Selling Open Source on the Campaign Trail

Waldo Jaquith writes: "I'm a long-time advocate and user of open source and free software and, as of this morning, I am a candidate for the Charlottesville, VA (USA) City Council. Naturally, I see lots of areas in Charlottesville's IT infrastructure (as well as potential areas of expansion) where Linux and various free software projects would be ideal. But can I make that a talking point while campaigning? How do I make that concept accessible and interesting to 40,000 citizens?"

Comments

Re:Simple: "Show me the money?"

[Osty]

Find a way to lower, or at least not increase, taxes. Open source solutions are free. Maintenance of such systems, contrary to what M$ heads would have you believe, is about the same cost, maybe even less (because once it's running, it JUST WORKS.)

Several points here that need to be addressed.

1. Open Source does not necessarily mean "free". Especially in a situation like the original question poster's, I could definitely see wanting to buy software from a "respected" distributor like Redhat so that he will at least get some minimal amount of support. Okay, sure you can just grab everything you need and roll it all yourself, but that's actually more expensive in the long run. Which brings us to ...
2. You're deluding yourself and doing a great disservice by insinuating that open source software always "just works". That couldn't be farther from the truth. Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, whatever open source operating system you happen to choose, still requires at least one administrator if it's used in a production scenario. You need someone to keep track of system events (ie, check the logs periodically for break-in attempts, make sure the hardware's not failing, make sure the software is all up and running and within good operating parameters, stay on top of security patches and upgrades, etc). These do not take care of themselves. As well, UNIX administrators are generally NOT cheap, compared to a standard MCSE. Yes, the UNIX admin will be much better than your normal MCSE, but the MCSE will be "good enough", and if a company needs somebody better, they can hire somebody better (and still possibly pay less than the price of a good UNIX admin ...).

The voters will automatically imply that your action of reducing costs will lead to lowered taxes and BAM!! you're elected.

Personally, I'd rather see my taxes reduced by getting rid of government pork barrel projects. Switching to Linux will save miniscule amounts of money compared with killing welfare so we no longer have to pay the crackwhore baby factories (yes, I know, the original discussion was a city government and I'm bringing federal government into it). Let's see some of these socialist safety nets go by the wayside. It's not how this government was meant to work, and it's sickening to see this country slide farther and farther into socialism. Before you know it, everything will be nationalized, minimum wage will be $15/hr, and we'll all be paying 75% taxes. Count me out.

Re:Simple: "Show me the money?"

[Waldo Jaquith]

Please, everyone, it's very important that you "get out the vote." God mandates it, and I am sorely needed to carry out the Lord's work. We need to crack down on the peverts and humanists who threaten to destroy Virginia's wholesome, Christian image. So please, "get out the vote," and pray for my victory at church this Sunday.

Virginia needs to be a place where Americans can live in freedom and harmony, without interference from terrorists and other outsiders. Some of you may say that we risk violating minorities' civil rights, but why? Our safety must be foremost in mind. If some of them get trampled by the American Eagle's rush to secure or borders, so be it.

Finally, Open Source is very important to Virgina. There are a lot of Republicans in this state, and we need to win them over quickly so that Prof. Gore is sure to win in 2004. The quickest way to get more Democrats is by promoting our socialist agenda through innocuous commercial products. Technology is another way. Combine the two, and you can't lose. That's why, if elected, I will negotiate with the PRC to provide copies of Red Flag Linux to every citizen at a nominal cost. By the time that Prof. Gore returns to campaign next year, Virgina will be infused with socialist, Internet-enabled technology for the future. I can't wait!

In conclusion, remember that God says sinners will burn in Hell for all eternity if you disobey Him. Jesus can forgive a lot, but I don't know if He can forgive you for voting Republican.

Thank you, and God bless Virginia.

Re:City Councillor sets IT policy?

[Waldo Jaquith]

Unfortunately, you are stuck in the 20th Century, right-wing mindset that has caused more damage to America than any terrorist attack. Once I am elected, I will be able to change the law. God mandates that the people will use Linux, and as an instrument of God, I will help get started. Virginians are rugged indivualists, and are free to reject the ultra-capitalist Redmond computing paradigm if they see fit. But, more importantly, we'll be doing to right thing spiritually. And I don't think you can argue with that.

Re:As a constituent...

[Waldo Jaquith]

Hi, it's great to talk to you again -- thanks for helping me with that SCSI driver at the last CHARLUG meeting. Trust me, license issues are key in my drive to expel Microsoft from government computing. Remember the mess in VA Beach? That could happen to any one of our local or even state agencies, crippling operations. Any decent central government office cannot be open to such possible security and productivity damage by corporate interests. We, and Open Source, shall prevail in the Land of the Free.

Re:Easy

[Anonymous Coward]

"Agreed. I personally believe that the cost of re-education will be lower than the amount saved by switching to free software."

I don't see how you could possibly justify this, considering reeducation costs thousands of dollars, compared to the hundreds spent on software.

Re:stop fining folks first

[Waldo Jaquith]

Don't worry, once I am elected, tickets will be distributed to each man according to his need, and collected from each man according to his ability to pay them.

Re:You don't

[Waldo Jaquith]

Haha, but you're missing part of my ingenius plan! I have released my own distrobution of Linux called "Betterschoolsandlowertaxes." My campaign slogan is "Waldo: the only man^H^H^Hboy who can promise Betterschoolsandlowertaxes for each Virginia citizen!" Bwahahaha... by the time they discover my true intentions, Microsoft shall be expelled and it will be too late! Wow, I rock.