Geek Vote Info - Compare Dems and Repubs

Popular Mechanics online has a handy little table that outlines the positions of the Presidential contenders on various science and technology issues. You have to do a bit of clicking to see positions the candidates hold.

Let's take science/education for instance. On the Republican side the candidates seem to treat the issue as an after thought. Here's Mitt Romney:

a.) "Emphasize math and science, while promoting innovative approaches such as charter schools and public-private partnerships, to ensure American workers have the intellectual capital and skills to compete in the 21st century economy."

b.) "Governor Romney will ensure that the workers of the future have the intellectual capital and skills they need to compete in the new global marketplace."

Compare that with Barrack Obama's sentiments:

a.) "Emphasize the importance of technology literacy, ensuring that all public school children are equipped with the necessary science, technology and math skills to succeed in the 21st century economy."

b.) "Strengthen math and science education to help develop a skilled workforce and promote innovation."

c.) "Work to increase our number of science and engineering graduates, encourage undergraduates studying math and science to pursue graduate studies, and work to increase the representation of minorities and women in the science and technology pipeline, tapping the diversity of America to meet the increasing demand for a skilled workforce."

d.) "Wants to make the Research and Development tax credit permanent so that firms can rely on it when making decisions to invest in domestic R&D over multiyear time frames."

e.) Double federal funding for basic research in the sciences.

Not only does Obama have more to say than Romney, he actually has a couple of specific proposals as in D and E.

Here is what Rudy Giuliani proposes:

a.) "Promote science and mathematics through technical certification or an associate degree."

Technical certification and Associate degrees are wonderful ways to provide skills to a large number of Americans. But it's the PhD scientists and engineers that are going to keep our country competitive.

Compare Rudy single position with John Edwards positions:

a.) "We all pay a price when young people who could someday find the cure for AIDS or make a fuel cell work end up sitting on a stoop because they didn't get the education they need. If we do not invest in science and math education now, the United States risks becoming a technology follower, rather than a leader."

b.) "John Edwards believes that policy should be science driven, and that science shouldn't be politics driven. He will make sure that government professionals charged with the collection and analysis of scientific data—from medical research to mercury emissions—are insulated from political influence."

c.) "Eliminate political litmus tests for government scientists."

d.) "Protect the integrity of government science by prohibiting political appointees from overriding agencies' scientific findings unless the chief White House science advisor concludes they are erroneous."

e.) "Reverse the demotion of the head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and restore the office to a central role as an assistant to the president, a rank held in previous administrations."

f.) Make the Research and Experimentation tax credit permanent. "The credit has expired or nearly expired 11 times in the last 25 years, discouraging companies from making long-term commitments to research."

g.) "Increase spending on basic research at the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health and lift stifling research restrictions."

h.) Modernize "patent laws—which haven't been updated in 50 years—to provide incentives for research."

i.) "Invest more in teacher pay and training to attract good teachers in the schools and subjects we need them most ... math and science education."

Kind of embarrassing isn't it? You actually have to wonder whose side the Republican candidates are on. Maybe they are satisfied that all our science, engineering and computer expertise will be coming out of India.

Candidate positions on automotive technology, digital tech, energy/climate, environment, infrastructure, space and for some reason even gun control can also be compared.