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Free Software And Its Revolutionary Social Implications

Posted by timothy on from the ideas-to-argue-about-over-coffee-and-beer dept.

Jizzbug writes: "OpenFlows has an interesting interview with Stefan Merten (of Oekonux in Germany) on the implications of Free Software in regards to social change (for the better). It'd be interesting to see what kind of famous Slashdot flamewar will erupt in response to the ideas set forth in this interview. Those in the audience that are freethinking and not jingoistic should find this a very enlightening and entertaining read."

3 of 336 comments (clear)

  1. When he talks about the age.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    When he speeks of the age of Free Software and Open Source he fails to mention the fact that open source (note no capital letters) is actually much older than Free Software, and thus Free Software is not in any way revolutionary; unless one considers restrictions on source code a freedom, which I don't.

    Which brings us to the fact that I hate the fact that the Fascist Software Foundation and Richard M. Stalin have the guts to call it Free software.

  2. Re:Warmed over Marxist pablum by Jack+Auf · · Score: 0, Troll

    Capitalism works

    Too bad no first world country actually practices capitalism, with the possible exception of Hong Kong.

    What we have is an elaborate system of corporate welfare. The US beef industry, the US agro industry, the US steel industry, the US auto industry, and many others. All heavily subsidized by our tax dollars.

    If we did away with corporate welfare and massive corporate tax breaks, and if the US and other countries actally practiced capitalism the effect would make the .com crash look tame in comparison.

    Spare me the glories of capitalism until it can work without handouts.

    --
    "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety" - BF
  3. Re:Warmed over Marxist pablum by Toy+G · · Score: 0, Troll

    The Third World's poverty is not because of capitalism but despite it. If the Third World would get on board, clean up their corrupt governments and change the culture of always wanting a handout, maybe capitalism would work for them.

    Did you ever ask yourself why this doesn't happen? Because without 3d world corrupted govts capitalist markets wouldn't ever exist!
    No more low-cost oil, and diamonds, and gold, and those little one-dollar-week korean and taiwanese workers making all that pretty baseball caps and speedy CPU... and your capitalist IT world becomes ruins.

    --
    -- Let's go Viridian.