I agree with what you say. When we don't pay, then there isn't a huge incentive, but you know how it is. People on Slashdot keep yammering about what a great deal it is to open up the source [e.g. "Think of all the development costs that you'll save!!1!"], and how everybody should use it [e.g. "Think of all the purchase costs that you'll save!!1!"].

Like I said, I agree, but it's not appropriate to tell people that they should use it, or that open source is better, and then say that programmers don't care.

So, you say that you don't represent all programmers, which makes sense, but that wasn't the impression that I got. Then again, maybe I'm being too pedantic [or whatever]. Then again, this is Slashdot, and we can never know what is meant until it is spelled out.

I see that you have a 7 digit user number. Maybe you are new here; I don't know. I can say for sure, though, that many GPL advocates certainly did think that they were doing the world a favour by using open source software.

You would give a hoot, because you are speaking on behalf of all programmers, it seems. I think that Richard wants everybody to use free software. If that is true, then programmers are going to have to be more accommodating.

I remember seeing a ncurses [or something like that] display with RH 6. It was my first Linux attempt, and it never worked until I became experienced enough to figure out the correct settings for it.

Richard Stallman does NOT want your software to be widely used by people who contribute nothing??!? Really?! Is that what he said?

If I were a cat, and if I were tired of you using photos of me on the web, and if I were to going to give you payback, then do you *really* think that I would give you free porn photos of me?

My master, on the hand...

The guy that I was responding to insisted on perpetual debt. If you want to spend borrowed money on a fantastic opportunity that is time limited, then go for it. However maintaining a perpetual debt on purpose is a waste.

Regarding your argument of job losses, yes I understand, but people quit their jobs all the time. As they quit, spending could be reduced, to discourage hiring.

Shuttering the military industrial complex sounds nice to me. I don't believe that government and CEOs should be in the position to maintain employment by hiring people to make things for killing. In that specific situation, their manufacturing would be no more productive than just sitting around doing nothing. I suppose that they might as well make ammo for target practise, but that's not the point of this discussion.

For your job loss concern, the money would be better spent giving financial rewards to those who build and sell environmentally friendly products. I realize that you weren't speaking against such a suggestion, but my point is that reduced spending, plus shuttering manufacturing of a certain thing, and maintaining a surplus can be a good thing.

I'm not saying that we have to have a surplus, even if it shocks the economy. I'm saying that having a surplus is a good thing, and that we can't speak out against it, just because it's a surplus.

If we're really concerned about job losses, then the government could have the same effect by closing off the borders, and requiring more domestic manufacturing, and finding ways to direct our personal spending.

Or you can just save your money and spend more as the economy increases. Instead of spending on interest, just spend it on things that we care about.

Hi. Thanks for the feedback.

Moderators, please mod him up as informative. Here is the take away paragraph.

Early data suggests that a period of approximately two years of intermittent treatments may be required to attain the goal of long-term abstinence from narcotics and stimulants for many patients. The majority of patients treated with Ibogaine remain free from chemical dependence for a period of three to six months after a single dose. Approximately ten percent of patients treated with Ibogaine remain free of chemical dependence for two or more years from a single treatment and an equal percentage return to drug use within two weeks after treatment. Multiple administrations of Ibogaine over a period of time are generally more effective in extending periods of abstinence. It is noteworthy that twenty-nine of the thirty-five patients successfully treated with Ibogaine had numerous unsuccessful experiences with other treatment modalities.

It would be more like every 1,000th. I doubt that 1 person could produce enough heat to justify much.

I agree. I can't respect any opinions or suggestions that don't factor in the corruption of government. I'm amazed that people still think in terms of left and right, or liberal and conservative. What difference do their views make, if they are trying to screw us over?

No, I haven't been to those countries. Thanks for clarifying. :^D I've been to China, though, so I should have known. I think that part of my problem is that I did most of my travelling in Canada.

That part I understand. It's the lower price that bugs me. From the summary, I get the impression that they had to pay $10, for example, for an ordinary contract, but now, they can pay $1. In other words, it sounds like a worse deal for the labour force. The percentages might be better, but the total money at the end of the day is worse, if I understand correctly.

I forgot to add that I don't like what the summary said. 1/8 of the wages is not much at all. If it was $8 before, then the new price is $1. Being able to keep 90% of that is $.90. I'd rather have 50% of $8.

Maybe I misunderstand the summary.

I don't see how you made $10/hour. The assignments that I got were only a few cents. You say $20 would pay for your expenses for the day? I thought that room and board would be more than that.

When I did it, I made about $1/hour, and sometimes less, because the voices were garbled, and sometimes my work would be rejected. It was silly.