Following is the conversation I fear, and two potential alternatives. This is meant to be humorous, please don't take it too seriously, even if it isn't funny, haha. County: Welcome, thanks for coming. PLUG: Thank you for having us. County: What can we do for you? PLUG: Debar Microsoft, they're guilty of antitrust violations. County: But we like Microsoft. EBC is saving us lots of time and money. PLUG: But the procurement code requires that you debar contractors that are guilty of antitrust violations. County: Actually, it just gives us the option of debarring contractors that are found in violation (MC1-902.A.). It means we have the option of preventing them from even bidding on a contract - typically our procurement requires allowing any qualified Person to bid. PLUG: And we're asking you to invoke that option. Microsoft is preventing competition and innovation in the IT sector of the economy. County: Supposing we agree with that, even so, the process can only be started on the recommendation of staff. (MC1-902.A.) PLUG: So can't you be the one to make the recommendation? County: Well, it can only be done for cause (MC1-902.A.). Like we mentioned earlier, EBC, which is built on Microsoft software, is saving us lots of money. They've not harmed us; we don't have cause. PLUG: Hmm, so we can't start it? County: No. PLUG: And you won't start it? County: We can't, no cause. PLUG: But suppose it did get started? County: Wouldn't be invoked. We like Microsoft. PLUG: Hmm, OK. County: Was there anything else? PLUG: Umm, I guess not. My thought would be that there are two options: Adversarial: County: Was there anything else? PLUG: We'll get lawyers. County: OK, if you must. ... 5 years fighting, with MS lawyers on the opposite side ... County: So it's agreed. We'll roll out at least 10% of our computer systems on alternative operating systems within 5 years. PLUG: We're tired, can we borrow some aspirin? We spent all our money on lawyers. Collaborative: County: Was there anything else? PLUG: Yeah, would you like to start deploying some alternative OS's, just in case Microsoft's abuse of their monopoly power does hurt you someday? County: Well, sure, but won't it be hard? We don't have much of a budget for experimental projects. We can't really afford retraining or downtime. PLUG: Actually, Linux is getting to the point where it's quite similar to Windows in terms of usability and features. County: Features? But it doesn't have Office. PLUG: OpenOffice 1.0 was just released. It's great! County: But what about the GPL? If I plug a Linux machine into my network, don't I have to join the Communist Party and publish my bank records for the past 5 years? PLUG: Nahh. The GPL only affects software that is under the GPL or links to a GPL library. All the libraries you need have non-GPL equivalents. Of course, you could also just publish your source code. County: Publish the source code? Bill says that will make my hair fall out. PLUG: It won't. County: I'm scared. PLUG: In the mid 90's Maricopa decided to publish all public records on the web. That was probably scary, but it turned out to be a landmark success that is now held up as an example nation wide. County: Yeah, we rock. PLUG: So let's start converting some of the machines, (and it won't do your MS sales rep any harm to see a competing OS in the office). County: I like the way you think. -------------------------------------------------------------------- "We need commonsense judges who understand that our rights were derived from God. Those are the kind of judges I intend to put on the bench." President George W. Bush, 27 June 2002 http://www.nando.net/politics/story/453192p-3627921c.html "no religious Test shall ever be required" Constitution Article 6 http://www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/usconst/art-6.html --------------------------------------------------------------------