Open Source in Oregon

Anonymous writes "MWVLUG's coordinator, Cooper Stevenson, has asked Linux Today to post this detailed history of events surrounding the battle to get open source software legislation enacted in the Beaver State in an effort to raise public awareness for the campaign."

Comments

A day in the life of

[The Tyro]

a citizen lobbyist.

Interesting to see an amateur go up against a fleet of paid pros (BSA, MS, et al). It would be nice to see it work. You know, that whole account appeals to my root-for-the-underdog, iconoclastic, giant-killer streak.

Just to pick a medical nit, however, he did misspell his medication... it's Vicodin, not "Vicaden" (changing a letter or two in a medication name could cause a medication error).

Re:A day in the life of

[Phroggy]

Just to pick a medical nit, however, he did misspell his medication... it's Vicodin, not "Vicaden" (changing a letter or two in a medication name could cause a medication error).

He made a lot of other typos as well. Most confusing error was about halfway through:

As I approached Sen. Atkinson's office I called to him, "Senator Atkinson," I said, "would you at least consider this legislation?"

"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said, "if Senator Atkinson says it's okay, then it's okay with me--he's the tech guy.'"

I'm pretty sure that should be:

As I approached Sen. Beyer's office I called to him, "Senator Beyer," I said, "would you at least consider this legislation?"

"I'll tell you what I'll do," he said, "if Senator Atkinson says it's okay, then it's okay with me--he's the tech guy."

I can support that argument

[OMG]

Remember that Munich (Germany, Oktoberfest, remember ?) decided to migrate 15,000 desktops to Linux? That decision was mainly based on the strategic argument that open source software would help local consultants and IT vendors better than MS software would.

The argument that open source software creates jobs for smaller entities instead of spending money on software from big companies located somewhere is a strong argument if you talk to politicians.

Re:I can support that argument

[dnoyeb]

Of course, but more obviously I assume Germany went with Suse, a German company. And replaced Microsoft, an American company.

WHAT is the problem here?

[Anonymous Coward]

OK, so the legislators who are being coddled daily by bigtime special interests are a problem, but what's THE problem? As previously mentioned, that article is a terrible perversion of the most basic grammar and spelling rules. I realize not everyone has taken the time to gain even a basic mastery over their native language, but Christ, at least run a freaking spell check over it.

Next, let's point out that, while the Minnis crew is undoubtedly corrupt to their rotten cores, there's an enabler here: the people they claim to represent. You're preaching to the choir here, but what good would it do you to post this information anywhere else? Most of the sheep-people I talk to get googly eyed when you tell them to double-click something, think a license allows you to drive or indicates a corny spy movie is coming up on TNN (spike.. sorry, whatever), and couldn't tell you what "proprietary" means in the software world if you typed it into webopedia for them.

Until people stop reelecting the festering carcasses of self-important, money-grubbing, crooked, backwards, slimy, snake-oil politicians and demand some level of accountability from the government, what chance do we have to get things set straight? I think the part of this story that really speaks volumes is this:

They're not even saying they SHOULD use Open Source in Oregon, just that they should CONSIDER it as a viable solution to technology needs and it's still floundering. I would never say that people should be required to use OSS, but to not even be required to CONSIDER it? Would someone like to call shenanigans?