IBM Linux Video

[JoeHill]

On Thu, 20 Nov 2003 13:00:33 -0500 (EST)
Henry Spencer <henry-lqW1N6Cllo0sV2N9l4h3zg at public.gmane.org> wrote:

> This is actually good.  People who are supporting Linux out of intelligent
> self-interest are *more* reliable, not less, than people who support it
> because they've suddenly got religion. 

Well, I wouldn't presume to speak for RS, but I believe from what I've read
that his positions do come from self-interest, the interest in seeing the
community he belongs to grow and flourish. And I certainly wouldn't compare him
to Mussolini; but while we're on that subject, it was Mussolini who preferred to
be called a "Corporatist" rather than "Fascist", believing as he did that the
world should be ruled by the corporate elites, rather than democratically
elected governments. There's still a few like him about, some of them live in
the White House, run oil companies, etc. Just because someone or something is
predictable, doesn't mean they're trustworthy or reliable.

> Someone who suddenly gets religion once can get it again, and there is no
> predicting what they'll do.  One day they're singing the Internationale
> under the red flag, the next they're leading the Fascists to seize power. 
> (In 1914, the world's most famous brick-throwing flag-waving ultra-radical 
> Marxist was a young Italian named Benito Mussolini...)

Ya, and check out Abbie Hoffman, LOL!
 
> When the motive is intelligent self-interest, you can generally understand
> what they're up to and how they're likely to react to new developments. 
> Their thought patterns may be subtle but they aren't incomprehensible. 

Tell that to the investors in Enron, MCI/Worldcom, et al. I think maybe you've
been reading a little too much Ayn Rand... :-D

> > If it benefits the Linux "community", then great, but in the
> > end it's just business, and it's never a smart move to expect a 
> > company like IBM to always act in the best interests of that community.
> 
> The best way to ensure the long-term health of the Linux community is to
> maximize the number of people and companies who see its continued health
> as being in their own best interests. 

No argument there, but they may not always be easily convinced ;-)

-- 
JoeHill
Registered Linux user #282046
Homepage: www.orderinchaos.org
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"True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are more
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