Government Free Software

There is a poll on the website for the Governor of the State of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick called Massachusetts Should Use Free Software Exclusively.

You should click on the link to let Deval know that you support this issue (unfortunately, it forces you to give your name, phone, and address to "register a username" but that didn't take more than a minute for me). Naturally, I support the idea for the government to only run Free Software. I sent the following (slightly hyperbolic) note along with my vote in support of the issue.

I support the use of Free Software in the government for a number of reasons. Primarily, if MA uses free software then tax dollars can be spent on more productive things than software licenses. Secondarily, I believe that MA should try to act as a model for other states in the Union. If small, but technological savvy MA can't switch to Free software, then other states shouldn't even bother. Once MA can succeed the Free Software switch, other states will follow suite.

As free software spreads to other governments, American companies will begin to understand that Free Software is better. After that, Free Software will eventually trickle down to the Universities. With a nation of students educated on the principles of sharing and cooperation, America will regain our position as the more prosperous country on the planet. This prosperity will benefit our children and grandchildren enormously.

So, you see, MA must switch to Free Software to ensure the prosperity of future generations of Americans.

God Bless,
Robert Van Dyk