Aug 4, 2026, 6:37 AM@bagder yep. I am starting to consider we need to start a lobbying foundation just to pay for travel and accommodation for FOSS maintainers to go to Brussels.
But then I remember it means spending my days begging for money and just... I left freelancing for a reason.
Aug 4, 2026, 6:39 AM@Di4na yeah, that begging part always makes me uncomfortable.
Aug 4, 2026, 6:44 AM@bagder oh I am not uncomfortable about it. I use it for good, people knows what they get into, i am transparent. I am ok with that.
My problem is that it is tiring and I am bad at it. It is simply not a good fit for my way to think and my skills.
But ofc, the other way is to pay someone to do it, which quickly degenerate into what we see with Foundations these days. People with the skills, knowledge and inclination to do it seems to be incapable of understanding the context and goals of FOSS hobbyists maintainers.
So I am trapped in this conundrum.
I am also not in a stable situation regarding income. So stress eats at my free time.
Otherwise I would honestly already be launching it and trying. It would probably fail but it is not like anyone else tried...
@Di4na @bagder the lobbying entities do exist (@openforumeurope and @fsfe ), the bit about travel and lodging for FOSS maintainers could be put forward for consideration to them, maybe?
Aug 4, 2026, 7:48 AM@whvholst @bagder @openforumeurope @fsfe they are not focused on the same problems we do.
Ofe is clearly targeted at end users commercial software.
The fsfe is strongly linked to free software activism and digital freedom.
These two causes are great, but are also highly distinct from what someone like Daniel or me talk about.
I really need to sit down and write a blog post about it.
Long story short, their mandate do not cover Hobbyists Maintainers.
@Di4na @bagder @openforumeurope @fsfe Fair enough. Several @edri members may be closer in mandate to what you are looking for, but sadly those are all grass-roots volunteer orgs themselves.