"Using Linux and Open Source software is un-American"

No, that's not what I believe, but I can hear it now. In one or two years time I believe it will be the rally cry of the US government and businesses. Why do I say that? Well there are increasing news reports about countries outside the USA realizing that being so dependent on a proprietary, US corporation controlled operating system - Microsoft Windows - is a huge risk to them. The paranoid would say they don't know what spyware or remote control options are embedded in Windows, what US specified DMCA features are being promulgated by it, and when the USA might try to leverage foreign dependence on Microsoft or other proprietary USA products by cutting off access to them. If a virus can disable hundreds of thousands of PCs across the world and flood Internet connections with traffic just imagine what havoc such a feature already embedded in Windows and controlled by a foreign power could wreck?

So its hardly suprising to read that China, South Korea and Japan are now developing an Asia-Pac operating system based on the Open Source Linux operating system. Or that China has recently declared that it will ban use of Microsoft Windows and Office products in their government (despite previous statements that there was no such ban going to happen). That's a ban that will surely spread as government produced documents in non-Microsoft formats propogate throughout the Chinese business world. For example in schools which are are looking for homegrown alternatives to Microsoft products.

I don't blame them for doing this, its an emminently sensible thing to do. When a country's key computer systems and resources are dependent on software owned and controlled by a foreign government, then that country is at the mercy of a foreign power that is known to be fond of exerting trade pressure on other governments that don't toe the line and sign its trade agreements. So more power to them, I hope their Windows replacement project is wildly successful in creating some serious world competition for the dominant desktop OS. That's not because I hate Windows, just that I believe competition inspires innovation, creativity and critical self-improvement. Like many people I have found that since Windows 2000, it and its desktop tools have actually reached a reasonable standard of usability and reliability. There are still some major issues around its proprietary nature, security and the lack of humulity Microsoft exhibits when posting the n-th security update in the same month. Its just that I believe the source code should be freely available, and freedom of choice should be more than deciding whether to purchase XP Home, Professional, Tablet or Media Center, and what desktop background image to use.

However as the title of this blog entry suggests, I think it will not be long before the US government is trying to restrict the growth of competing operating systems, and pressing for WTO agreements that prohibit any foreign restrictions on what operating systems can be used within their borders. The growth of competition will spark exactly the kind of restrictive trade practice wars that it was designed to circumvent. Before long our government will no doubt try to associate using Open Source software with being un-America. Linux will be branded as "Not made in America" and controls on its use will be sort. Federal, State and City enitities will be tempted or strong-armed into banning its use. People will boldly pronounce "Patriots use Windows" and proudly display the Windows flag along side their Old Glory. They will even engage in boycotts of non-Windows based products like Linux powered cell phones.

Of course there will be some official Homeland security justification for this, something designed to instill fear of the Penguin Pushers into the hearts of the people. For example that Linux and other Open Source software doesn't comply with American security standards and hence is a danger to national security and a potential weapon of terrorists. By then Patrioit XXX will probably require spyware, DMCA remote control backdoors, encryption key escrow controls, and other privacy infringements to be embedded in all operating systems sold and used in the USA. Developers and supporters of Open Source will be branded supporters of terrorism and sent to jail.

Yes I know, this more doom and gloom and a bit much to hit everyone with right at the start of the week. But hey, this is my long dark tea-time of the soul after all. I let you know when its over...