Clinton vs. Trump: Comparing the Candidates' Positions on Technology and Innovation

[Commentary] Republicans all too often focus on limiting or denying government’s contributions to bolstering US innovation and competitiveness, while Democrats often seem more interested in shackling rather than harnessing the power of American enterprise. Each side argues that if the country would just pursue the menu items in their respective agendas, then US competitiveness and innovation will be restored and all will be well. But there are two major problems with these perspectives.

First, because neither side wants the other to receive credit for their items, little gets done. Second, even if one side would acquiesce to the other to get some things done, it would not be enough. We need a wide array of policy reforms. Each side ultimately must bend if we are to restore or maintain US economic greatness. In general, the left needs to accept the fact that successful companies that innovate and compete globally are not the enemy, and that public policy should help companies succeed in creating new products, services, and jobs domestically. For its part, the right should abandon its opposition to government’s role in promoting competitiveness. All the tax cuts and regulatory relief in the world will not enable the United States and its enterprises to succeed in global competition if the country lacks a robust national innovation policy that includes partnerships with the private sector.