People (myself included sometimes) like to bag on /., but despite the amount of crap on there, the fact remains that a lot of worthwhile stuff gets said, like Dr. Awktagon’s points on the US Govt’s support of Microsoft in Peru:
In his June letter, Hamilton said that while the United States doesn’t oppose the development of open-source software, it prefers to support a free market where the quality of the product can determine the issue.
This makes no sense, on many levels! First of all, any company can supply open-source software. In no way does this create any barrier to any company. Even Microsoft can submit software for this purpose.
To me this quote is the same as: “Hamilton said that while the United States doesn’t oppose the development of green army tanks, it prefers to support a free market where the quality of the product can determine the color.” Makes no sense! Anyone can write open-source software.
Microsoft is a monopoly, an illegal one at that, so hearing them talk about free markets is damn funny.
On another level, open-source software is closer to a situation where there are no copyrights, in other words, a true free market. Copyright monopolies are exactly that, monopolies. If you need your software serviced, you have to call exactly one company for permission (or even to have the work done). You have more freedom with open-source than proprietary software. Governments should be supporting freedom!
Of course, I’m not surprised. Microsoft did the same thing in Mexico. Free markets, my ass. Microsoft is just buying their way in and taking advantage of poorer countries.