An interesting discussion of transparency and sharing. The Center for Global Development hosted a panel called “Open Source, Open Education and Eco-friendly: Can Sharing Improve Policy?” The panel, consisted of some very forward thinking people, Scott McNealy founder of Sun Microsystems,  David Witzel for the CGD, and Ellen Miller from the Sunlight Foundation. They addressed three basic topics: 1) What is openness? 2) Why does it matter for development and policy? 3) What do we do to increase it? Read Witzel’s summary of his appearance above for the answers to those questions.

Sharing is a concept that really appeals to my inner kindergartener. Voluntarily doing without so that others might benefit. It’s such a clear cut thing when you are a kid. Two slices of pie? Offer the bigger slice to your friend. Two chairs in the den? Offer the comfy one to your guest. It’s a simple thing, but it’s also the essence of civilization. How much better a world would we live in if nation states and megacorporations bought into the simple act of sharing?

Transparency also appeals to me. If two people know everything there is to know about each other, that really cuts down on the number of surprises. The same holds true for countries and companies. To reconnect with sharing, if you have committed to try to share, and someone knows you have two slices of pie, you’re more likely to follow through with your commitment. You have less pie, but you’re true to your word, and you’ve made someone happy and filled with calories.

Now, imagine if the pie you owned was a magical pie. A digital pie that was not diminished when it was shared. In fact, as a result of sharing, you wound up with more pie, more kinds of pie and happier pie-sharing partners. This is the scenario behind open access thought. I find it compelling, but it will only work if a critical mass of sharers is achieved. That can only happen through advocacy and free discussion.

What do y’all think of open access? Is it viable, or Linux hippie nonsense?