Users who Dugg This
Heather Buckley
259 Followers
effyochicken
29 Followers
Jonathan Beckett
62 Followers
Brian Person
112 Followers
Michael Wilson
2 Followers
effyochickenFeb 17, 2011
We need way more of these meetings.
The government can only do just so much on it's own, it hardly has the funding or votes to drive innovation. We need private companies to make us competitive again on the global market.
agmlauncherFeb 17, 2011
Innovation isn't our problem, it's our ability to transform that innovation into viable, American business. Even when we come up with a new technology, we have to manufacture it in China, which the Chinese then use as an opportunity to learn how to make it for themselves and sell it back to us at a cheaper price.
That's what they're currently doing with the foreign automakers that are there. It won't be long before they start selling BETTER and CHEAPER cars in the US, based on the know-how we gave them when we agreed to give them all of our trade secrets so that we could sell to their market.
Massachusetts based A123 Systems makes advanced battery technology, more advanced than what China makes even though China makes a s**tload of Lithium-Ion batteries. However, they weren't able to compete with LG Chem on a cost-basis, so they had to turn to China to make their batteries. Within a few months, Chinese companies copied the tech since they had all the manufacturing know-how, and began competing with A123 Systems with A123's own technology.
If we want to protect our innovation, we need to find a way to set up heavily automated manufacturing plants here in the US. It's the only way to protect our IP long enough to turn it into viable business.
The other major issue we have isn't about global market competition, it's about the quality of domestic services. Our telecommunications service is the worst in the world, hands-down. In terms of price-performance, total plan cost, and overall reliability, we suck.
Only government nudging to jump start competition will fix that. Assuming our government can get itself out of the cage our corporations keep it locked in.
moducFeb 17, 2011
Unfortunately, I doubt that this would help. In fact, it's a bad thing to show that Obama doesn't know what's he's doing on this part. This remind me of Obama calling for business to hire again. That doesn't work. People hire when they feel right about it. Obama needs to enable it somehow, or not at all. Calling them to do that without any incentive, then it's just talk. Same here, unless the business leaders are inspired by him, and take the matter as a patriot, nothing will change. Business leaders are shrewd people in their business. They need to do what to make the business win, not to support the country. They are willing to go outside the country if needed (out sourcing).
xpsiterFeb 17, 2011
Agreed, but the problem with that is Obama has put in place many viable incentives to the disposal and benefit of small businesses, albeit, not necessarily large benefits. They don't stand out due to the deep gravity of the current economic situation. had they been put in place at any other time, the businesses would be all over it. Notice how the ones invited are seen as a form of innovator or visionary. It will take that kind of foresight to create new avenues of national development across foreign and domestic markets.
(Much) more of the same needs to be done for businesses to restore demand as well as confidence, then we'll see a form of sustained growth.
scamper22Feb 17, 2011
innovation is not the problem.
Actually... innovation is the problem... in that politicians and 'thinkers' keep saying innovation is our salvation.
Innovation cannot sustain a large economy. Sure, it can maybe generate enough wealth to sustain a small nation like Singapore or Sweden... but there is no way it can sustain a large economy like the US of 300 000 000 people.
Largely, the innovation movement is a big hail mary shot in the dark in a desperate attempt to avert reality.
Can you compete with China/India and still provide 'good' jobs for your people. The answer is a simple no. Accept it and then you can deal with the problems.
1. If there are jobs needing people, they have plenty of people and they are much poorer, so they can do them much cheaper. You lose there.
2. Our advantage, which can come from high automated processes and 'innovation' has the perverse effect of employing a few highly skilled people, but also putting loads of people out of work. Looks at all Google does... and it employs something like 20 000 people.
Number 2 provides some wealth for some really rich people and some really skilled engineers... but relative to the size of the country... it's not that many people.
The other big thing is that China has been really smart about acquiring new technology... and is especially good at getting the 95% that people need. This is why China is just dominating the developing world. It can provide cheap technology that does 95% of what people need. Huawei may not be Cisco... but you can definitely get a decent network up with Huawei and that is good for most of the world.
But anyways... the push for 'innovation' largely only beneftis the teacher unions... which can always push for more money in education and some big tech companies and VCs.
moducFeb 17, 2011
Agree, but I would rephrase "Actually... innovation is the problem" to:
"Innovation is not the solution"
It's like one hit wonder, or a KO for boxing. The whole nations needs good infrastructures and other stuffs BESIDES innovation to move forward and to have jobs. Unless most companies innovates all the time, it won't happen.
gamerxFeb 17, 2011
Geeky whistle party!
ccowlandFeb 17, 2011
maybe nerdly?
fxspec06Feb 17, 2011
I hope Steve's doing well. It's nice to see Obama meeting face to face with some of the most influential people of this era. Only good can come from it.
conservative_zombieFeb 17, 2011
A search engine, a social network and company that farms it's manufacturing off-shore.
Color me unimpressed.
breadfredFeb 17, 2011
I am glad you have done so much for society.
This search engine you speak so diminutive of can bring knowledge to your screen. And porn.
The social network you step on brings millions of people together who had forgotten their first f**k and want to relive that experience. Now they can, thanks to the social network.
That fruit you despise has its engineers (you know, the people who actually earn good money) working in the USA. It earns America money.
By the way; you have found this site most likely originally by using a search engine. This IS a kind of social networking site. You are typing this on a computer that has most likely been manufactured in Asia.
Stuck up your ass much?Comment is buried, click here to see the rest.
spazattack5000Feb 17, 2011
Maybe one of the topics discussed will be Apple's slave-like labor and how they can maybe bring some jobs to America. But maybe not... I'm just saying.
MrDrawingguyMar 13, 2011
I'd prefer they discuss Obamas resignation... :)
bumpus7934Feb 17, 2011
Does it mean death of net neutrality?
bs0lFeb 17, 2011
Googbook OSX
2serveFeb 17, 2011
Epic traffic in: 3.2.1.....
laskoFeb 17, 2011
seriously, stop saying epic.
scannermobsFeb 17, 2011
seriously, stop saying it yourself
justlisteningFeb 17, 2011
This is important. With Immelt in charge, I am sure they will discuss the creation of jobs in China, Mexico, and other key foreign locations. /S
JamaicabirdFeb 17, 2011
I think I smell re-election time
MrDrawingguyMar 13, 2011
Not from his approval ratings... :D!
superkendallFeb 17, 2011
Pretty sure this is a steel-cage death-match between Apple and Google with Zuckerburg as referee and Obama as witness to the winner.
Jobs wasn't actually sick at all - he had to go off to complete his ninja training before the match.
justlisteningFeb 17, 2011
Any and all problems can be solved once the weather improves. Beer in the Rose garden is that secret weapon... especially when you do not have all of the facts!
InteractiveMaryFeb 17, 2011
I expected Katy Perry and Elmo to be jumping around in there somewhere.
Closed AccountFeb 17, 2011
Oh god, make sure they don't eat a happy meal.
gfbarrFeb 18, 2011
misleading by line. not a private meeting necessarily
Spencer_ttFeb 18, 2011
Sounds desperate.
shadow408Feb 19, 2011
Tomorrow Obama will change his mind, and instead invite Bill Gates, Ted Turner and the ShamWow guy.
Its called Hope people.
MrDrawingguyMar 13, 2011
Actually, I don't think he knows what he's doing on much anything... :D