Party platforms €¦ so much work goes into them €¦ how much attention do people really pay to them? Who knows? It seems that one of the most important functions of this process is that people from so many different facets of life get to participate AND the end product gives some insight into a collective belief of priorities and possibilities.
The Democrat’s Renewing America’s Promise platform is just that. And, the work that went into it should be applauded . . . even if it is not plainly spoken.
There are so many critical issues for our next president and our next generation of leaders. Sometimes, they seem overwhelming. But what the platform advisors did this round was look for ways to make all of these critical issues come together €¦ they recognized the utilization of broadband and the need for a robust broadband infrastructure. They recognized that broadband is the connection to better health care, a better education, a more earth-friendly environment and economic, social and yes, political, change.
The platform affirms that we have to make broadband universally accessible to all Americans. But, in the spirit of change and inclusiveness, it also recognizes that this has to be done through policies that encourage diverse, vigorous investment in both the sophistication and capacity of the nation’s broadband networks, innovative public-private partnerships and a concerted, customized effort to reach remote pockets of our geographically diverse nation.
The words say a lot €¦ this nation is undergoing a “fundamental economic transformation. Technology has changed the way we live and the way the world does business €¦Today, jobs and industries can move to any country with an Internet connection and willing workers.” That implicitly acknowledges the reality that IT-related sectors, powered by broadband, will remain the fastest-growing areas of our economy over the next decade.
There is a strong focus on health care and driving down costs for families through the efficiencies available from broadband-enabled eHealth technologies €¦ “driving adoption of state-of-the-art health information technology systems, privacy-protected electronic medical records, reimbursement incentives and an independent organization that reviews drugs, devices, and procedures to ensure that people get the right care at the right time.”
Education issues are prevalent in the platform. With rising college tuition and applications for financial aid rapidly increasing, the Democratic platform highlights distance learning. .. “we support education delivery that makes it possible for nontraditional students to receive support and encouragement to obtain a college education, including Internet, distance education, and night and weekend programs.”
We have had more than our share of disasters. Broadband is our communications backbone and the platform calls for building out public safety systems so that information may be shared in an integrated way holds huge promise.
And, in inclusive language symbolic of the Democrat’s thematic, the platform argues for protecting “the Internet’s traditional openness to innovation and creativity and ensure that it remains a dynamic platform for free speech, innovation, and creativity.” The vaunted openness that we have all come to expect — no, demand — from the Internet extends of course to entrepreneurship, market competition, and private investment, all of those essentials that have made the American economy the engine of world growth.
There is reality in that this all takes money, yes money, to do. Private companies last year spent $70 billion on it €¦ this year another $60 billion. The language about recognizing the need to “work with private industry, the research community and our citizens, to build a trustworthy and accountable cyber infrastructure that is resilient, protects America’s competitive advantage, and advances our national and homeland security.” is extraordinary.
The platform is not old language. It is new language for a new time rejecting the idea that, “ €¦government should stand in the way of innovation, or turn back the clock to an older era of regulation.”
When the 45th Democratic National Convention convenes on August 25th in Denver, many of the speakers will point to the platform as the blueprint for what the Democratic Party hopes to put in action in November — and beyond. Broadband will provide the infrastructure for many of the party’s initiatives. And by affirming the place for creativity, openness and a market that looks forward €¦it is a great place to start the debate.
3 Responses to “Broadband will Provide the Infrastructure for Many of the Democratic Party’s Initiatives”
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August 25th, 2008 at 10:53 am
[...] Original post by Regina Hopper [...]
August 25th, 2008 at 11:18 am
[...] Original post by Regina Hopper [...]
August 25th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Technology shapes our world. Why aren’t the candidates talking about broadband more in this election?