Stallman is good with code but he should stay away from politics and social issues if he's unwilling to evolve from the Law of the Jungle.
> Well, Richard's statism shows. He's very honest about being a statist (he even said something very humorous: "I'm a statist. I have a pro-state gland."). Richard refused to talk about voluntary solutions to social problems. I even tried to ask him "What would it take for you to be persuaded to change your mind about the state?" and he cut me off.
He believe that the power of the state sound be used to solve problems. Almost the opposite of the Law of the Jungle.
Specifically, it sounds like he thinks that it should basically be impossible, as a matter of law, for people to charge for software. "He does not believe in voluntary solutions to social problems."
My problem with the statist position is that anyone who can hijack the state can create a form of tyranny. I'm much more of a bill of rights kind of guy myself.
Stallman shut down the conversation on the man when it came to the State. The State is force, not cooperation. The author was trying to present a case for voluntary associations and contracts as opposed to the force of the State, but Stallman wants none of it. IOW, Stallman refuses to consider evolving on his position when an equal or better alternative is presented.
> My problem with the statist position is that anyone who can hijack the state can create a form of tyranny.
I share your problem with the statist position. 150%.
> Well, Richard's statism shows. He's very honest about being a statist (he even said something very humorous: "I'm a statist. I have a pro-state gland."). Richard refused to talk about voluntary solutions to social problems. I even tried to ask him "What would it take for you to be persuaded to change your mind about the state?" and he cut me off.