It is to try to force all useful software into a public commons to meet RMS' political aims. RMS wants you to be forced into a choice, and to choose to tie the GPL around your code so you can use a piece of GPLed functionality.I think that wuld be entirely within RMS's belief system.....
But I don't see how the GPL can accomplish that.
If you don't want to use GPL'd code.....
#1. Write your own.
#2. Contact the original author and arrange a new license for yourself/your product.
#3. Write your own.
I think the GPL is a great idea for ensuring that GPL'd code is always available. But it doesn't stop anyone from re-licensing their own code.
If you use GPL'd code WITHOUT arranging with the original author, then you have to release your code under the GPL, also.
If said author cannot be contacted, his/her code will always be available for everyone to use (see above line).
Again, I think the GPL is a GREAT idea.
Not for everyone and not in every situation.
But in the situation of ensuring that your code and any works based upon your code are always available for further development (under the GPL, of course), it is perfect.