[ILUG] Canvassing and politicians

[Éibhear]

Hi,

Kevin Lyda wrote:
> With a General Election coming and politicians/canvassers likely
> gleeful to hear something other than "the economy sucks" and "fuck the
> banks" perhaps we should consider what free software issues to raise.
>
> Software patents, better science education and more adult retraining
> programs would spring to mind. Anyone else?

I am a member of The Green Party, and we have just submitted a proposed IT
policy document for ratification by its National Council [See below on the
process involved]. This doesn't include the Telecoms policy, which is
being prepared separately.

Highlights:

Government CIO office:
  * Procurement
    - Avoidance of "lock-in"
    - Strong preference for Open Standards. Full text of definition:
      + adopted by an internationally recognised not-for-profit
        standards organisation and is maintained using an open
        and inclusive decision making process
      + is published and available at a nominal charge (at most),
        with permission to copy and distribute, again at nominal or
        no charge
      + licenses any patents that cover the technology in the standard
        on a restrictions-free (thanks Glyn Moody!) basis
    - Prefer FOSS solutions (specifically "free and open source")
    - All s/w developed by government offices, or bespoke s/w developed
      for them, to be released under EUPL.
  * S/w cost responsibility and management.

Centralised access to services
  * Open Standards
  * Open access (c.f. Tim Berners-Lee current campaign)

IT for a Sustainable Economy

IT in Health
  * "Electronic Patient Record"

IT in Energy
  * Smart grid, smart metering

IT in Transport
  * Integrated ticketing

IT in Education
  * Emphasis on Maths, Science and CS education.
  * S/w in schools conform to Open Standards and FOSS
    preference policies.

Citizen Rights
  * No reduction in rights and liberties for on-line activities
    (i.e. can't have computers seized and searched without warrant;
    can't be spied on electronically without judicial oversight; etc.)
  * Expressly...
    - forbids private organisations from intruding into a citizen's
      privacy ("It doesn't matter how precious your 'IP' is, the
      constitutional rights to privacy and due process are more
      precious!")
    - forbids private organisations from summarily punishing citizens
      for alleged illegal activities ("three-strikes and you're out"
      is out!)
    - forbids "content" providers from interfering with citizens'
      legitimate and legal uses of the so-called "content" (asserting
      "fair dealing"!)
  * Cryptography as a means of protecting private data to be
    encouraged and promoted. Gardaí not to be permitted to demand
    keys without correct paperwork.

Innovation in IT
  * Absolutely no s/w patents
  * Improve access for small companies to state contracts

And much, much more.

The process is for this to be presented for "first reading" in early
December, and for it to undergo maybe a maximum of 2 more readings before
ratification. It's a slow process, but we're planning to highlight these
items to the party leadership in order to get them familiar.

Once finally ratified, it's worth remembering, the leadership is bound by
the policy, as it's an expression of the membership's will. Unlike in
other parties, they can't go off half-cocked and dream up their own
policies ignorant of or contradicting the party's general preference.

If you have comments to make, please do so, on- or off-list. Due to work
and other pressures, I'll need to keep things on-topic, though.

Thanks,

Éibhear

>
> Kevin
>
> --
> Kevin Lyda
> Dublin, Ireland
> US Citizen overseas? We can vote.
> Register now: http://www.votefromabroad.org/
>
>


-- 
Éibhear Ó hAnluain
Gibiris.org
Dublin
Ireland