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Becoming an Open Source Lobbyist?
Random Guru 42 asks: "With the recent MFP scandal in Toronto, with we taxpayers having to take the brunt of the cost of licensing and leasing software the city doesn't need, I'm wondering what it would take to lobby the city to start switching over to open source software. Has anyone ever tried to lobby your local council to make the jump away from expensive, closed software?"
..Promote Free Software [gnu.org] instead.
Lobby for Open Source OR Free Software is good. The important thing is to not divide our efforts in things the usual non-geek would not understand.
Montreal - Best city to live in!
The City of Toronto recently put out RFPs for replacement PCs. The MFP-leased ones are now up, and the city had asked for companies to bid on contracts to replace them with new machines and software.
Guess what? The bidding process is over, and no companies that were offering free software qualified under the terms. The contract has now been awarded to another company (who will be providing MS software, surprise surprise), which I'm sure will be scrutinized quite a bit to make sure there's no rip-offs. So try again in 3 years when the next lease is up, but this time put together a professional proposal complying with their RFP requirements and I'm sure it would be considered.
I think if a company came along and actually BID on the contract, preparing a decent presentation as to how the city would save costs, they would have to listen. After all, the City of Toronto is very interested in saving money, as they've dug themselves quite the hole in recent years (mostly due to the Province of Ontario not being particularly generous).
You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. The impossible just takes a little longer.
No seriously, I do.
.... Just make sure you shower and find some nice clothes before showing up. Nothing worse than a stinky tech volunteer. yeeesh. Watch a few episodes of What Not To Wear, while you're at it. Shaving wouldn't hurt either. How old are those shoes? I thought so. If you can't buy new ones, throw them stinky old sneakers in the washing machine the day before you come by too - they will be fine, honest. Sun dry them if you're really worried about then falling apart.
I would like nothing more than eliminating the cost of my Microsoft contract.
How can you help City Hall accomplish this? Volunteer your services to work for them. Tell them you want to work on a program to manage -insert your software to promote-, and that you will give them a proof of concept before rolling it out that will not interfere with work already being done. "You wont even know I'm here."
Not just a great way to get yourself a job, but a career. Save a bunch of money by implementing a nice piece of software - then when you tell them "My work here is done." They just about stroke out and get council's authorization for a new position. Where do they get the money? Cost savings - you already did the proof.
This should be particularly easy with all the baby boomers retiring - there are not a lot of people to take their place. I believe you'll find their traditional ways of doing business more than a little inefficient. Eliminating an existing position without someone willfully leaving is like giving yourself a tonsillectomy - even people watching get nervous and try to stop you. The secret to saving money in government is, and will be for some time, wait till they retire, then don't hire a replacement.
Here is what I believe to be your plans downfall: The difference between recommending open source (free software GNU or whatever other pretentious name they are using this month) in most environments, and implementing open source is reality; one is possible, one is imaginary.
I say this because I am speaking from experience. I've worked with Linux for over 10 years, it has not saved me a dime. I'm not saying it couldn't, I'm just saying I've been unsuccessful so far.
However, I would never turn away a volunteer that wanted to prove me wrong. If you are so sure free software is worth it - put your time (money) where your mouth is, I sure won't stop you from teaching me, (or more likely yourself) something - that will benefit us both.
Most people find this hard to believe, but there are little or no secrets at City Hall. Unlike businesses that have to protect processes that may be trade secrets, government (well other than military) benefits from others understanding and assisting them improve their workflow. So comon down, pretty much the only thing you can't see here are social security numbers and addresses of people that work here.
Ever notice farmers don't complain about the smell? That's because they live in it.
Responses to other comments:
Price alone *will* make a contract. Ever notice how your streets and sidewalks don't look as nice as they used to? Lowest bid does not require pride in your work.
Politicians don't give a damn about free software. They are likely affluent company heads or managers of corporations that use Microsoft. What are they going to suggest for cities? If anything, it is going to be what they know; status quo for businesses.
The absolute worst thing you can do is send a quick blurb to your local politician without detailed follow-up information. One citizen was upset that we built our own machines at an OEM level. "Fire them and buy Dells- it would save money." They didn't understand I consider building PCs training and we can turn out 20 machines in a week without interrupting normal processing. Nor did they realize self upgrades were cheaper because we were not required to buy Windows license again, whereas Dell forces you to buy at least Windows Home edition.