Hillary Clinton brings innovation agenda to Silicon Valley

[papau]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/valley/ci_

Hillary Clinton brings innovation agenda to Silicon Valley
Proposes $50 billion energy research agency
By Julia Prodis Sulek
Mercury News 05/31/2007

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton spoke the language of Silicon Valley on Thursday when she laid out an "innovation" plan to the valley's high-tech leaders aimed at creating new jobs, encouraging math and science education, and "bringing the information age to every corner of the country."

"Call this version 1.0 of my innovation agenda," the former first lady and New York senator said, suggesting a partnership with the group to "tweak it and fine tune it."

As part of her nine-point plan, Clinton said she would create a $50 billion energy research agency to reduce energy dependence and the threat of global warming; increase the research budgets of the National Science Foundation, and increase investment in research at the National Institute of Health.

"A culture that values and invests in ideas is part and parcel of the promise of America. And we have always supported that culture with public investment," Clinton told a group of CEOs and executives gathered at a Silicon Valley Leadership Group meeting at Applied Materials in Santa Clara. "The fire that was sparked here in this valley has made such a difference, but it can't be allowed to sputter out."<snip>


Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/valley/ci_6032709

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Other than the already in the immigration bill increase IN H1b visas for scientists with an easing of requirements to let them work indefinitely in the US, She had some ideas ($50 billion worth) that I had not yet heard in such detail from other candidates:

Tax incentives to encourage broadband deployment in under served areas of the country

Tax incentives for encouraging new technology in green and renewable energy (her renewable energy plan "energy 2.0 to change from "leading in foreign oil imports...(to)...leading in green-tech exports..There's no reason we should be subsidizing oil discovery and exploration".

Overhauling the health care system to help not only the uninsured, but the under-insured.

Reform patent system (to get rid of copy cat software patents, I assume).

On H1b visa's her hosts pointed out that 53 percent of all engineers in Silicon Valley are foreign born and three of 10 new jobs are created by foreign born CEOs.

All in all, one of the better Silicon valley speeches, IMO.

[w4rma]

1. Education? Her "solution" is more education when there are so many already educated programmers in

America?

There is absolutely ZERO chance that I will support her in the primary at this point.

This is BS to lower salaries for skilled workers in the US:
"Other than the already in the immigration bill increase IN H1b visas for scientists with an easing of requirements to let them work indefinitely in the US"

[dsa]

2. Quite the opposite for me

I agree with every single thing she said in this article. Go Hillary!

[leftchick]

3. interesting side note

I watched a little bit of cspan 2 this morning about the 08 election. There was a mix of about 11 people dems, repubs and indepents being questioned on how they would vote at this point. The last question I heard waas "Who would you absolutely NEVER vote for?" Eight people said Hillary! Eight out of eleven! She clearly is not supported at all by many democrats. That was very interesting to see.

[papau]

6. that says a bit about cspan when the get a 73% anti-Hillary sample from a 45% universe n/t

n/t

[papau]

5. The Scientists needed in Slilicon valley are not programmers - getting the best of the world

building companies in the U.S. does not cost us jobs.

I totally agree that 400,000 got screwed when the trade they learned in programing of computers was picked up overseas - in part because H1b was used as a 5 year learning method for getting the skills overseas.

That does not mean that getting the best in the world working in the US in anyway hurts us.

But it does call into question why our schools advise American students to learn these trades that have become jobs done cheaply overseas.

[w4rma]

10. Hillary Clinton is advising Americans to learn them. Did you read your own post?

And then the supports bring more skilled near-slaves over on these visas. This is not about getting good quality employees, it's about destroying wages for skilled work.

I'm actually beginning to lean towards doing absolutely nothing whatsoever to help her get elected in the general if she won the primary, except a single vote. I really am starting to despise her, actually.

[ryanmuegge]

11. I'm tired of being blamed by these rich politicians for outcomes caused by their policies.

[Demeter]

4. That's Not Innovation She's Spreading--It's Pork

and it looks like it didn't grease the way, either. Preaching innovation to Silicon Valley is....there just aren't words for that level of insult!

[papau]

7. Insult? It is a program/policy that will use and depends on their skills focused on

the priorities she listed, the priorities being market driven by the tax benefits she proposes.

I think that is called a vision with details on how she will implement it.

Good grief - it was an excellent speech with everything the US needs, but Richardson has a better energy plan which he explains quite well, Obama has a slightly bad energy plan (it includes coal to gas for some unknown reason) that he is able to make sound fantastic. Hillary is not the only one in this race - but I do not understand the need to dump on her. Is she really that frightening?

The only real knock against her is the "not authentic" line because she refuses to reveal the extremely tough life her mother had and the rough childhood she had and the decision to work through the hurt and stay married to Bill because they truly do love each other immensely - but Bill, while Hillary will always be his reason for being and the love of his life, falls "in love" easily with the ladies that drop their panties for him at his entering their line of sight. That major hurt is hidden - and we all read the hiding as not authentic - but why the GOP level hate?

[Demeter]

8. I Lived in Silicon Valley, I Worked in the Field

Her pontificating will be seen as an insult. Trust me.

[papau]

9. I am also a nerd/geek - and understand - I also believe it shouldn't be seen that way n/t

n/t