Eric,

>>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.

So what? It's still theft.

>
>>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. :)

<g>

Then as soon as Microsoft runs out of their 30 billions of cash reserves and fold you'll be stuck using whatever software was most current at that time. You know, maybe food should be free - and clothes and computers too.. <g> I do not think software should be free. If someone wants to give some away - great! If someone wants to make something that's good enough that others will pay for - great!


>
>>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.

I think that MSFT has every right to make as much money as the market will bear. I am completely confident that the several hundred millions of brains that evaluate their products can do infinitely better at judging their value that a few self-appointed so-called 'experts'.

Look, Bill and Melinda Gates have given away some 20 billions of dollars to their foundation. Those gifts are absolutely irrevocable. By law they must distribute 5% of the then-current balance under penalty of law. That's over 1 billion dollars per year. I'd say that Microsoft is doing more giving than most. Now, if you consider his highest level of wealth at 100 billion dollars then he's given some 20% of his net worth away. Have you? I try and give 10% - don't always make it but use it as a goal. I don't really care what % you may or may not give away but it starts with you. And me. Talk is pretty cheap.

>
>>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>

<g>

Well, look.. The whole point was to illustrate the absurdity of the position. You simply cannot give of this world's goods in any fashion that will cause them to increase. There's this little issue of creating wealth. <g>