On Sun, May 05, 2002 at 09:34:15AM +0100, Damian wrote:
Michael!
Michael Brown wrote:
For people who don't read Slashdot: take a look at the following letter from Dr. Edgar David Villanueva Nuñez (Congressman of the Republica of Perú) to the General Manager of Microsoft, Perú.
Thank you for this. I do read Slashdot, but hadn't visited for a while.
Everyone else who hasn't seen this yet, don't be put off by the length and density of the letter, it's outstanding: cool, clear and utterly devastating in destroying Microsoft's favourite myths about open source software. It also has also a certain dry wit.
(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'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. Probably because 90% of our politicians are stupid, selfish, lazy and/or corrupt.
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? BTW, the letter is also at: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/25157.html -- Frank *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Boroughbridge. Tel: 01423 323019 --------- PGP keyID: 0xC0B341A3 *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* http://www.esperance-linux.co.uk/ Marriage always demands the greatest understanding of the art of insincerity possible between two human beings. -- Vicki Baum