[TriLUG] White House response to FOSS petition?

[Jeremy Davis]

I think in many cases people are unaware of open source solutions when they
purchase software for the govt. I have seen expensive license purchases
where an open source solution would have been a much better choice. It
would be nice to see a requirement that before purchasing software an open
source solution be considered. If they chose not to use open source then an
explanation be required. I would especially like to see more open source in
the education system so the kids grow up familiar with it. Personally, it
bothers me that the vast majority of our tax dollars are being funneled
into 1 lucky software company when it comes to software.

This brings to mind, where would a govt agency begin to look for open
source contractors? If anyone knows of a reputable website or a resource
that lists open source solution providers that would be suitable for govt
contracts, please let me know.
On Feb 2, 2012 1:45 PM, "Mitchell Amiano" <mamiano at nc.rr.com> wrote:

> I don't think a long drawn out political argument would be productive, but
> IMHO given the timing, framing of FOSS vs the National Debt, and negative
> language, and the insignificance of software costs with respect to spending
> deficits, this gives the appearance of an attempt at demonized a class of
> business person and creating a distraction. That disparaging language is
> not something I could get on board with as a public policy stance.  Having
> an unelected authoritarian official establishing a seat of control over
> such activities within the federal government is also a bad path to take,
> whatever the ostensible good-will that is being expressed, although I can
> appreciate why someone else might sign the petition.
>
> The federal government already chartered POSIX to ensure open systems and
> portability among their acquired platforms, and for better or worse courts
> took the teeth off that standard in the Coast Guard case. I know open
> systems aren't the same as FOSS, but it isn't as if the federal government
> hasn't tried to head down that road before in a big way. It was my
> impression that many departments and agencies already used FOSS. What is
> stopping them now from incorporating FOSS more?
>
> At a policy level, I've wondered if a more recognition of the cultural
> phenomena of Foundations and other support organizations is needed, to
> formalize their value to society with respect to intellectual property. I
> can imaging some institutions emerging,  like software credit unions, where
> companies and individuals participate as shareholders and clients and the
> assets are design artifacts, platforms, and tool chains.
>
>
> On Feb 2, 2012, at 1:17 AM, Kevin Hunter wrote:
>
> > Hullo List,
> >
> > This whitehouse.gov petition caught my eye before I was able to push
> the delete key on a recent list email.  While I'm generally and
> philosophically a proponent of FOSS, I also consider myself a pragmatist:
> sometimes the existing FOSS solutions just don't cut it, if they even
> exist.  While I'm personally willing to put up with its myriad
> shortcomings, perhaps because the philosopher in me believes it's the right
> thing to do long-term, or because I have the (potentially necessary)
> technical know-how, often FOSS solutions just don't or won't work for "most
> people" (for various reasons, right or wrong).
> >
> > To me, a government supporting (through use, needs, developers, paid
> support, etc.) FOSS is a sexy prospect.  The aforementioned
> "philosophically right thing long-term" suggests that only good can come of
> something like this because FOSS generally lacks development funding, large
> enough user-bases to beget cost-effective support/training, advertising
> dollars, and is, by it's very nature, difficult -- if not impossible -- to
> subvert.
> >
> > On the other hand, the cynic in me wonders just how much governments
> rely on various backdoors only afforded them because software vendors have
> closed-source software.
> >
> > Then the realist in me looked at a few US budgets.  It is unfortunate
> that the poster's argument for FOSS in government hinges on "lower[ing] the
> national debt": my readings suggest that software costs barely register
> when compared against larger costs, like the cost of an employee.
> >
> > All this is to say that I'm curious what an official White House
> response to this petition would look like.  I'm happy that someone brought
> it up (potentially to the national stage), and I hope it gets some
> attention, but I doubt any action will be taken.
> >
> >
> https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/#!/petition/lower-national-debt-expanding-governments-use-free-software-such-gnulinux-and-libreoffice/jkLbwPDC
> >
> > Would anyone else be interested in a response?
> >
> > Kevin
> > --
> > This message was sent to: Mitch Amiano <mamiano at nc.rr.com>
> > To unsubscribe, send a blank message to trilug-leave at trilug.org from
> that address.
> > TriLUG mailing list : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug
> > Unsubscribe or edit options on the web        :
> http://www.trilug.org/mailman/options/trilug/mamiano%40nc.rr.com
> > TriLUG FAQ          :
> http://www.trilug.org/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions
>
> Mitchell Amiano
> (919) 410-8008
> mamiano at nc.rr.com
>
>
>
>
> --
> This message was sent to: Jeremy Davis <jeremydavis at jeremydavis.biz>
> To unsubscribe, send a blank message to trilug-leave at trilug.org from that
> address.
> TriLUG mailing list : http://www.trilug.org/mailman/listinfo/trilug
> Unsubscribe or edit options on the web  :
> http://www.trilug.org/mailman/options/trilug/jeremydavis%40jeremydavis.biz
> TriLUG FAQ          :
> http://www.trilug.org/wiki/Frequently_Asked_Questions
>