Technology Loses Glitter on Campaign Trail

Whether Obama can deliver on these and other campaign promises has been called into question by the staggering cost of the federal rescue of the financial sector. Both he and McCain were pressed during the presidential debates on how they would carry out their agendas without running the federal budget deficit higher.

For his part, McCain sees a far more limited role for government in tech. He says he wants to bring people to Washington that have "adequate experience and understanding of science and technology."

And he talks briefly about the need to put more government services online and having the government enter into partnerships with the private sector to solve problems.

Unlike Obama's plan, McCain's plan relies heavily on tax policies to help the private sector. For instance, he would encourage technological innovation by keeping capital gains taxes low, making the research and tax credit permanent and lowering the corporate tax rate to 25%.

He said he would also take steps to protect intellectual property and build a skilled work force by pushing up the number of H1B visas.

Both candidates agree on the importance of the Internet and the need for increased access to high-speed Internet services. However, the two differ sharply on the government's role in the growth of the Internet.

Obama adamantly supports net neutrality and opposes the move by network providers to control the delivery of content and use of applications.

McCain argues the government has no business in engaging in what he called unnecessary regulating. Rather, he says the government should direct its efforts toward protecting consumers against fraudulent marketing practices and keeping harmful content away from children.

Both candidates agree more needs to be done to improve education in mathematics and science. Obama says the government needs to recruit more math and science teachers and take steps to increase the number of science and engineering graduates.

McCain, on the other hand, says he would fully fund the America Competes Act to tackle the needs in education and training.

>To order reprints of this article, click here: Reprints