call to arms

[richb at pioneer.ci.net (Rich Braun)]

dan at geer.org wrote:
> This is out of line for the purpose of this list, but if you care
> to push on a matter of public policy...

This is IMHO *central* to the point of an organization like Boston Linux/Unix
group, not an off-topic discussion.  (Others may disagree, wanting only to
discuss pure technology issues.)  The adoption of open-source software by
government and business organizations is one of the key accomplishments of the
organization and its predecessor, a sub-group of the former Boston Computer
Society.

Political battle lines drawn in the halls of the State House over the issue
are shocking.  What has happened is the Romney administration (and its pro-biz
ilk) have taken the open-source side, and the DiMasi democrats (and their
pro-consumer ilk) have taken the Microsoft side.  It's absolutely puzzling,
until you notice that the main issue on the Left has to do with Microsoft's
lobbyists pushing hard on the handicap-accessibility issue.

To me it's an open-and-shut case.  The government should not be perpetuating
Microsoft's closed-format agenda.  There should somehow be funding to create
new open-source code for handicapped people.

This is one of the few legislative initiatives *directly* affecting the
adoption of Linux technology in our State House, and I hope more people here
take an interest in it and will look for ways to educate the law's current
deceptively-advised opponents.

-rich