The Parties Compete: Trying to Keep America on Top in Tech

Republicans and Democrats both have ideas about how to keep American jobs and continue U.S. innovation in the tech industry.

Republicans believe that private industry and entrepreneurship will keep America competitive and tax cuts will help companies to excel. Democrats have come up with an alternate plan that would encourage education and the spread of technology through federal funding. They’re calling it the "Innovation Agenda: A Commitment to Competitiveness to Keep America Number One."

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-California) announced the plan at the National Press Club on November 15, 2005. She expressed worry that the United States is falling behind in science, engineering, and technology, and then presented Democrats’ solutions to those problems.

Is America falling behind?

Pelosi explained that the U.S. will graduate 70,000 engineers this year, which pales in comparison to India’s 350,000 and China’s 600,000.

India and China are already competing with the United States in engineering and technology, with many tech-support jobs being filled by well-qualified and less-expensive Chinese and Indian workers. Both India and China help to fund secondary education and invest in young entrepreneurs.

Pelosi discussed that the U.S. is 16th in the world in the spread of high quality internet and cable or, broadband technology, while South Korea is first. Access to broadband technologies throughout the United States, she said, will provide more Americans with more information and service in areas like education and health care.

Should we be looking at the economy as compared with other countries or should we look at Americans’ quality of life.

What they have in common

Both Democrats and Republicans want to expand broadband services to more Americans and put a qualified math and science teacher in every K-12 classroom, but Democrats have a plan to offer tuition assistance to undergraduates and encouraging those already working in the field to join the nation’s teachers.

Democrats approach

Democrats want to educate 10,000 new scientists, engineers, and mathematicians in the next four years by providing scholarships in these areas.

Democrats would double the funding for research and development in the physical sciences. Pelosi pointed out that the National Science Foundation (NSF) funded breakthroughs such as the Internet, nanotechnology, and fiber optics.

Further, Democrats would like to develop sustainable energy alternatives to oil, such as bio-based fuels. They’d like to see an initiative in the Department of Energy that develops high-risk, high-reward energy alternatives. They call for energy independence in the next 10 years.

Democrats agree with Republicans that big ideas come from small businesses. Democrats call for affordable health insurance by providing a 50 percent tax credit so that small businesses can continue to innovate. What do entrepreneurs want most? Connect to our radio show to find out.

How are they going to pay for all of this?

Pelosi explained that each of these initiatives would be offset by increased revenue or a budget cut in another area, a strategy known as Pay As You Go or PAYGO. Of course, this process makes it more difficult to pass new policies, but PAYGO budgeting prevents the Democratic initiative from deepening the deficit. Pelosi has not announced how much the innovation agenda is going to cost, nor what will have to be cut in order to fund it.

Republicans worry that the initiative would result in higher taxation, which they say has historically been the Democrats’ solution to budget problems. In addition, Republicans argue that Democrats voted against the high-tech community when they voted against the Central American Free Trade Agreement, which will expand American technologies south. Democrats have also voted against a ban on Internet taxes.

However, the Information Technology Industry Council, which is made up of representatives from large media and technology firms like Apple, IBM and Time Warner, applauds the Democrats’ measure as a serious attempt to foster innovation and ensure U.S. technology leadership.

What do you think?

Given that there already is a global economy, what can government do to help Americans stay competitive? Do you think U.S. tax dollars should be spent on expanding broadband, or should the private sector take care of that? Do you think math and science students should receive more and larger scholarships? Should tax dollars go for basic research in new high tech fields?

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Article Posted on: 11/19/2005