While I appreciate the similarities, I think it's a bit much to tie the Free Software Movement to Democratic movements.  While the _ideals_ on paper can be similar, the success or failure of "Free and Open systems" lie more with practical issues.

For example:
* America, while certainly not acting like it much the last eight years, is probably the country with the longest tradition of civil rights and citizen-government.  However, it is also the land of EULAs and Microsoft.

* China and most of the developing world uses Linux extensively.  Many of those countries are ruled by oppressive governments.

Therefore, just because a group of people "cherish freedom" doesn't mean that they use Free Software.  In converse, people who apparently hate freedom (dem terrists hehe) often use Free Software.

The reality is that, for most people, they choose software based on practical reasons and not ideological ones.  My assertion is that the ideologues (like many of us) are in the minority.

Jeffrey.




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"He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach to himself." -- Thomas Paine