[Fsf-friends] Fwd: [ilugd] CPI(M) manifesto calls for promotion of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)

[Raj Mathur]

On Thursday 19 Mar 2009, V. Sasi Kumar wrote:
> [snip]
> Having said that, let me say that I don't agree that the issue of
> software freedom is totally insignificant. It is important because
> the government is beginning computerise its work. And in that,
> transparency and security are important factors. There, the use of
> proprietary software could compromise various things that could
> affect not just some elites but everyone. Therefore, I believe,
> software freedom has a place, though not as high a place as food and
> health.

As noted earlier, that was a digression, and I don't really know if this 
is the right forum to continue this debate (but am doing so anyway :) .  
If I had to restate my point in a more palatable fashion, (speaking 
purely for myself), I'd happily vote for party FOO who had introduction 
of software patents and banishment of all FOSS in its manifesto, as 
long as they promised to rescind the TRIPS clauses related to 
agricultural and pharmaceutical patents.  In my scale of things (and in 
yours too I bet!), lack of freedom in agri and pharma nullifies even 
perfect freedom in any intangible field, e.g. software, music or books.

Note that this is a moving target: as India (and Indians) grow more 
wealthy, the relative importance of food and drugs vs software and 
music keeps declining.  When all 1.2 billion of us have enough food and 
adequate health care, software will be the overriding battle to be 
fought; until then, I will try to keep my outlook a bit wider.

Of course, all this is hypothetical and we can keep discussing this 
endlessly, so, while I look forward to your response(s), no more from 
me on this subject :)

Regards,

-- Raju
-- 
Raj Mathur                raju at kandalaya.org      http://kandalaya.org/
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