Obama Meets With Tech Luminaries To Discuss Innovation, Investment
The President's 2-day visit to the west coast was reportedly aimed at "promoting technological innovation to help boost the struggling U.S. economy and reduce stubbornly high unemployment," and he took the time to meet with a dozen tech leaders in order to get ideas on how to invest in innovation and promote private sector job growth. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney had this to say: "The president specifically discussed his proposals to invest in research and development and expand incentives for companies to grow and hire, along with his goal of doubling exports over five years to support millions of American jobs. The group also discussed the importance of new investments in education."
It's hard to say what will come of this. But one thing's for sure: it's not exactly typical for a Preisdent to break bread with technology luminaries, and if any of this leads to more broadband and more technical advancements, we can't help but be pleased that it all took place.
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As a guy who makes his money as a technologist, it pains me to say this, but I wish we would place less value on Imaginary Property in this country and more on improved processes that create actual physical products. One day the boats from China are just going to abruptly stop docking, and everyone's going to wonder how the hell you make the things we've come to deem as basic necessities for 20x less than we can make them. We can't base our economy on virtual goods that can be copied freely by countries that don't acknowledge the artificial rights we assign to ideas. You and I could have made about a million dollars by now if we patented everything we think of, but unlike the people who shall heretofore be referred to as 'dicks', we would rather someone actually make the semi-obvious things we're thinking of rather than back away due to royalty/litigation fears. I think Obama has been doing pretty much the best he could with the crappy situation he inherited (a recession, a completely divided congress, two wars...), but I'd rather see him get the leaders of American manufacturing in the same room with Wal-Marts head of procurement, rather than concentrate on the technology sector. I know... I know... we Americans are supposed to be smart. Problem is, everyone else is too. We have to direct our intelligence to the right things and let all boats rise with the tide. |
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Jobs statement of the day - "Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated." @ 3vi1 : You are right. There is no way we can continue to move away from manufacturing. We need to produce our own products so that we can remain a viable country. Not everybody can or wants to work in the tech field ( oh the horror ). We need a strong manufacturing base so that we are not dependent on other countries for basic needs. In order to do this though, we would have to insist on fair trade deals instead of giving away the store. |
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