mildenburger and usually have the GPLv3 logo toasted into the bun.
I'm hoping to earn your endorsement and vote to continue to representing the Free Software community with my pledge that if elected i will make freely available GNUBurgers to all software developers who wish. And, will attend as many events as possible.