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Great post by Dries dri.es/funding-open-source-lik…

It is high time that #OpenSource is recognized for what it is, critical digital infrastructure!

I was happy to be able to contribute a small amount to this post.


Funding Open Source like public infrastructure

To protect the digital foundation of essential government services, governments should invest in Open Source as public infrastructure and shift from consumption to contribution.
Dries Buytaert
#opensource
in reply to Mike Gifford, CPWA

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ekes

I fear that comes up against the buffers of present party politics.

Even situations like LocaGov Drupal that wouldn't exist witout Central Government funding. After they want it to "stand on it's own feet'.

Present political drift seems to be investment payments might be ok, but 'subsidy' (ongoing payments) bad. What is defined as (essential) infrastructure that needs subsidy is getting wittled away all the time.

in reply to Mike Gifford, CPWA

mastodon - Link to source

ekes

it's a subsidy, though not usually called it. It's a subsidy as it is for rail infrastructure. Even the subsidies for roads, beloved of the right, now see: charging, tolls, privitization & generally trying to reduce direct gov costs. Even if less quick than it's been done to rail.
Which is why I wondered about running up against the buffers of present politics.
But maybe it's the rallying cry that will motivate people to change governments.
in reply to ekes

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ekes

If I dig harder into the LocalGov Drupal example. The ongoing development is supported by local government - directly, through time and involvement; and indirectly through contracted agencies. But I think the success of that is because of quite some individuals, the way those organisations work together and not any concrete political direction.
This entry was edited (2 weeks ago)
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