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<TITLE>Re: FLOSS/Linux Political Party</TITLE>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2>On Thu, 2005-03-03 at 00:36 +0000, Sid Dabster wrote:<BR>
> *** Proposal for a FLOSS/Linux Political Party ***<BR>
><BR>
> I suggest a Linux Party is formed to promote the idea<BR>
> of free software (and possibly related ideas). The<BR>
> last European Election with the patent issue showed<BR>
> the relevance of politics to the free software<BR>
> movement. Voting purely on patents lead to some<BR>
> undesirable alliance partners. While as LUG Radio<BR>
> noted, the patent issue did not brake through into the<BR>
> mainstream media. If free software is to gain mass<BR>
> use, we need decision makers and media to be more<BR>
> aware. A Linux party with a free post drop and media<BR>
> time will do this just as other single issue parties<BR>
> have.<BR>
<BR>
Whilst I'm behind the ideology 100% I'm not sure forming a separate<BR>
political party is the best way to go to achieve your aims.<BR>
<BR>
Single issue parties have always performed badly (apart from one or two<BR>
notable successes) mainly for the reason that by definition they are<BR>
only interested in a couple of key points, where an elected leader is<BR>
expected to deal with a wide range of social and political issues.<BR>
<BR>
Even parties with single issues that are much more visible to the<BR>
general public such as the Green party don't attract the votes of all<BR>
their sympathisers because they don't want to 'waste' their vote on that<BR>
single issue when there are more pressing issues to hand.<BR>
<BR>
Please understand I'm not being defeatist here but there are better ways<BR>
to make an impact.<BR>
<BR>
Why not divert that energy and focus into canvassing MEPs from the main<BR>
parties and bringing them around to start defending the rights of<BR>
software developers and users by challenging software patents?<BR>
<BR>
Rgds<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
--<BR>
~sm<BR>
Simon Morris<BR>
<BR>
### I'm running the New York City Marathon in Nov. 2005 to raise money<BR>
### for St. Marys Hospital in Paddington, London.<BR>
### Please help sponser me at <A HREF="http://www.justgiving.com/mozrat">http://www.justgiving.com/mozrat</A><BR>
### Thanks :)<BR>
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