Comments on: The insuffiency of the open data approach https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/the-insuffiency-of-the-open-data-approach/2010/09/14 Researching, documenting and promoting peer to peer practices Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:43:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.5.14 By: Poor Richard https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/the-insuffiency-of-the-open-data-approach/2010/09/14/comment-page-1#comment-439368 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 09:43:41 +0000 http://blog.p2pfoundation.net/?p=10570#comment-439368 The argument that open data might lead to the unintended consequence of a “data divide” and “empowering the empowered” reinforces my belief that information can only be free when we are free; that open data under the current economic regime would only be co-opted by elites; and that data can and should only be open within whatever part of the economy is created by and belongs to an egalitarian community.

The strategy is simple: boycott the old economy (starve the beast) and build a new one in which information is open and free. But there is no way to build a new economy without many hands wielding picks and shovels, bricks and mortar (or maybe even stones, straw and mud). Simple but not easy. There are no tricks or easy strings to pull.

A “Green New Deal” might be helpful, but noting is essential but the number of bodies and minds that will stop working for “the man” and start working for themselves.

When we are free, information will be too.

PR

Poor Richard’s Almanack 2010

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