[NTLUG:Discuss] Re: Micro$oft is killing small town budgets- no mention of analternative?

[brian@pongonova.net]

On Sun, Oct 07, 2001 at 04:03:27PM -0500, Kevin E. Ivey wrote:
> Stillwater is a nice little town and they have a very well done web
> site:
> ...
> I wonder if there is a LUG or a good supply of geeks in the area who can
> help guide them toward the alternative a la Largo, FL.

The chances of this are slim to none.  One of the problems I've encountered when
talking to to town "officials" about the problem is that the people whose jobs
depend upon Microsoft technology (usually IT types with lots of money in Microsoft
certs) are certainly not interested in pursuing a technology that will probably
cost them their jobs.  Garland, for instance, is spending close to $600,000 in
this year's budget for Microsoft upgrades.  I, for one, can't imagine what $600,000
will buy in Microsoft products, but that's a large chunk of change that most cities
write off as "operating costs."

The way to solve this problem isn't through geeks banding together.  It's a
problem of politics, of money:  Show the town leaders how they can save money
without alienating their workforce.  To these types, the technology itself isn't of
paramount important (that's obvious, or they wouldn't be using Microsoft in the
first place).  *Sell* them on the idea that alternatives to Microsoft will enhance
*their* careers by reducing taxes and expenditures. This is a job for the
politically savvy, not the inherently geeky (although a politically savvy geek
would probably be just what the doctor ordered).

But don't bother wasting your time trying to convince the city IT departments.
You're seen as nothing more than a threat to their continued well-being.

  --Brian