Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by bad_user 2763 days ago
Such software is not Free Software or Open Source, according to their definitions.

The freedom to use the software for any purpose is imo the most important freedom of all.

Straight from the horse's mouth, here's Richard Stallman on "why programs must not limit the freedom to run them":

https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/programs-must-not-limit-freed...
1 comments
tokyodude 2763 days ago
RMS also has a solution

> Low-paying organizations do poorly in competition with high-paying ones, but they do not have to do badly if the high-paying ones are banned.

> All sorts of development can be funded with a Software Tax:

> Suppose everyone who buys a computer has to pay x percent of the price as a software tax. The government gives this to an agency like the NSF to spend on software development.

https://www.gnu.org/gnu/manifesto.en.html

not personally a fan of that solution

link
bad_user 2763 days ago
Given that much of the Free / Open Source software is for the public good, critical FOSS could be funded via taxes, I don't see why not.

Of course you can be anti-taxes and prefer a minimal government, you can be an anarchist like the folks in this community tend to be, but we do pay taxes, for roads, for public schools, for public healthcare and as long as we are paying taxes, I don't see why some FOSS couldn't be funded by the state.

link
AstralStorm 2763 days ago
Yes, putting this much money in the hands of a government who cannot even code good voting machines would be criminal.

An accountable foundation from a list would work much better.

link