Wow, Tom. I can see that you have put a great deal of thought into this, and that you have some very valid concerns about freedom in the US.
However, Microsoft has ALWAYS had a listening ear from the government, whether it was because they were heavy lobbyists and leaders in business or because their own blood was appointed as "chief security advisor" or whatever his title was before homeland security came about. Microsoft is a big moneymaker in the US, so they have a lot of sway either way you cut it.
Truth is, we USians have been having to fight against governmental encrouchment on our freedoms for a very long time and continue on many fronts. If you feel so strongly about it, stop preaching to the choir and do something about it! We still live in a country where we have some recourse, avenues to voice our complaints and concerns to governmental officials who are supposed to care and listen. Normally I'd guess it's a craps shoot, but worth the effort since squeaky wheels seem to get oiled after a time. Cynics can say that America is a bunch of sheep, but we still do have power if we are willing to grab it and run with it. Are we the most free country? I doubt it. We, on a large scale, have cashed in our freedoms for the freedom of "not choosing". Many people are lax and defeatist. The people in power are the ones who have learned how to play the game and then done so. ! ;Money, of course, helps. But letters to congressional leaders and other heads of state ARE STILL EFFECTIVE. Get enough of them and there will be an awareness, if not action. It's that same awareness, like the one you get after getting a speeding ticket, that moderately affects your actions.
As for Microsoft convincing the government to "outlaw open source", I'm sure they''ll attempt it at every turn. That's what makes them successful: taking advantage of every opportunity they have.
Whether the government listens to them is anybody's guess, but it has been that way for some time now. If anything, using the tools of the bad guys only makes sense.
The oddity that I believe the government understands is that we are talking about something that is not completely under anyone's control. Since most noteable hacking comes from either inside the enterprise or outside our country, there is defendable reason to do as you fear. I understand the fear, but this particular move is not really a step in that direction.
What this article discusses is a contract with Microsoft to provide technology, indeed be their "primary" provider of technology. They have also contracted with Dell, it appears, as well. This is business. This doesn't mean that Microsoft has any more sway than they already did with policymakers. Chances are most of the people in the newly amalgomated department were already on Windows to begin with.
I am not a pessimist, but I attempt to maintain some control over any optimism. This, if anything, is simply a decision to give business to "a US company" rather than "embracing opensource" like so many other government agencies, here and abroad. This actually makes sense. Do you want a bald man cutting your hair? NO! Who needs the most protection from an IT standpoint? Microsoft technologies. When Novell made their push into IP, then CEO Schmidt forced the entire company to use it to feel the pain if there was any. He would go around to closets with a sniffer to make sure there was no IPX to be found. The HomeLand Security IT budget can't be that large. This strikes me as nothing more than another battle in the war... Microsoft's Munich if you will. If the DOD did this, then I'd be worried, since their IT budget is like 38Billion dollars. (not exagerating! ). As for the relegation (or did you honestly mean regulation) of Linux to hobbyists and educational facilities, you're talking about the grass roots, not the future. Linux is being taught in the universities.... mindshare. It is being backed by big-hitters such as IBM, who will not go quietly into that goodnight. You think Microsoft has sway in government? Check on IBM, Microsoft's "parent" if you will. IBM makes ten to a hundred times more each year than Microsoft. IBM has been around a lot longer, too. And Red Hat and other companies are making their full living on Linux technologies. Don't expect them to sit by idly if potential regulations occur.
Keep watching for things to be concerned about! We need to be vigilant in protecting our freedoms. But I recommend putting effort in writing your elected officials in support of initiatives like the DMCRA (Digital Millenium Consumer's Rights Act) which will allow us to legally use libdvdcss to play commercial DVD's on Linux, and such. When there is a need, there will be a wave... ride it! When necessary, make sure your name is well-known to your politicians.
I too love Linux and hate Microsoft technologies and business practices. They have proven over and over again that they don't care at all about their userbase... just remaining "good enough" to keep the cash flowing in. There is a lot of room for maturing of OSS, which is part of why it's so exciting. You can either make some much valued contributions or at least watch the viciously fast cycle of improvement that makes OSS so great! If you want to REALLY get your name in lights while contributing to something great and you're NOT a coder, play with a product and when you find one or two you like, write documentation to help Joe Idiot with the initial learning curve! It feels great! I can see that you have a creative and expressive mind, you'd be great! Some documentation would take you less time to write than what you just sent to this list!
With Respect, Matt
ps. If you are interested in "children following in their parents' footsteps", where was IBM in the 70's? AntiTrust court. It has dictated their actions ever since. IBM is the single biggest supporter of new and Open technologies, both Linux and Java. They promote standards instead of mandating them. They have learned (basically) that they need to be competitive (woh! Competition was a new word in their vocabulary) based on merit and value rather than FUD (which was, BTW, started by IBM in this industry... "Nobody has ever been fired for buying IBM!")
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As a Canadian, I quite sure the US government will afford me the time and effort to listen to me about software security and make a decision on my input :)
Politicians have a hard enough time listening to people within they're own districts, let alone to sound ideas and supported
fact. These decision makers have always made a choice, depending
on how much they were paid for to make that choice.
That goes as well up north here, we are no different. And since Canada follows those trends, we will also adopt a MS supported government to the teeth.
As for IBM, please remember that while IBM was slapped with anti-trust, Microsoft settled. Although IBM follows the rules
that was handed down to it to follow, Microsoft has yet to
adhere to its conditions set out by the court.
Netscape has all but dissappeared now; No one else is developing a browser to work with MS products; People still complain about spam and viruses, although a cheaper, simpler solution remains
with buying a linux product.
People are generally stupid, but they also for the most part do what their told to do, and they are told to use Microsoft, because it is faster, simpler to use, and no time is required to
use it.
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