Could you please explain why you are not using the term 'Free Software' here? Then where you are going to use 'Free Software" terminology?
To a economist, I would rather try and expose limitations of closed source technologies, so that he can agree that a debate would be healthy.
You will agree here that forcing a debate is the first step, especially when a decision has already been taken. Moreover I didn't want to confuse the audience with 'free software' and 'freeware/shareware' and then get into clarifying on how something can be free, so on and so forth.
In the limited time, I felt it prudent to attack closed source technologies than propagate freedom. That can be done only as a second step. If he takes a capitalist view, then I will have to again tell him, that capitalist markets have adopted 'free software' ....
The issues are endless and has every opportunity to divert their attention.
Elaborated, as I thought my first reply was too short. CK Raju