MS Anti-ODF Lobbyist Named As MA Tech Advisor

Andy Updegrove writes "For the last year and a half, Massachusetts has been a battleground between Microsoft, on the one hand, and IBM, Sun and open standards advocates on the other over the state's plans to implement ODF. That effort has sparked similar initiatives around the world that threaten to erode Microsoft's multi-billion dollar profits on Office software. Now, we have a new governor set to take office, and observers are waiting to see if he will continue to support ODF like his predecessor, or back off in favor of Microsoft Office. Last week, Governor-Elect Deval Patrick named a new transition advisory group to make recommendations on the state's IT structure, and one of the eight members he appointed was none other than the Microsoft lobbyist that has been leading the charge to not only defeat ODF in the Bay State, but to gut the power of the State's CIO and Information Technology Division as well. Not a good sign of independence from special interests for an administration that has yet to even take office."

Comments

Re:Both Sides are Special Interests

[onecheapgeek]

You can not say that your side of an issue is the PUBLIC interest and the other side is a SPECIAL interest. It's basic common sense. LOBBYISTS FROM EITHER SIDE ARE SPECIAL INTERESTS. Let's pin down a concrete example.

The NRA wants everyone to have the right to carry a concealed weapon. Some of us feel less safe knowing that there are people out there carrying guns in public. The NRA is a special interest. Those that oppose concealed weapons and lobby in that manner are a special interest. Why is that?

Because there is no ONE answer to what is public interest.

And if you can't understand that, you're too far gone.