Becoming an Open Source Lobbyist? 30
Random Guru 42 asks: "With the recent MFP scandal in Toronto, with we taxpayers having to take the brunt of the cost of licensing and leasing software the city doesn't need, I'm wondering what it would take to lobby the city to start switching over to open source software. Has anyone ever tried to lobby your local council to make the jump away from expensive, closed software?"
I tried it for a while, (Score:1)
Information is the key (Score:2, Informative)
If you get involved, and convince them to go opensource, you might find yourself with a job working for them as a techie/trainer assuming you have the qualifications. When I convinced the CIC (a section of the reserves) to use open source software for the public terminals, they we
Re:Information is the key (Score:2)
Re:Information is the key (Score:2)
He meant day. (Score:2)
I worked at PACSTC some years before he did (iirc I as staff one year he was there as a cadet >:D )
I tried this in my spare time. (Score:3, Funny)
There are many approaches from writing (or emailing) your local congressthing to getting involving in the local gov't.
However, I find the best way to get through to a politician is to ly in wait behind their car in the underground parking garage at work (even better if they've been working a late night). Don't forget to wear an all black jumpsuit and a black knit cap. When they approach, leap up from behind the car, arms flailing wildly and scream: "USE OPEN SOURCE! MOZILLA -- FEAR THE LIZARD!!". And then run away.
Re:I tried this in my spare time. (Score:1)
From the Book of Mozilla 7:15 "And so at last the beast fell and the unbelievers rejoiced. But all was not lost, for from the ash rose a great bird. The bird gazed down upon the unbelievers and cast fire and thunder upon them. For the beast had been reborn with its strength renewed, and the followers of Mammon cowered in horror."
Re:Conquer from within? (Score:2)
I like the comment about the "real office". Most managers simply don't understand that the fact that it's Free and costs nothing means that it's crap. I heard many people thinking that OpenOffice.org is nothing more than an office clone. It really isn't. It's much better.
Money is an argument but it shouldn't be the only one used. The added-value features have much more weight in the balance than money (at least for north american governments). It's quite easy to sell Mozilla or Firefox to a manager as a
OpenOffice is dead easy to learn (Score:3, Interesting)
The punch-line? Said PHB wrote out the complaint using OpenOffice (1.1.2) on a Linux box (Mandrake 10.0 using KDE 3.2) without realising it. One of his receptionists used the same system for three days before she suddenly frowned at the screen and said, "Hey... this isn't Microsoft Word, is it?" Cue the quiet gristly sounds of Leon biting his tongue.
So... beware
Re:Conquer from within? (Score:2)
Very cool.
Nice to see that they eat their own dogfood.
Don't promote Open Source. (Score:5, Interesting)
Open Source is a development model, a way to create a work, usually software. While it does have many pluses compared to other development models, how a program is made generally has little impact on someones decision when they're choosing a program to use. On the other hand, Free Software is based on the Freedoms that a program has, and thus is much more business/government friendly.
Yes, you heard me. The Freedom that Free Software gives you is often the most compelling reason for anyone to switch, you just need to realize that different people value different freedoms. In this case, when talking to a government you need to remind them what freedoms they are giving up by using proprietary software. Here's a brief list of points to get your started.
My personal favorite of XP's EULA - Section 9 concerns upgrading and says "After upgrading, you may no longer use the software that formed the basis for your upgrade." This means that if you have a CD of XP SP1 and upgrade to SP2, then according to this agreement you have to buy a totally new copy of Windows to reinstall should your system get hosed.
EULAs are intentionally vague, and chain the user with restrictions so draconian that it's nearly impossible to use the software normally without voiding the EULA. Do some research, it is very easy to come up with a very long list of legal traps that would persuade a user away from proprietary software.
And then you can mention that Free Software does not come with such restrictions. Indeed, one of the basic points of the Free Software definition is that the software should be free to use in any way the user sees fit, without restrictions. A little research into this and you can have one hell of an argument.
Re:Don't promote Open Source. (Score:2)
I would assume that SP2 doesn't count as an upgrade; otherwise, even Windows Update Security Patch 12345 would count.
I also assume that if your system is hosed, you can terminate and reaccept t
Re:Don't promote Open Source. (Score:1)
As the poster said - "It's intentionally vague". The main reason it doesn't count as an upgrade is that Microsoft feel that the benefits of not considering it an upgrade are greater than if they do.
Admittedly, any court would proably be fairly generous to the end-user when it came to interpreting something so vague.
Re:Don't promote Open Source. (Score:3, Insightful)
Lobby for Open Source OR Free Software is good. The important thing is to not divide our efforts in things the usual non-geek would not understand.
Re:Don't promote Open Source. (Score:1)
Re:Don't promote Open Source. (Score:2)
I agree and disagree with you. While the Free Software / Open Source "thing" is a mess to say the least, I don't think it has to be so. I can imagine the following after an explanation of the basics of the Free Software movement:
"While Free Software gives freedom to the users, it also gives a lot of freedom to the developers. A direct result of this is the Open Source development model, where many people have the ability to constantly look over t
Price alone isn't going to win you your point. (Score:2)
The poster asks
My guess is that it will take more than just an argument over price to win people to software under a license approved by the Open Source Initiative. Serious proprietors looking at a big potential client will reduce their price to free if need be in order to secure the deal.
Mi
The best way (Score:2)
If you cant get to any of those, ge
My brother works at Toronto city hall (Score:2, Interesting)
I asked him why he couldn't install Firefox, or OO.o, and it was all about IT. So then I asked him to tell IT to do it, but he said that he would have to get permission from this person, and that person, so it's very difficult to change anything there. I'm assuming it's very similar in many other organizations out there and I won't put the blame on the IT people, however they shoul
Very simple (Score:3, Insightful)
Guess what? The bidding process is over, and no companies that were offering free software qualified under the terms. The contract has now been awarded to another company (who will be providing MS software, surprise surprise), which I'm sure will be scrutinized quite a bit to make sure there's no rip-offs. So try again in 3 years when the next lease is up, but this time put together a professional proposal complying with their RFP requirements and I'm sure it would be considered.
I think if a company came along and actually BID on the contract, preparing a decent presentation as to how the city would save costs, they would have to listen. After all, the City of Toronto is very interested in saving money, as they've dug themselves quite the hole in recent years (mostly due to the Province of Ontario not being particularly generous).
I run IT for City Hall... and I know the secrets (Score:1, Insightful)
I would like nothing more than eliminating the cost of my Microsoft contract.
How can you help City Hall accomplish this? Volunteer your services to work for them. Tell them you want to work on a program to manage -insert your software to promote-, and that you will give them a proof of concept before rolling it out that will not interfere with work already being done. "You wont even know I'm here."
Not just a great way to get yourself a job, but a career. Save a bunch of money by im