SmallBizResource Blog -- Government


Ask What Our Next President Can Do For You

Posted by Gayle Kesten Monday, May 12, 2008, 10:48 AM ET

Whether it's a Mr. or a Mrs. post-Bush, we all have a list of tech-related issues we want to see addressed by our nation's next president.

Not to disappoint (well, that remains to be seen), each candidate has his or her own version of a technology platform. For an overview of where Clinton, Obama and McCain stand, check out this cool, interactive guide from MIT's Technology Review where you click on a candidate's photo and a topic (including privacy, net neutrality and broadband), and up pops their views. Simultaneously provided: related legislation they may or may not have previously backed.

Another look comes from ChannelWeb, in the form of this well-thought-out slide show that not only details the candidates' high-tech stance, but also some issues the IT world wants to see on the president-to-be's agenda. Here's a glimpse:

  • Microsoft's Bill Gates is concerned about the United States' future as a global leader in technology innovation. As part of his wish list, Gates would like to see our 44th president provide incentives for private-sector R&D, "so that American businesses remain at the forefront in developing new technologies and turning them into new products and services."

  • Cisco's John Chambers hopes the nation's next CEO "really understands how to use technology to address growth opportunities, job creation, more economic stability, productivity, which translates into better standards of living, and giving this opportunity to more and more people." Health care, he points out, is one prime area that can benefit.

  • Author and entrepreneur Nancy Ramsey doesn't want to see taxes levied on Internet exchanges, and thinks technology and science education -- for women and minorities, in particular -- should be a priority.

  • Stanford's Lawrence Lessig sees a "dangerous threat in the use of patents to block open-source development" and says patent law should not be "more expansive than is productive or necessary."

    Drilling down to the needs of the smallest of businesses, health care reigns top of mind, according to BusinessWeek; nearly 47 million don't have insurance, and premiums for those who do have risen 78 percent since 2001. In keeping with our interactive tempo, this nifty health08.org tool provides a side-by-side summary of how each candidate is proposing to reform the system currently in place.

    From one-person shops to mammoth corporations, businesses of all sizes should be paying attention as the race for president narrows to two. What do you want to see on our next president's business and technology agenda? Which candidate do you think best represents the interests of entrepreneurs and small businesses?

    Government




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