It is seldom that I post about how politics affects technology. I like to believe that the two are separate entities. I was, however, impressed with how President Obama included Technology as an issue in his Blueprint for Change when he was campaigning for president. Obama fought to keep his iPod, uses web 2.0 tools to keep the office as transparent as possible, and has an overall healthy outlook on technology's risks and benefits. President Obama has assembled a cabinet that is possibly one of the smartest in recent years.
Why, then, is the Republican Right Wing angry rather than hopeful? I will tell you why--CHANGE! I recently listened to a Rush Limbaugh broadcast that chided President Obama for looking for an alternative energy supply in chicken poop ( yes, that's right!). Scientisits believe that the amount of hydrogen that can be harnessed may help ease this country's dependence on oil. As farfetched as it may sound, it has a sound scientific base. That's the problem for right-wingers who have had their money invested in the foreign oil market for years. Their predictable 'cash cow' may be dying. Bush vetoed every type of research proposed that would lead to alternative fuel sources until he invested in the research himself before touting himself as the president who is seeking alternative measures for fuel to ease the burden on America. So, let me get this straight-- Bush is from an oil family with deep investments in the oil market, both here and abroad, and he is also investing in alternative fuel research so that he can also benefit from any gains in that market in the event that a new energy source is discovered that is financially lucrative. I get it now. It's a no lose situation for him. Why don't other Republicans follow the lead of their hero (Bush) and invest in the new market rather than try to squeeze the last drop of blood from the dying market? Is change that scary for the rich? Or are Limbaugh, Hannity, Combes, and other right wingers watching the playing field being leveled for others to gain a portion of the American pie (that has been so out of reach for so many) and getting scared?
Fear has its place, but get out of the way, Right Wingers! You had your reign for the last eight years and enjoyed limited prosperity. There's a new sheriff in town-- President Barack Obama. Allow the new thinkers with the new blood to have a chance! There's new money to be made! With Obama's vision, intelligence, and educated staff, Science and Technology have a chance to be used for good (and not evil) once again.
References:
Blueprint for Change: Technology. Available at
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/index_campaign.php .
Bush on Technology. Available at
http://www.issues2000.org/2004/George_W__Bush_Technology.htm .
Alternative Fuel and Bush. Available at
http://thepanelist.com/Hot_Topics/Alternative_Energy/_20070810510/ .
Bush and Stem Cell Research. Available at
http://www.issues.org/23.1/hill.html .
Obama and Science. Available at
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/01/obamascience-1/ .
Obama on Science. Available at
http://sefora.org/2008/02/16/obama-on-science/ .
Pres. Obama and Technology Progress. Available at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/Technology/ .
