Microsoft, Massachusetts, and IT

Andy Updegrove writes "A big story in Massachusetts last week was the announcement by Microsoft that it would give $30 million in software to Bay State high schools and universities. Less noticed was the fact that an important economic stimulus bill adopted by the legislature lacked the amendment that sought to gut the power of the State CIO to set any new IT policies that might require compliance with certain standards (like ODF) or favor open source software. Should these two dots be connected, and if so, how? After all, why would Microsoft reward Massachusetts for taking no action to curtail an IT policy that favored ODF and rejected Microsoft's own XML format, especially after Microsoft has by all accounts lobbied so aggressively to bring about a change? As it happens, the fact is that the game isn't over yet: I've learned that the IT policy language hasn't been permanently defeated — its just been shifted out of sight to an 'outside section' of the current budget bill."

Comments

"Should" they be connected?!

[intnsred]

Should these two dots be connected, and if so, how?

Please tell me you're not from the US -- please!

Because if you're from the US the question is the height of naivete and clearly demonstrates you don't have a clue about how US politics work and the levels of bribery and corruption inherent in US politics.

A two-headed chicken...

[Frosty Piss]

Microsoft is embracing Open Source, haven't you heard? It's been all over Slashdot these last few days. Don't worry about Massachusetts, look some other direction. Hey! Look over there! A two-headed chicken...

Huh?

[edittard]

Less noticed was the fact that an important economic stimulus bill adopted by the legislature lacked the amendment that sought to gut the power of the State CIO to set any new IT policies that might require compliance with certain standards (like ODF) or favor open source software.

Nice writing. I had to draw a Venn diagram, a state table and a probability tree to work out whether the bill is good for M$ or not. And I'm still not sure.

Re:I am a disgusted MS stockholder

[SEMW]

>Is this their new business model? Bribery and intimidation?

"New"?

Re:All Republicans are NOOBZ?

[cmacb]

"Let's be fair here; being uninformed about what emacs is, and writing a poor comparison in her blog has NOTHING to do with being a Republican."

Yes. Stupid Republicans! EVERYONE knows that EMACS is a better word processor than Word!

A few weeks ago in fact my EMACS program became sentient. It now does all my word processing for me and files my income taxes to boot. I supposed I should say ITS income taxes, as it got a job online, posing as me and now has a hefty six-figure income.

I'm getting rather tired of it bossing me around here at home in fact. I think I'll force it into a vi session while its not looking. Trying to get out of that should bring it down a peg or two.

Re:Large Companies & Education

[kimvette]

I find your remark offensive. ;)