"When the idea of sharing software comes up, people frequently
break out in debates over Capitalism vs. Communism. It doesn't take
long before someone starts equating--derisively, no less--sharing
software with Communism. But since when did the Communists corner
the market on sharing?
"Frankly, I don't believe Free Software is much of a Capitalist
idea. Nor do I view libre software as particularly Communist. I
view it as eco-politically neutral. But sharing has, in fact, been
a staple of early childhood education--at least when I was a child
(60's-70's). Yet, by the time you reach college, you're being
taught to 'protect' your ideas (via copyrights & patents). What
changed? Why the sudden back-peddling on sharing...?"
