Aaron wrote:

  

Wow!  I just read the news letter for this week.  It's been a few months
since last time.  How long has it been this way?  When did it go from the
news of Project Gutenberg to the blog of Michael Hart?  How are quotes on
politics relevant to the work of PG?  Whether you agree with his politics
or not, there are obviously going to be a lot of people who don't.
    

I think Michael should setup a personal blog -- he has a lot of
interesting viewpoints (some of which I agree with, others I don't)
that should be shared on the public stage.


  

What could have possibly made that seem like a good idea?  Injecting such
hot-button issues into the official Project Gutenberg newsletter gives the
impression that we are a political organization and that we as volunteers
support those views.  Some volunteers might not be all that fond of that idea.

What is our mission here?  To give away books, or to give Michael Hart a
platform from which to vent his non-ebook related political views?

I have no problem with Michael Hart publishing his politics.  I do have a
problem with him publishing them on PG stationary.
    

PGLAF is a 501(c)3 (so I surmise) and 501(c)3 status restricts the
organization from direct political activity. For example, advocating
that PG volunteers should vote for a particular candidate skirts close
(at the minimum) to such disallowed political activity.

I don't know what Michael said, but I think PGLAF, and all those who
*may* speak for it in an official status on any forum, should avoid
taking any political position (including how some law should be changed,
such as copyright law) since that violates the "spirit" of 501(c)3, if
not the letter. Certainly Michael has the right, wearing the hat of a
private citizen and using his own forum and resources, to give his
views. But as soon as he puts on the PG hat, then that drags PGLAF into
it (the argument he is not on the PGLAF Board or its payroll, etc., is
not sufficient -- PGLAF and all of PG's activities should avoid even
the perception of political lobbying -- that's what 501(c)3 is all
about.)

What is really needed is to setup a separate organization devoted to the
defense and rebuilding of the public domain -- somewhat like the NRA,
it would be an "in your face" organization. It would seek the particular
IRS non-profit status allowing political lobbying, which is not 501(c)3.

Jon Noring



_______________________________________________
gutvol-d mailing list
gutvol-d@lists.pglaf.org
http://lists.pglaf.org/listinfo.cgi/gutvol-d