Open Access News

News from the open access movement


Friday, May 05, 2006

Updating Thomas Jefferson

Alan R. Peslak, A review of national information and communication technologies (ICT) and a proposed National Electronic Initiative Framework (NEIF), First Monday, May 2006. Excerpt:

Thomas Jefferson decreed that the reason for government is to protect individual rights of its citizens. These rights were identified as equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness....We would propose that all electronic initiatives should follow the principles of the two learned political philosophers and should incorporate:

  • Equality — with a goal of equal access to ICT;
  • Protection of property — including cyber security and protection of intellectual property;
  • Protection of life — including privacy and protection from cyber crime;
  • Liberty — including open access to information content; and,
  • Pursuit of happiness — including specific economic, social, and welfare goals to allow the achievement of a healthy, happy, and prosperous life for all.