[Linux-aus] Fwd: [A2k] bbc: Tories want open source whitehall

[David Lloyd]

Janet,


> Tories want open source Whitehall

The Tories want to find ways to make the Government more efficient and 
to redistribute the supposed "gains" to where?

Very soon, I think the open source communities will need to address what 
happens when effective open source deployments are made and real money 
(measured, perhaps, in millions and not simply hundreds of thousands) 
actually starts to be saved.

So, for example, let's say the Government saves something large (let's 
say $1 billion) in some large open source deployment. I know that some 
Government would use this money to promote the idea that privatisation 
of natural monopolies, or profitable Government businesses, is a good 
idea. They might use this saving to ensure that those with a lot of 
money can make even more through some form of tax breaks.

I guess I'm a pessimist. I don't see conservative governments anywhere 
in the world actually using the real cost savings of open source in any 
useful way.

I think The Tories actually want 600 pounds to redistribute the wealth 
to the rich and upper classes.


DSL