This is from the linux kernel mailing list. I find it pretty completly sums op my thoughts on all the new constitution and voting and policy voting stuff that we've been setting up. I haven't been vocal about this, but I think we've been moving in the wrong direction.
Of course, this came up on linux kernel because Linus is showing signs of burnout - just like Bruce burnt out. The benevolent dicator system isn't perfect. ----- Forwarded message from Larry McVoy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----- To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Larry McVoy) Subject: Re: Linus is on a powertrip.. Date: Fri, 02 Oct 1998 14:31:21 -0600 : This all boils down to the old saying that the benevolent dictator is : the best form of government --- there's only one problem: finding the : benevolent dictator. Linus has, up till now, served as a very good : benevolent dictator. It may be that the job has been putting much : pressure on him, and we need to find ways of relieving this pressure, or : otherwise solving the problem. Amen. To all points. I've watched the *BSD stuff and Linux from the sidelines for years, all the way back to 386BSD - Bill Jolitz, Mr 386BSD, used to work for me. I'm so sold on the benevolent dictator model that I jumped on the Linux bandwagon soley because of that model. I was pushing linux back when Linux was utter and complete garbage by comparison to any of the *BSDs. It wasn't because Linux was better, it was because Linux was going to get better and the *BSDs were not necessarily going to get better. Everyone should stop and think hard about the benevolent dictator issue. It's absoutely the most efficient way to get things done and the committee approach just creates arguments. Yeah, we have our arguments here, but as Ted says, Linus gets to resolve them and that's the end of it (you don't hear a lot from about RT any more do you - Linus made the call, I don't like it, but that's the end of it - if this was *BSD we would be like the energizer bunny - still going, and going, and going). We have two problems to think about: 1) do as much as we can in the short term (1-5 years) to keep Linus offloaded enough that he stays interested and retains power. 2) start thinking now about grooming a replacement. That second one is dicy but it's inevitable that Linus will eventually want to leave his current role - it's just too much pressure to want for the rest of your life. Also, it's a sign of a healthy organization to have folks that could step up hanging around being groomed. It means that the organization is more important than the individual and I think that is the case here, with no disrrespect intended. The problem is - who would you groom? I can think of lots of people who would volunteer but most (all?) of them are also disqualified. It's an issue. I suspect that the grooming process would help. My two cents. - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/ ----- End forwarded message ----- -- see shy jo
