>Regardless, it is still theft. No amount of moralizing or rationalizing will >make it anything else.

People in the third world don't have the luxury of moralizing or rationalizing.

>Now... Should companies like Microsoft sell VFP for $1.50 and get the $ >instead? How to do that and make $ I don't know. It would be a great idea but >I don't see how it would work.

Hell, I think all software should be free. :)

>Without going too far into this out of respect for the 'house rules' the real >problem here is nothing more than human greed. Now, when you can find a way to >persuade all humans to choose the non-greed path I'll buy in. I know how to >change the human heart but not for those who don't want to change, but >that's a subject people don't want to discuss. Ergo, people want >to be greedy and the problem persists.

Greed. Hmmm... How do you feel about MS and the subject of greed? Perhaps you could convince some of those folks to choose the "non greed path". I don't think that would violate the house rules.

>Let me illustrate: Not to pick on you but why don't you donate all of your >next two month's salary to purchase some copies of VFP and give them away to >some needy developers in Bangkok. I rest my case. <g>

Why do that when they can buy it for 1.50? <g>