-----Original Message----- From: Charles, Joshua Micah (UMKC-Student)

The bottom line to all this is that Open Source is ultimately about freedom.

Here is a great presentation on the subject: http://randomfoo.net/oscon/2002/lessig/free.html

A great book on the subject is "The Future Of Ideas," which I also highly recommend. Personally, I can't understand how you can be pro "Open-Source," and also for Government Regulations. They are contradictory ideas at their core.

I agree and disagree. Open source is about freedom, but not all government regulation is bad. I like knowing that not any Joe Schmoe can get a license to practice medicine, or that vehicles have to meet a minimum standard of to be considered road worthy or that daycare facilities need to check for criminal records before hiring. I like the idea of my children being cared for by people who haven't been convicted of being a pedophile. Call me crazy. The problem is some times there's too much and other times there's not enough. I also like knowing that not just any Joe Shmoe can contribute to the official Linux kernel. There are regulations in place to prevent that. I like the idea that any Joe Schmoe has the freedom to qualify under the existing fair regulations to be able to contribute to the Linux kernel. Freedom is great but without some form of control there is chaos and chaos is not always a good thing.