On Thu, Jul 1, 2010 at 4:06 AM, David Goodman dgoodmanny@gmail.com wrote:
We are secure because of the volunteers, not the funding. If the foundation were to disappear, the project could continue. The only funding actually necessary is for the physical operation of the project.
While it seems as the the most logical explanation is not correct, actually.
While WMF and other Wikimedia entities are more or less a democratic organizations, we are competing with capitalist entities. And capitalist entities exist while they are able to expand. Thus, we *have to* expand while we are able to do so. Fortunately, we are able to expand. Fortunately, we have much more chances to restructure ourselves when it would be needed.
Collapse is always an option. And it doesn't have to be connected with some mechanism inherent to our structure. It could be connected with mismanagement, including wrong presumptions.
Starting positions are also very important. Our starting position is: first. Collapse of WMF would lead into balkanization of the movement, with many of "third" starting positions (as the "second" projects already exist for 5+ years).
So, while the community is *much* more important, it is strongly connected to the existence of WMF, at least in this moment.