[pp.int.general] strategic funding of free software through a FLOSS fonds

[Mirco da Silva]

Aloha pirata,

please allow me to introduce you an idea that came up during a lot of
hot discussions here and the german mailinglists, too.

These two apllications to our 2nd national party convention of 2011 in
December are the temporary result:

# Application 1 (internal):

The national party conventions decides:

The Pirate Party of Germany (PPDE) sets itself the long-term goal to
fullfill its tasks exclusivly by using Free Software (FLOSS).

For this purpose the PPDE will fund the developement, the usage and the
dissemination of FLOSS by an annual amount of money (FLOSS-Fonds) that
is at least equvalent to x%* of the annual amount of money its spends to
purchase and operate proprietary software.

Calculation base are the legal year and the sum of expenditures before
taxes.

The FLOSS-Fonds is entrusted for this specific purpose only.

The execution of this decision will be commissioned to the FLOSS-workgroup.

All political entities and subdivisions of the PPDE are encouraged to
support the FLOSS-workgroup to fullfill its tasks.

The FLOSS-workgroup reports annually about its activity and the mode and
extend of FLOSS-Fonds spendings.

* choices to vote for
10 → reasonable minimum demand
19 → current german V.A.T
23 → discordian value
42 → the answer to life, the universe and everything

Argumentation:

The funding of Free Software is an explicit interest of the PPDE
http://wiki.piratenpartei.de/Programm#Freie_Software
(link to PPDE main agenda)

Nonetheless the PPDE has to purchase and operate proprietary software
where no free alternatives are available respectively where they do not
fullfill the special requirements of a poli

To remedy this grievance in the long haul and to counter effectivly any
conflict of authenticity and crdibility it needs long-term efforts which
the FLOSS-Fonds is the financial basis for.

By funding a FLOSS-Fonds the german FLOSS-workgroup, in coorporation
with the FLOSS-workgroup of the PPI, will be able to do stock-checks of
used FLOSS in pirate party environments, to determine existing deficits
and requirements, and to promote exactly the development of the kind of
FLOSS our political goals benefits most from.

The necessity of the internationality of a FLOSS-Fonds funded
FLOSS-campagne results in the nature of Free Software.

Liquid Feedback (pre-convention opinions snapshot)
https://lqfb.piratenpartei.de/pp/initiative/show/1621.html

Wiki
http://wiki.piratenpartei.de/Diskussion:Bundesparteitag_2011.2/Antragsfabrik/Sonstiger_Antrag_001


# Application 2 (programmatic):

Following statement should be added to

1.) PPDE main agenda
2.) PPDE agenda for the national elections in 2013
3.) PPDE agenda for the european elections in 2014

Strategic funding of free software through a FLOSS fonds

The developement, the usage and the dissemination of FLOSS has to be
publicly funded by an annual amount of money (FLOSS-Fonds) that is at
least equivalent to x%* of the annual amount of money the public
administration spends to purchase and operate proprietary software.

Liquid Feedback (pre-convention opinions snapshot)
https://lqfb.piratenpartei.de/pp/initiative/show/1683.html

Wiki (application to the national convention)
http://wiki.piratenpartei.de/Bundesparteitag_2011.2/Antragsfabrik/Programm%C3%A4nderung_013

Your comments, opinions and ideas are very appreciated.

And if someone with a superb F(L)OSS reputation likes the idea and is
interested to act as a honorary patron for the cause.. please email me.

regards,
midas