Posted on 06/24/2004 6:05:31 PM PDT by Pikamax
Kerry Pushes Broadband Access, Wins Over Iacocca Thu Jun 24, 2004 08:39 PM ET
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent SAN JOSE, Calif. (Reuters) - Democrat John Kerry, on a trip to high-tech Silicon Valley to push for universal high-speed Internet access, picked up the endorsement of former Chrysler head and automotive legend Lee Iacocca on Thursday.
Iacocca, a supporter of President Bush in 2000 who appeared in some commercials on Bush's behalf, told a campaign rally that America needed a leader who understood the changing economy at home and abroad.
"We need a new CEO," the now retired Iacocca, credited with pulling Chrysler back from the brink of bankruptcy in the 1980s with an aggressive and innovative management style, said at San Jose State University.
Iacocca, 79, whose only earlier forays into active politics before 2000 were in support of President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, said he liked Kerry's plans to give all Americans a fair shot at a well-paying job.
"The world has changed. Our country is changing. We need a leader who understands that change," said Iacocca, responsible for automotive hits like the Ford Mustang, Chrysler K-car and Chrysler minivan. "We can't compete unless our technology is cutting edge and world class."
Kerry called Iacocca "an American icon" and said his revitalization of Chrysler in the face of increased foreign competition in the car industry was similar to what was needed for the entire U.S. economy.
KERRY TOUTS HIGH-TECH
Kerry, who has been conducting a series of campaign events on science and technology, came to Silicon Valley to tout his plans to create more high-tech jobs and universal high-speed Internet access known as broadband.
He said the United States had fallen to 10th in the world in adapting to broadband, which he described as essential to U.S. economic growth and the generation of new jobs.
"We need to seize on the possibilities of the broadband revolution and make the Internet access available to all of America's families," Kerry said. "If Bangalore in India can be completely wired, then so should all of America."
Bush has set a goal of 2007 for universal availability of high-speed Internet access, but Kerry aides said he had failed to provide details of how he would reach that goal.
High-speed Internet service grew by 42 percent last year to 28.2 million lines into homes and small businesses, which subscribe to it either from a telephone or cable television company.
But Kerry said South Korea and Japan already are deploying networks that are 20 to 50 times faster than in the United States.
Kerry said installing a universal high-speed network could expand the economy by $500 billion and create at least 1.2 million new jobs.
His proposal would provide tax credits for investments in broadband technology in rural and inner city areas, and for investments in the next generation of high-speed broadband anywhere in the country.
Kerry said he would raise $30 billion to create high-tech jobs and promote innovation by auctioning to private companies the spectrum made available after more households transfer to digital television.
Kerry later flew to Anaheim, California, where he told a roaring crowd of 5,000 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that the Bush campaign's $80 million spring and early summer advertising blitz had not hurt him.
"We're not just standing, we're thriving," said Kerry, who is even or slightly ahead of Bush in most national polls. "We're doing just great."
Vote for me.
Lefties are funny.
I thought Bush has been pushing this for some time.
Bush banked on Iacocco Puffs in 2000 and it didn't work. Gore countered with Japan bashing and it worked.
Two things turned our economy around. The 9/11 attacks forced Greenspan to end his war on wealth and full employment, and the second Bush tax cut, which was largely crafted by Republicans in congress, not the White House.
Which Kerry will get rid of if he is elected.
My K-Car was well-nigh indestructible, despite the fact that I gave it precious little maintenance and drove it like an SOB.
I was a law school student and couldn't afford any better, but damn if that car wasn't well built. No AC, though--ACK!
You're probably right, unless Republicans maintain their majorities in congress, then we can go back to the good old days of gridlock, however I wouldn't trade that for getting the terrorist's choice for president.
And this is supposed to be a good thing? Why doesn't Bush & Co. just STFU, get the hell out of the way, fully deregulate telecommunications and let real, normal people carry the ball instead of the damn politicians and fatass bureaucrats? Big Stupid Government is still ordering parts for 20+ year-old systems! They are clueless about how to inexpensively implement cutting-edge technology.
Look at our cellphone infrastructure - years behind most of Asia and Europe, thanks to Big Stupid Government and their "need" to regulate and control every damn thing they can think of.
Well sometimes one gets an orange in a bagful of lemons. Most people I knew who bought them had trouble with them and those Horizon/Omni cars were just as bad.
This article demonstrates how inane politicians are about the American electorate. First universal broadband is catchy but the reality is it goes where the demand is. I live in a rural town with a population of 75 and never expected to see broadband having used dialup for several years. I now have DSL with a choice of three download speeds. (I have 650 kbps but can go to 1.3 mbps if needed by paying a higher rate.)
The reality is if you don't have the hardware you probably don't need broadband. It's just another entitlement buzzword. We are still paying the Al Gore internet tax on our phone bills and I'm not sure what we've gotten for it.
Iacocca is the typical fat cat big business type who has lived off of the sugar tit of the US Government for most of his career. He is a perfect example of what PR can do when you have money to pay for it. The socalled Chrysler turnaround was nothing more than a big federal bailout that should never been permitted to occur. As a small business owner who will celebrate our companies' 20th anniversary on August 1 I have never taken a federal subsidy for anything. I've created jobs and have seen growth because our employees believe in what we are doing. Big companies have the power of money but smaller companies often have the power of inovation and ideas. I'm glad Kerry has those types in his corner. They represent the relics of a stagnant America that has seen history pass them by.
How's this for an answer: The government should not interfere with business nor should it help business.
I remember your shrill posts about the tech industry from a few months back. How do you like this: Some tech companies did improve our productivity, but many others are fad companies who rode the wave of the internet boom. The government shouldn't bail them out.
... I first want you all to know that this administration has great confidence in the future of our technology industry. We recognize, like you do, that the stock market may be sending a little different message right now; that people have suffered losses and there are some difficult times for some of the companies in the high-tech world. But the accomplishments of the industry are rock-solid. The future is incredibly bright.
You've changed the way we work and communicate, and you've changed the way we learn. You've done for America -- economic leadership in the 21st century what heavy industry did for America in the 20th century. And all the difficulties you face today really don't cloud a future that is so optimistic and bright.
The social benefits from the tech industry are as sweeping as the economic potential -- telemedicine for the sick, distance learning and assistive technology for individuals with disabilities, for example. Your companies symbolize the innovation and optimism of this great nation. Your success fills us all with confidence in the continued growth of our economy.
You make us all a little prouder to be Americans. You've done so much for your country, it's time for your country to do something for you. I oftentimes say that the role of government is not to create wealth, it's to create an environment which the entrepreneurial spirit can continue to flourish.
First things first: We've got to restore consumer confidence. We can help in Washington by returning tax money to the people who pay the bills this year. We can restore investor confidence by building a better business environment for years to come, starting with having a realistic, sound energy policy -- a policy that says, of course, we can conserve better, but we need new supplies. We need to aggressively seek new supplies. And not only do we need new supplies of natural gas, for example, we need new pipelines to move natural gas. We need new power plants. We need an aggressive, forward-thinking energy policy that balances the needs of our environment with the needs of the people of the country.
You should really do a google search before you put your foot in your mouth, Moonman.
In a perfect world, Clinton/Rubin wouldn't have pushed for a ruinous strong dollar policy, and Greenspan would have recognized that the end of Y2K spending would have put the brakes on our economy without his "help." GWB would have recognized that our economy was suffering from a drop in business spending (which mostly goes for technology), not consumer spending.
I prefer a GOP congress and a GOP Presidency. Not a rat in the whitehouse.. A rat could nominate a bad judge.
Up here in the sticks all I can get is ISDN and that is after millions in state and federal monies went to telecommunications companies with the mandate to expand newer digital services to the rural communities.
NOANET ( http://www.noanet.net/home-flash.shtml - "adavanced telecom and data transport for rural communities" ) was built, but still no DSL, Cable or even wireless. Fiber is close, but limited to POPs and "city" installations.
Good grief, do they even have I-Owe-kaka's FBI files?
Lee Iococain is a tard.
The early mustang was a falcon with a swopy body. A real sheep in wolves clothing.
As noted, the K Kars were Krap. Note that the new Krysler Komercials are rejecting everything Lee stands for in auto motive design.
Iococain spent as much time promoting himself as he did the company. A real egomaniac. He and Kerry deserve each other.
All Americans?? All??? What utter BS.
The premise behind this statement is that everyone DESERVES a well-paying job. Here's a news flash for ya: The reason SOME jobs are well-paying is because not a whole hell of a lot of people can do them. That's why there are so many LOW-paying jobs....most people CAN do them.
Simply breathing and applying for a job does not mean you deserve a well-paying job.
And the unavoidable facts of economics will show you that if you woke up tomorrow and EVERYONE had a well-paying job and had more $$$ from those well-paying jobs, then the prices of everything would rise....making those 'well-paying' jobs not well-paying at all.
No wonder economics isn't taught in the schools anymore. If it was the Democrats' bogus promises of "high wages for all" would be laughed off the stage.
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