Silicon Valley's Call: Smarten Up, America! (Tech execs want changes in government, social policies)

Business Week ^ | NOVEMBER 17, 2005 | Robert Hof

[nickcarraway]

An all-star cast of tech execs is demanding a raft of changes in government and social policies to spur innovation in the U.S.

The only thing tech industry leaders love to talk about more than innovation is why it's in jeopardy. True to form, an all-star cast of Silicon Valley execs is renewing its perennial call for a raft of changes in government and social policies.

At a Nov. 16 summit in San Jose, Calif., hosted by the bipartisan political-action network TechNet and moderated by public-television personality Charlie Rose, there was clearly more than a whiff of self-interest. TechNet members, who include such luminaries as Cisco Systems (CSCO ) Chief Executive John Chambers and venture capitalist John Doerr, continue to voice their opposition to policies, such as expensing stock options, that appear very unlikely to change anytime soon.

Yet they also mentioned a host of other challenges that they believe are threatening the U.S. "We are falling further and further behind in innovation," said Doerr. He reeled off six problems that he says will cause the U.S. to lose leadership in technology and innovation if they aren't addressed: a neglected educational system; insufficient research and development; a lackadaisical push for high-speed Internet access or broadband; an anti-free-trade attitude; poorly organized health care; and the absence of a plan for lessening U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources.

BROADBAND DILEMMA. Doerr, who has backed Democratic candidates in recent years, didn't blame President Bush by name, but noted, "The leader holds the bully pulpit." He chided the government for failing to agree on how to promote much faster broadband to the home, in particular: "We didn't have leaders saying this is very important to the economy."

[Hank Rearden]

Both of the Big Stupid Government parties are completely insane and out of control. We're about the reap the whirlwind of their stupidity.

[MNJohnnie]

These people are nuts. Just wacko insane DNC Talking points babble here, nothing at all serious or thoughtful.

[DB]

They demand innovation and then look to the government for it... Duh...

Increased broadband is about economics and technology. Not some government decree... Get cracken and boost my bandwidth!

[Jack Deth]

We are falling further and further behind in innovation," said Doerr. He reeled off six problems that he says will cause the U.S. to lose leadership in technology and innovation if they aren't addressed: a neglected educational system; insufficient research and development; a lackadaisical push for high-speed Internet access or broadband; an anti-free-trade attitude; poorly organized health care; and the absence of a plan for lessening U.S. dependence on foreign energy sources.

Geeeeeeeeeeeeeee..... Don't all these topics sound just like Liberal/Democratic Talking Points?

The lack of innovation can be cured by opening up Alien Technology Valut L-3379 in the basemant of Area 51.

It won't be opened now, because Nerdy Silicon Valley Techno-Geeks are speaking out of turn!

Or we could just focus on making the Predator, Pilotless Drones and the Airborn Chemical Laser the Weapons Platforms of The Future.

Jack.

[traviskicks]

Education? They are right education is a problem, but who has solutions to fix it?

http://www.neoperspectives.com/charterschoolsexplained.htm

[freespirited]

Doerr called for setting a goal -- matching one of the innovation-promoting proposals put forward by the Democratic Party the same day -- of adding 100,000 new engineers and scientists in the U.S. in the next four years. Yet specifics on the topic didn't emerge.

Of course not. Because no one can talk specifics on a subject where the highest concentration of talent is found among white and Asian guys.

[nickcarraway]

To me, this is a pretty stupid thing for him to say. Imagine if I went to him as a VC and said, "my new start-up has a goal of achieving $3 billion in yearly revenue in the next four years." I wouldn't have any ideas how to get that revenue, but at least I had the goal. Do you think he'd be impressed, and get out his checkbook?

[familyop]

"...said Doerr. He reeled off six problems that he says will cause the U.S. to lose leadership in technology and innovation if they aren't addressed: a neglected educational system; . . . an anti-free-trade attitude;..."

The "educational" system is getting more than enough attention from overly feminized, socialist corporates, and that's what's wrong with it. As for the "anti-free-trade" comment, is Doerr afraid of the effects of unbalanced foreign trade: our inevitably falling dollar (higher costs of foreign labor, rising freight fuel costs,...) and obvious risks to security?

[M-cubed]

is Doerr afraid of the effects of unbalanced foreign trade: our inevitably falling dollar (higher costs of foreign labor, rising freight fuel costs,...) and obvious risks to security? <<<
Nope!....expensing stock options and giving a true picture of a company's finances to the shareholders is a big problem...Thieves work best in the dark

[NatsFan]

Why is it these business leaders feel they have some special right to dictate to us what we may do?

Basically, it seems these people want more subsidies and for us to change our immigration laws to favor them.

[gaspar]

Doerr is often called the man behind the internet bubble; Business Week is often called the anti-capitalists Newsweek; high-speed internet access is available to those who want and need it. Doerr is the perfect "gusano", a man who produces nothing but makes sure he gets a piece of the action from the innovator.

[NHResident]

With some 30 odd years in technology - I'd have to say that nearly all of the executives and most of the professionals are clueless with respect to anything in economics beyond business profit and loss, stock options, etc. - they have NO understanding nor interest in how the larger economy works nor the impact of politics and social policy on an economy. They are politically naive - describing them as 'sheeple' with respect to politics puts it mildly. They pretty much get their information and opinions from the MSM (which of course means the DNC.

I've had graduate engineers from MIT argue that the automobile was the single most destructive invention of all time and seriously suggest the world would be better off if the government had more control over technology development and its application. I know the conservative stereotype of engineers and technicians - I don't see it much in IT and high tech.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

With some 30 odd years in technology - I'd have to say that nearly all of the executives and most of the professionals are clueless with respect to anything in economics beyond business profit and loss, stock options, etc. - they have NO understanding nor interest in how the larger economy works nor the impact of politics and social policy on an economy. They are politically naive - describing them as 'sheeple' with respect to politics puts it mildly. They pretty much get their information and opinions from the MSM (which of course means the DNC).

Very true.

The one person I will speak favorably of is John Chambers of CICSO Systems, who I know personally. (He was an adviser for president Bush on the first election campaign.) Chambers has always had a philosophy of treating his employees like customers. When the tech bubble burst and he had to let employees go, he took a one-dollar a year salary, made arrangements for people to pay off their mortgages and continue their health coverage at a cost far less than the standard COBRA, among many other noble gestures...

Most of the rest of them, like John Doerr couldn't really couldn't give a rat's rear end. If you noticed, the article is all about him. Not a thing about what Chambers had to say.

Although I like John Chambers a great deal and have been a guest at his home on several occasions, there are some political perspectives he has that I disagree with. The difference with him is that he actually takes the initiative to do something himself, even though he is insulated from the real world because of his opulent wealth.

[NHResident]

Thanks for your response. Yes, I painted with a too broad brush - Chambers definitely understands what it is all about. Unfortunately, most in high-tech have no interest in educating themselves about politcal, social and economic issues. They take their positions directly from the MSM, NYT or the San Jose Mercury News (which is an appalling rag!), and the DNC.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Chambers definitely understands what it is all about.

It makes me question why they would use the weight of his name to lead the article... while any of his commentary was so conspicuously absent from it...

The San Jose Mercury News is only kept alive, like its bastard child Monterey County Herald, because of automobile, real estate, brassiere and pantie sales advertisements...

They both have a beggarly habit of soliciting in grocery stores trying to sell them or sending children to your door to beg for some fantastical charity program that will change their lives forever and ever...