Presidential Hopefuls: Tech Friendly Candidates
By Shawn on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008 at 8:37 PM PST In Gamer Life, Games Industry
With the race for the presidency on, gamers need to know which candidates are more likely to represent their interests. Cnet’s Declan McCullagh has authored a piece detailing where the top candidates stand on some critical technology issues. According to McCullagh:
Who would be the most tech-friendly president?
The short answer: it depends. Do you like the idea of Net neutrality so much that you’d hand the Federal Communications Commission the authority to levy open-ended Internet regulations? Do you support pro-fair use changes to copyright law, which many programmers and computer scientists do–but which practically all software and video game companies oppose?
The seven key tech issues tracked are Net neutrality legislation; Telecom spying immunity; DMCA fair use reform; Supports Real ID Act; ISP data retention required; Permanent Net-tax ban; and Increased H1-B visas.
Here’s how the candidates stack up on Net neutrality and DMCA fair use reform, the most pertinent issues to gamers.
On Net neutrality, the question posed to the candidates was:
Congress has considered Net neutrality legislation, but it never became law. Do you support the legislation that was re-introduced in 2007 (S 215), which gives the FCC the power to punish “discriminatory” conduct by broadband providers?
Those strongly in favor of Net neutrality: Clinton, Obama
Those opposed: McCain, Paul
“Maybe”: Huckabee
Ducked question: Romney
On DMCA fair use reform, the question posed to the candidates was:
The 1998 Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s section restricting the “circumvention” of copy protection measures is supported by many copyright holders but has been criticized by some technologists as hindering innovation. Would you support changing the DMCA to permit Americans to make a single backup copy of a DVD, Blu-ray Disc DVD, HD DVD, or video game disc they have legally purchased?
Those probably in favor: Obama, Paul
Ducked question: Romney, McCain, Huckabee, Clinton
Gamers who want to make an informed decision at the polls can read the full article on cnet. For these candidates’ views on video game issues, check out the Yahoo! Games article summary.
Whichever candidate you decide to support, get out and make your voice heard. Otherwise you have nothing to complain about.
via GamePolitics
I think it’s going to end up Romney vs. Obama in the end. So it’s basically like choosing whether you want to vote for the new Hitler or just some guy who is really not qualified for the job. Obama certainly seems like the lesser of two evils to me.
One area of contention here is whether we are talking about “Tech Money” or “Tech Votes”. If you ask the big money contributors in tech about, say, H-1B, they’re all for it. If you ask the tech voters, the overwhelming majority are against it. Ditto’s for the DMCA etc.
Just as we see various ethnic pandering organizations that claim to represent {insert ethnic group}, we have people here claiming to represent the views of “tech”.
Just one more reason i’m voting Obama.