»At the
beginning all software was free.«
– Georg Greve
German physicist and spokesman for the Free
Software Foundation Europe
Have you ever heard the word Linux? It
is the operating system that most internet servers in the world run on. It is
open-source software, free software, with the source code being open to
everyone so that they can use it. Thousand of programmers work on developing it
without receiving any pay. No software company in the world could afford such a
big international team of developers.
Up to now the developers have done this work in
their spare time. They have to earn their living with other work, for example
by working for commercial projects.
But what if a developer wants to concentrate on
a still unknown project that requires his full attention? Such a project might,
for example, be the development of a machine that uses a hitherto unknown
source of energy, which is therefore not yet scientifically recognised. If he
can only concentrate on it in his spare time, he may lack the time to make the
breakthrough.
With the active basic income that would be no
problem. He could probably explain the benefit of his development work to the
community and receive his active basic income for it. And even if he did 50
hours of work outside his field for the community, he would still have enough
time to continue working on his research. If he has a family, he will not be
burdened with additional commitments to provide for their support since all
members of the family themselves have the right to an active basic income.
Just imagine how many hitherto unrecognised
geniuses would thus gain the opportunity to research and develop their
projects! What fantastic progress humankind would make in this way.
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