proprietary Software = Jobs?

[blackbelt_jones]

The latest Anti-Linux FUD put out by Bill Gates, and his little wooden puppet-friend, Darl McBride of SCO, is that Open Source software undermines the proprietary software industry and so destroys jobs and is bad for the economy. McBride is raving about in the press almost daily, while MS is sponsoring research and lectures to give the idea academic credibility.

Well, as usual, the FUD turns out to be the exact opposite of reality. It doesn't take a whole lot of deep thought to figure out why. What do you think the Republicans in Congress and in the White House would do if someone-- say, Howard Dean-- were to propose a new tax that an employer would have to pay of 1000 dollars for every new office worker they hired? They would have a field day. They would call it "an assault on jobs"-- and
they would be right. You don't want to make it more expensive for employers to hire new people.

Well, that's what we have now under the current Microsoftocracy-- except that the money goes to Redmond, Washington, instead of Washington D.C. When you charge a hefty licenscing fee for each and every machine, you create a disincentive to hire the people who work the machines. Simple, no?

Proprietary software is good for the economy of Microsoft-- bad for the economy of office workers, manufacurers, publishers, merchants, farmers, those who work
in the film, television and music industries, and entrepreneurs in general.

[WayStar]

I tend to not have anything against proprietary software, but I do think that it is only one possible solution and that others should always be considered.

Furthermore, I think that responsible corporate and government entities (and I'm doubtful as to whether such creatures truly exist) should NEVER take the word of a potential vendor as fact. Too many "studies" being cited were conducted by, or financed by, companies who stand to gain from certain "results."

But back to the topic of "jobs," I agree that using non-proprietary software can be good for the economy. For instance, if a corporate or governmental branch really wants the best security, they should use a lot of open-source technology and hire their own people to work with it. Security should never be out-sourced.

I have an additional long-range concern, at least for here in the U.S. where I live. I can see MS really pushing for legislation to only allow governments to use software "made in America." Because most open-source software is made without regard for geopolitical borders and boundaries, it would be forced out of competition. MS generally doesn't compete by making a better product, it competes by using other means to drive out the competition.

-Waylena