[fosscomm] small step for ITEC; giant leap for IT employees

[Raj Mathur ( राज =?utf-8?b?IOCkruCkvuCkpeClgeCksA==?=)]

On Friday 16 Mar 2012, justin joseph wrote:
> Based on ones relationship with the means of production, ones takes a
> position on issues.. Ones perception of the relation also plays a
> major role.  Very natural that on most issues, owners(SME owner's
> included) will take one position and knowledge workers will take
> another.  This thread captures a historical and on going struggle and
> exposes positions and thus perceptions and relations.  The rest is
> all foobar.
> 
> Let us all read the manifesto now:
> http://emoglen.law.columbia.edu/my_pubs/dcm.html

This thread has nothing to do with SMEs, knowledge workers, capitalism, 
liberalism, socialism or communism.  It's a couple of very simple issues 
(which unfortunately most of the correspondents on the thread have not 
been able to follow and have converted into their pet shooting range 
instead):

1. Creating reservations for or imposing restrictions on them is a sure 
way to defer equality for women.  I use the terms "reservations" and 
"restrictions" in their broadest senses here.

2. The primary responsibility of any state (government, monarchy, 
whatever) is the security of its citizens.  The state cannot devolve 
this responsibility onto industry (or any other non-state apparatus).  
By trying to do so, it is negating the most important reason for its 
existence.

I agree that my niece (who lives in Bengaluru, BTW, and works late) 
ought to be provided a safe passage home from her office 20KM away.  
What I don't agree with is that the Govt of Bengaluru can just throw its 
hands in the air and, effectively, say, "Sorry, we cannot protect the 
citizens of Bengaluru, so please make private arrangements for 
security."  If they are shameless enough to admit publicly that they 
can't even ensure the safety of their citizens, why are they there?

Regards,

-- Raj
-- 
Raj Mathur                          || raju at kandalaya.org   || GPG:
http://otheronepercent.blogspot.com || http://kandalaya.org || CC68
It is the mind that moves           || http://schizoid.in   || D17F