Hillary Clinton brings innovation agenda to Silicon Valley

[papau]

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 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>


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. The Scientists needed in Silicon valley are not programmers - and getting the best of the world building companies in the U.S. does not cost us jobs, IMO. It is hard to forget or forgive the fact 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. But this 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.

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

Her program/policy will use and depends on their skills being focused on the priorities she listed, the priorities being market driven by the tax benefits she proposes. Not a bad vision with details on how she will implement it. Hillary is not the only one in this race - Richardson has a better energy plan which he explains quite well, and Obama has a slightly bad energy plan (it includes coal to gas for some unknown reason) that he is able to make sound fantastic, and the list goes on.

But as far as I can tell 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 effect of the decision to work through the hurt and stay married to Bill because they truly do love each other immensely (all revealed in Carl Bernstein's new book out this week). 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. I wonder if not revealing that part of her will really hurt her in the primary, and if she gets through the primary, in the general election - she already has a 45% vote against because of not being GOP and because of that "not authentic" read by folks. It will be interesting.

[GeorgeGist]

1. Next thing you know she'll invent internet Version 1.0.

... 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."

:freak:
:nuke:

[papau]

2. :-) she will no doubt have the media claiming she said many things! n/t

n/t