As the 2016 Presidential election approaches and party front-runners are locking into place, the country’s attention is focused on the inevitable changes ahead.
With the future of technology being integral to our country’s operations and economic strength, here’s a look at a few important issues relating to the tech industry and how the top presidential contenders, Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, weigh-in.
Job Growth in Tech
Outsourcing jobs overseas has been a troublesome trend for many who would like to see U.S. companies support the local economy and help reduce the national jobless rate within our own borders. This is a top consideration for both top candidates, though each has a different approach.
Trump has focused a good deal of attention on his plan to reform the U.S.-China trade relationship to bring jobs back to American soil and put pressure on China to carve out a fairer trade agreement. He’s also in favor of bolstering intellectual property laws to protect American businesses and strengthening the manufacturing industry in the U.S.
Clinton’s economic growth plan includes offering tax incentives for companies to source jobs locally as well as removal of tax relief for businesses that rely heavily on outsourcing jobs overseas. She’s in favor of increasing workers wages, and investing in infrastructure and research to spur job growth.
Candidates on Education
Education, both at the primary and college levels, is an important factor in ensuring the next generation of workers has the skills to stay competitive in tech. From the high cost of college loans to the need to ensure young children have access to quality early education, education is another key issue relating to the future of the tech industry.
Clinton’s position has been mainly focused on early education and investing in programs that ensure preschoolers have access to what they need to thrive. She’s also in favor of supporting parents by improving child care options and increasing scholarships to make it feasible for families in need to give their kids a strong start.
Trump has voiced his opposition to the Common Core and government control over local education programs. He’s in favor of broader school choice and reforming the education system to be better aligned with the needs of kids. Trump believes students need help to make the burden of high cost college loans easier to bear, and that the government shouldn’t profit on these loans.
Tech Issues and the Election
Despite the direct connections technology will have in furthering their goals if elected, neither of the Presidential contenders have made tech as big of a component of their debate platforms as you might expect. That said, it remains a vital undercurrent that threads throughout most discussions popping up throughout the lead-up to the general election.
