Re: Singularity: can't happen here

From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Mon Sep 10 2001 - 01:35:25 MDT


Chuck Kuecker wrote:
>
> I have been lurking on this thread, and here's my $0.02.
>
> First, it's bad law. Any law proposed by Congress is bad law until proven
> otherwise. We should fight it vigorously.
>
> Unfortunately, this law will pass, because not enough people will care or
> realize the implications. What then?

That is up to all of us.

>
> They are NOT going to start licensing compilers. The manpower needed to
> police that would bankrupt the government. They are going to make a few
> high profile arrests and try to cow the independent developers.
>

Actually, it is quite possible they might try to license some
forms of technology (but mostly hardware at first) and poison
the well against business use of non-licensed technology. The
high profile arrests that generate no more protests than we've
seen lately will make the government ever more bold and the
people ever more cowed.
 
> They are NOT going to require licenses on software engineers. Industry
> would squeal loudly, and THEY have the lobbying power to succeed in their
> protest. This will be just like the visas fro foreign born engineers thing
> a few years back - US engineers were almost unanimous in opposition to more
> visas being issued, but the corporations wanted the cheap workers, so
> Congress obliged.
>

There has been considerable talk of licensing software engineers
for quite some time. This is another nudge in that direction.
Personally, this software engineer was never against more
software visas to foreign born software engineers. Many of the
best engineers I know and quite good friends are here on those
visas. And I know that finding really good software talent is
very difficult and that even the worldwide pool is not
sufficient to demand. At least it isn't when the economy hasn't
been accidentally/on purpose wrecked thus slowing the advance of
technology, sowing fear and insecurity among the technical
literate and hobbling the beast so government/industry can try
to break it to the saddle.



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