24 January 2007

Getting carried away again?

I rather think that Guido is being a bit precious - not to say silly - about this:
Here is a fine example of how the ruling political class literally get their snouts in the trough courtesy of suppliers:
First minister Jack McConnell and Danuta Hubner, European commissioner for regional policy, are among the speakers at a two-day Microsoft 'government leaders forum' which takes place in the Scottish parliament.
Microsoft, quasi-monopolistic purveyors of over-priced, buggy, sub-standard software have high level sales teams embedded in government, literally using government offices to sell to the government. To make sure that the bosses keep buying Microsoft they schmooze them like mad. They also fund think-tanks to produce reports protecting their monopoly and rubbishing superior open source software. You can be sure that the wine at this "government leaders forum" will have an excellent bouquet discernable [sic] to a politician's snout.
The Parliament's press release is here. I would suggest that is to the credit of the Parliament, working with the Executive, that they have secured yet another internationally mobile conference, with various distinguished speakers. As for the alleged trough, the odd reception with the usual warm white chardonnay is hardly a big attraction; after all, this is the Scottish Parliament.

And no, I have not been invited.


Update: OK, I got the spelling wrong - chardonnay, chardonnay, chardonnay.

1 comment:

BondWoman said...

I was to at least part of it, and i can't go anyway. Sounded incredibly dull to my mind... Anyway, this is typical G Fawkes' holier than thou attitude.