Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!bbn!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!cadre!pitt!cisunx!mike
From: mike@cisunx.UUCP (Mike  Elliot)
Newsgroups: comp.misc
Subject: Re: lotus chairman makes 26 million
Message-ID: <9160@cisunx.UUCP>
Date: 27 Apr 88 12:53:45 GMT
References: <380@motbos.UUCP>
Reply-To: mike@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu.UUCP (Mike  Elliot)
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, Comp & Info Sys
Lines: 33

In article <380@motbos.UUCP> shino@motbos.UUCP (Rei Shinozuka MCD SE) writes:
>(warning:  this article is a soapboxer)
>
[stuff deleted]
>Granted, copying software is illegal.  But I just can't see that it
>is IMMORAL, as the SPA is trying to brainwash me into believing.
>From d'Arbeloff's quote, it seems that there are scads of guys running
>around at Lotus literally making millions of dollars.  They are all
>making too much money!  I am a staunch capitalist, make no mistake,
>but the simple fact of the matter is: THEY ARE MAKING TOO MUCH MONEY!
>How much is too much?  I'd like to know what the programmers are 
>making, in comparison.  After all, a lot of programmers make 26K, which
>is THREE ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE less than 26M!!  THAT'S TOO MUCH MONEY!!
>

Illegally copy software is not immoral if and only if stealing is not
immoral. Perhaps you are the sort of individual who does not think there
is anything wrong with stealing; I on the other hand see this and any other
stealing as being not only illegal but also immoral.  One can't justify
stealing on the grounds that the person one steals from has more than he
deserves.  Stealing is stealing, no matter from whom it was appropriated.


			Mike Elliot
			{allegra|bellcore|cadre|psuvax1}!pitt!cisunx!mike
			mike@pittvms.bitnet

It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more
doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage, than the creation of a
new system.  For the initiator has the enmity of all who would profit by
the preservation of the old institutions and merely lukewarm defenders in
those who would gain by the new ones.
			-Machiavelli