Aside from the Economy and the War, I am amazed at how thin John McCain’s set of plans and policies are in comparison to the entire spectrum of issues that will demand significant attention from the next president.
Not only are his plans regarding the BIG issues aimed in the wrong direction completely, but what is even more pathetic, is how short-ranged he really is when it comes to ALL of his issues.
Let's take Technology for example...
I can't seem to find anything at all from the McCain side as to what his plans are for utilizing technology in tandem with what half-assed plans he has for our future. At least none that contain any key specifics that actually prove he knows what he is talking about when using the word "technology" within the text of his issue standpoints.
Obama, on the other hand, absolutely PWNES McCain in this arena. No surprise here, but when comparing their issue plans side-by-side, you can't help but wonder how McCain actually believes he can hold a candle to Obama.
Highlights where Obama brings technology into his plans (taken directly from his site):
Barack Obama understands the immense transformative power of technology and innovation and how they can improve the lives of all Americans.
Obama’s forward-thinking 21st century technology and innovation policy starts by recognizing that we need to connect all citizens with each other to engage them more fully and directly in solving the problems that face us
Obama understands that we must use all available technologies and methods to open up the federal government, creating a new level of transparency to change the way business is conducted in Washington and giving Americans the chance to participate in government deliberations and decision-making in ways that were not possible only a few years ago.
Obama will encourage the deployment of the most modern communications infrastructure.
Obama will encourage the deployment of the most modern communications infrastructure to reduce the costs of health care, help solve our energy crisis, create new jobs, and fuel our economic growth.
Obama will use proceeds from the cap-and-trade auction program to invest in job training and transition programs to help workers and industries adapt to clean technology development and production.
Obama will consider whatever policy tools are necessary, including standards that ban new traditional coal facilities, to ensure that we move quickly to commercialize and deploy low carbon coal technology.
Obama will also invest in advanced vehicle technology such as advanced lightweight materials and new engines.
Obama will also increase the efficiency of government programs through better use of technology, stronger management that demands accountability and by leveraging the government's high-volume purchasing power to get lower prices.
Quality and efficiency. Participating insurance companies in the new public program will be required to report data to ensure that standards for quality, health information technology and administration are being met.
Obama will invest $10 billion a year over the next five years to move the U.S. health care system to broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, including electronic health records, and will phase in requirements for full implementation of health IT.
Obama will double federal funding for basic research, expand the deployment of broadband technology and make the research and development tax credit permanent so that businesses can invest in innovation and create high-paying, secure jobs.
Obama supports efforts to provide greater technical assistance to local and state first responders and dramatically increase funding for reliable, interoperable communications systems.
Obama’s bill requires chemical facilities to enhance security, including improving barriers, containment, mitigation, and safety training, and, where possible, using safer technology, such as less toxic chemicals.
Obama supports additional personnel, infrastructure and technology on the border and at our ports of entry.
Obama will work to give parents the tools to prevent reception of programming that they find offensive on television and on digital media.
A key reason the Internet has been such a success is because it is the most open network in history. Obama believes needs to stay that way.
Barack Obama strongly supports the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet.
As president, Barack Obama will strengthen privacy protections for the digital age and will harness the power of technology to hold government and business accountable for violations of personal privacy.
Obama will use the most current technological tools available to make government less beholden to special interest groups and lobbyists and promote citizen participation in government decision-making.
To realize Barack Obama’s vision of an interconnected democracy, the nation deserves the finest and most modern communications infrastructure in the world.
Obama believes that America should lead the world in broadband penetration and Internet access.
Obama will invest $10 billion a year over the next five years to move the U.S. health care system to broad adoption of standards-based electronic health information systems, including electronic health records. He will also phase in requirements for full implementation of health IT and commit the necessary federal resources to make it happen.
Obama knows that we need to rely on technology to help solve the critical energy and environmental problems facing this country.
Obama will 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.
An Obama administration will foster home-grown innovation and ensure that we can retain and grow high-paying jobs in fast-growing sectors in the sciences and technology rather than exporting those jobs to lower cost labor markets abroad.
Obama is committed to improving the information and communications technology used to support public safety from the antiquated 1970s and 1980s-based technology currently used by agencies around the country to a modern system that will enable us to respond to emergencies and natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina.
Obama supports doubling federal funding for basic research, changing the posture of our federal government from being one of the most anti-science administrations in American history to one that embraces science and technology.
Obama will work to ensure intellectual property is protected in foreign markets, and promote greater cooperation on international standards that allow our technologies to compete everywhere.
Obama is already using technology to transform presidential politics and to help unprecedented numbers of citizens take back the political process. Obama's Internet campaign is only the beginning of how Obama would harness the power of the Internet to transform government and politics.
Obama is also opening up the campaign and giving average Americans a chance to offer opinions and information on important policy issues and Americans have responded: over 15,000 policy ideas have been submitted through the web site.
Keep in mind, this is a summary, on each of these points, Obama provides ample specifics as to how he will make his ideas happen.
Now back to John McCain. What are his plans to embrace technology in his "vision" of the future? Well, I shit you not, this is ALL I could find on his website. Not only are his issues horribly lacking any ideas to incorporate technology, but where he does mention anything pertaining to technology, he provides absolutely NO supporting details...
Expensing of equipment and technology will provide an immediate boost to capital expenditures and reward investments in cutting-edge technologies.
Iran has been providing the most extreme and violent Shia militias with training, weapons, and technology that kill American and Iraqi troops.
Through the use of information technology, we can reduce health care costs.
We should promote the rapid deployment of 21st century information systems and technology that allows doctors to practice across state lines.
Climate Policy Must Spur The Development And Deployment Of Advanced Technology.
Support The Cap And Trade System, John McCain Will Promote The Innovation, Development And Deployment Of Advanced Technologies.
McCain Will Streamline The Process For Deploying New Technologies And Requiring More Accountability From Government Programs To Meet Commercialization Goals And Deadlines.
But much needs to be done to maintain our military leadership, retain our technological advantage, and ensure that America has a modern, agile military force able to meet the diverse security challenges of the 21st century.
He has fought to modernize our forces, to ensure that America maintains and expands its technological edge against any potential adversary.
HOLY SHIT JOHNNY, SLOW DOWN!
The next 4 years, and the the many to follow, are going to be pivotal in so many ways. There is much John McCain offers that promises to do nothing more but set us back years into the past. Technology is where it's at, but unfortunately for John McCain, technology is obviously not where he's at. Not at all.
UPDATE:
So, thanks to JedReport.com, I come across this article that was posted 3 days later:
Can McCain compete with Obama online?
By BEN ADLER | 6/15/08 4:37 PM EST
Obama’s social network has nearly a million members. McCain’s has a sign-up that reads "Benefits of joining Team McCain include:"—with nothing following.
When John McCain, 71, wanted Barack Obama, 46, to join him at a series of town hall meetings, he dispatched a messenger to hand-deliver the invitation. "You know, you could have just e-mailed this," Obama press secretary Bill Burton told the messenger.
"It's the difference between a horse and buggy and a NASA space ship," said Phil Noble, a veteran of Democratic campaigns and the founder of the nonpartisan political news site PoliticsOnline, comparing the campaigns’ respective approaches to technology. "Obama has given people the tools to create and run their own campaigns," Noble continued. "McCain is still a command-and-control, top-down candidate. Part of it is the difference in age."
"Every time Obama had seven seconds when we spent the day together in South Carolina, he whipped out his Blackberry," recalled Noble. Contrast that to McCain's response when Politico's Mike Allen asked him whether he used a Mac or a PC: "Neither. I'm an illiterate that has to rely on my wife for all of the assistance I can get."
Full article
hehe...