Hi all,

No doubt we can have a nice long thread on the merits of open-source
software. I don't think that was Jim's intention in posting the
news bit about Microsoft. It certainly wasn;t mine in replying
to Jim.

Good people (and good companies) can disagree on the best balance
between open-source and proprietary-code development. That's just the
point. What struck me about Jim's news report is the unbelieveable
arrogance of Microsoft in this regard.

This is a great example of how selective we can all be in wanting to
"get the government off our backs." Microsoft obviously wants the
government to stop targeting it for antitrust suits, even when (as
in the Corel matter) they seem to be out to buy up (or at least buy
off) their competition. Yet the same Microsoft seems to be asking
the government for protection from the un-American ogre, Open Source.

I'm getting tired of the overheated rhetoric in the public arena,
whether it's elections or Microsoft vs. Open Source. What really
offended me was seeing the Microsoft guy wrap himself in the U.S.
flag and declare that Microsoft's way is synonymous with the
American Way.

By implication, of course, anything that's not Microsoft's way
is un-American. Next thing you know, they'll be calling open-source
fans communists.

Dunno - maybe Microsoft is right. Maybe I should use a little
overheated rhetoric myself: maybe monopolistic dirty tricks and
rapacious profiteering really _is_ the American Way. :-)

Now _there's_ a thought for the Presidents' Day holiday! :-)

Mike