Technological Warfare

Each candidate’s plan to cure the American epidemic of stupidity

Obviously, the first step is to approach the UN about a global ban on airing “The Hills,” but after that, here is a great NYT piece that examines both McCain’s and Obama’s take on what to do about our country’s lack of cool new stuff. It comes from this series of informative articles that demonstrates the views of each candidate on a range of crucial issues (bipartisanship sold separately).

I really enjoy John McCain’s argument of deregulation and tax cuts to encourage corporate innovation – which has actually already been the central plan for years and has resulted in the National Review providing this scrumptious tidbit:

The report said industries like chemical, semiconductor and automotive were growing in other countries while comparable American efforts atrophied. The patent office issued most of its information technology patents to foreigners. The United States ranked 17th among industrialized nations in high-school graduation rates, and the country had become “a net importer of high-technology products,” many from China.

The report added that corporations were cutting back on basic research and eliminating in-house laboratories.

And how, exactly, is a diminished Capital Gains Tax going to improve a disgraceful high school graduation rate?

Even if McCain’s plan did work, the article points out that corporate innovation “tends to focus on near-term applications,” which essentially boils down to superficial upgrades capable of producing better quarterly numbers and share earnings, whereas public funding “finances more basic research that has greater breakthrough potential,” and aims to fix the problem rather than masking it with trinkets for the suburban masses.

Additionally, can we all agree to tell John McCain to stop talking about “pork” and “earmarks?” For example, he continually whiffs on nailing Barack by making an example of acquiring federal funding for a multi-million-dollar “overhead projector.” That “overhead projector” actually powers a planetarium, which sounds to me like a step forward in Obama’s big-picture science and technology ideals.

Finally, I love John McCain’s reported scientific advisory. It would seem that all of his information comes from Douglas Holtz-Eakin, an economic expert, who himself consults with a team of experts on “science in general.” I just imagine McCain pressing a red button beneath a table when questioned on issues of science and technology at which point a signal is sent to a lab with a bunch of indistinguishable scientists in white coats looking at test tubes and nodding silently at each other before reporting back with a response. Not exactly an image that instills confidence…