Obama Policy: Technology

2008 Presidential Candidate Platform Discussion

"Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age. Let's set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to succeed. Let's recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more support in exchange for more accountability. Let's make college more affordable, and let's invest in scientific research, and let's lay down broadband lines through the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America."

www.barackobama.com...


Presented for critical discussion and analysis by ATS members under the spirit of the new guidelines announced in This Thread.

reply to post by SkepticOverlord


SkepticO, point of order:

I presume that we are encouraged to discuss the entire Technology thesis and not just to discuss the snippet quoted in the OP. That's quite a lot of information to discuss in a single thread.

You're link to the differences in the pre-Biden/post-Biden texts is facinating and I saw quite a few things that could spark some interesting debate.

That being said, I'll stick what I see as the most interesting portion of the OP's selection.

Let's recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more support in exchange for more accountability.

That's quite a departure from the standard Democrat canon. "More accountability" can only mean rolling back the job security of tenure that the tecahers' unions have successfully established while, at the same time, establishing higher pay and comprehensive benefits packages.

I'm not a teacher, nor do I have any expertise in the field. But this thread has no member replies yet, so I think I'll chime in anyway and, maybe, get a discussion going.

"[A] new army of teachers"? That wont sit well with one of the Democrats' staunchest constituencies. "[B]etter pay"? Well, that's what they (the unions) are all about.

"[M]ore accountablity"? The Republicans have been trying for decades to bring that about. No Child Left Behind was supposed to bring about accountability for performance, and the unions complain that they're expected to perform better without increased funds. "The unfunded mandate", they called it.

This being on the Technology page suggests that Obama (and, presumably, the critics of No Child Left Behind) believe that our public schools are failing our kids because there isn't enough broadband available. The United States had the highest level of student performance in the industrial world back when we sat at wooden desks with books and ink wells.

While it seems that Obama is ready to challenge tenure with "a new army of teachers" (and, like I said, good luck with that), he is still fashioning his policy on the idea that more money/technology is needed to turn tired teacheing into gifted teaching.

I admit that this post isn't very scholarly, but there it is. Flame on.

WHATEV

He said at the candidate debate that because of the economic situation he wants to put new energy on the back burner. ethanol is barely acceptable. we need NEW TECHNOLOGY to power our cars. dependence on internal combustion engines is getting old. i have vid i made for my prototype of a "reverse magnetic continuous generator."


myspacetv.com...
Free Energy Harness

[edit on 26-9-2008 by drsmooth23]