Frank Shute wrote:
On Sun, May 05, 2002 at 09:34:15AM +0100, Damian wrote:
(This document also gives lie to the lazy belief that all politicians are stupid, selfish and corrupt. Many people in government around the World are talented and dedicated to public service, and I'd say these attributes were more common in UK politicians than in most of the people who criticize them and yet can't be bothered to vote---65% of the British population at the last count.)
If our politicians are more `talented & dedicated' than most people, why does it take a Peruvian politician to understand open source software, nail the MS FUD & save his taxpayer's money & confidentiality?
I have dealt with at least two UK politicians who have given an intelligent, fair and sympathetic hearing to my open source advocacy and many civil servants who haven't. In fact, of two civil servants I met who *were* sympathetic, one is in the process of retiring and one has gone to work for an open source company.
I'm not aware of anybody in our parliament who has the remotest concept of any of the issues involved and could address the issues with the ability the Peruvian congressman has.
*I* am aware of people in our parliament have the remotest concept of these issues. This is because I have exercised my democratic right and written to them directly.
Probably because 90% of our politicians are stupid, selfish, lazy and/or corrupt.
There *are* stupid, selfish, lazy and/or corrupt politicians in Britain. They are a minority and it's our job to vote them out. If we don't take our chances to do so then we deserve everything we get.
What particularly tickled me was that this South American politician's letter addressed arguments against specifying open requirements in computer contracts that I have also heard from British civil servants, but please don't think I'm suggesting that public officials could have been brainwashed by a multinational corporation with an enormous marketing budget---and cute icons.
What, our civil servants have been `brainwashed' but our politicians who in their wisdom employ them and are fond of being as hospitable as possible to Mr Gates are `talented & dedicated? If you're not saying that, what exactly are you saying?
I'm saying that our politicians, who are elected for their *partiality*, have, in my direct and documented experience, been more impartial over the issues referred to in this letter than our civil servants who have been employed for their *IMpartiality*. I am also saying that there are A) a lot of British MPs who work hard and are good at their jobs and that B) there are millions of Britons who can't be bothered to put an 'X' on a piece of paper. That there are MPs who don't work hard and aren't good at their jobs might have something to do with the millions of people who don't care enough to do something about it. -- Damian COUNSELL http://www.counsell.com/