Politics and Software
Slashdot has an interesting post about visitors to Hate My Tory.
The sites owner notes that when linked to by Guido, the number of visists from Linux users rose and when linked to by Harry’s Place, the number of Mac usesrs rose.
So, does the right use more free software?
Given Guido is not a typical Tory (if he can even be called a Tory) and his readers are a variable bunch I wouldn’t put too much stock in this annecdote, but given Guido’s libertarian leanings and that of some of his readers I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a higher level of linux usage.
Microsoft likes to attack Free Software as ‘communism’, but I see it as far more libertarian. The whole movement is based upon voluntary cooperation and freedom of contract.
Personally, I use Linux at work (our servers are all linux, its far easier to develop on than Windows (the other choice)). I use a combination of Mac and Windows at home with a Linux mail and database sever. Next computer will probably be a high-spec PC with Windows and Linux though (Macs are pretty, but not that special in my opinion).
My philosophy is to prefer free software, but to use the software which is best for the job. Sometimes that is a Microsoft product. Sometimes its open source. Let competition flourish :)
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March 11th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I’m pretty shocked to see the Tory shadow chanceller supporting FL/OSS use in government and business, when it should be a plank of Lib Dem technology policy ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6430069.stm)..
I think the Lib Dems are now even more out of touch with IT and the Internet (despite all these blogs and stuff) than the tories - at least the Tories have made a positive statement on this while, despite being very much a liberal policy, the Lib Dems *should* have been pushing this already, both at national and council level, and haven’t even made a statement in response.
I’m starting a campaign in the coming weeks to establish an ICT working group and spokesperson in the party because I find it beggers belief that a national political party has no IT or Project Management Expertise at cabinet or senior level, and that every FTSE 100 company has an IT director at board level - the lack of IT leadership in government (local and national) is a huge mistake, and the reason why we have so many massive failures and such poor IT procurement and planning at every level.
I’ve started a lib dem FL/OSS mailing list on the lib dem mailing lists server and hope to start pushing on this issue.
March 11th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
http://lists.libdems.org.uk/wws/info/libdem_oss
March 11th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
bah! wordpress ate my previous comment about free software..
repeating it.. George Osbourne has committed the tories to reducing costs by using open source and the lib dems should have made a policy of this yonks ago.
March 11th, 2007 at 9:10 pm
It decided it was spam.
That has now been rectified :)
March 12th, 2007 at 12:16 am
I think the Lib Dems got there first!
National Open Source Centre launches today in the Houses of Parliament (http://www.publictechnology.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=7920)