I'd heard of Richard Stallman only briefly before from those I work with in the world of nonprofit media. Today, after spending many hopeless hours online and on the telephone conversing with friends all similarly frustrated and depressed by the '04 election results, I was happy and relieved to find this intelligent, practical and sane voice. The technical content in itself is important. But the universal moral arguments are even more important perhaps, as so many move in directions directly opposed to a cooperative existence.

At the most basic level, any honest person realizes that no idea is completely original, that all creations draw from, evolve with and mimic an infinite number of complimentary and opposing other ideas. So, to proceed in all things via cooperative principles is the only logical course. And how easy it should be!

At this historical moment it is essential for cooperative, open principles to become the foundation for all technical, artistic, educational and political undertakings. There can be no proprietary solution for the creation nor the function of life.

I'll now move myself from the soap box to the streets.

Thanks!