OUR WORLD
REVIEW
Open-Source Everything
with Robert David Steele
W
When a former veteran intelligence officer with the CIA
talks about the shortcomings
of the intelligence services,
one tends to listen.
The problem, Steele suggests, is that the clandestine services have tunnel vision, looking only at the
data their operatives have collected, and ignoring
the wealth of information from open sources freely available in newspapers, public media, and the
Internet. He points out, and actually proved when
challenged to pit his skills against the combined
spying agencies, that this open source information
is far more able to provide what should be the core
function of intelligence, namely, integrating information to support accurate decision-making.
Steele is incredibly well read, and indeed is one of
Amazon’s top reviewers, covering 98 different categories of books. He has the ability to both analyze
information and synthesize the pertinent points
into recommendations for action. Having been
frustrated by his inability to convince his superiors of the importance of the interrelationship and
interdependency among politics, economics, and
social welfare, and even more importantly of the
importance of truth and integrity he resigned.
The notion of open source is well known within the
software community, where it has led to an amazing explosion of creativity and products that are on
every computer and cell phone. He makes a strong
case for expanding this notion of open source and
transparency to every sphere of economic activity,
arguing that this is the only way to revive a sense of
30 | NEW CONSCIOUSNESS REVIEW
trust of business, finance and government. While
reading all the facts and statistics he presents
tends to make one fibrillate with indignation, this
book is essentially a call for something akin to the
truth and reconciliation movement in South Africa
post apartheid. This is a man with his feet firmly
planted on the ground, even though his head and
his heart embrace the world. He gives hopeful examples of initiatives like the open tool movement,
where networks of farmers and engineers are
building indus trial machines with open specifications and interchangeable parts.
The Open-Source Manifesto is a clarion call to open
our eyes, our minds and our hearts to the possibilities inherent in unity and cooperation. Yes, it does
seem to run counter to the greed and self-interest
that seem to be ingrained in human nature, but
Steele is optimistic that “we the people” will find
the will and the means to accomplish the changes
necessary to pull back from the brink of chaos and
self-destruction. This includes acknowledging the
real costs of continued exploitation and depletion
of our commons – fresh water, clean air, energy,
land – and building them into our economic models. Continuing business as usual does not seem
to be a viable option, and the Open-Source Everything Manifesto is a valuable overview of the kinds
of options we need to try, and the kind of greater-good-thinking we need to adopt.
Review by Miriam Knight
Steele is incredibly well
read, and indeed is one of
Amazon’s top reviewers