Gravel's Take on Tech
Dec 9, 2007
TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington has released a transcript of his fifth presidential candidate interview -- this time, he spoke with the always colorful Democrat, Mike Gravel. Arrington asked the former Alaska Senator for his views on many of the same issues he discussed with the other candidates.
We've posted highlights from Sen. Gravel's interview below; you can also look back at our write-ups of Arrington's earlier talks with Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain, Sen. John Edwards and Sen. Barack Obama.
On advancing tech's growth in international markets: "I'd be very open to immigration, both technical people and also other people and also student visas and tourists. It is appalling, we've lost about $20 billion this last year on this criteria of batting down the hatches, that we're afraid of everybody in the world."
On H1-B visas: "I am very much an advocate for them and not only that, I would leave it open-ended, I would not put a limit on them. This is just so short-sighted, here we've got a program and we want to limit intelligent people coming to our country, does it get any stupider than that?"
On improving math and science education to be more competitive: "Our educational system should be the #1 priority. Our goals should be the same thing as Finland, as Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Spain, Iceland and that is to educate our children from childhood to PHD level and the entire cost should be paid for by the government."
On the digital divide in the U.S.: "We need a national program to eliminate the divide not only for children but for adults and Middle America who are not totally attuned to the technology."
On the upcoming 700 MHz spectrum auction: "I would force open access on all of them and retroactively on what has been granted."
On U.S. companies doing business with foreign countries that are violating human rights: "This is the whole problem of globalization and national sovereignty and it's going to lead to other things, but in the short run we should pass the law that says that Google, Yahoo! and anybody else who's incorporated in this country cannot release private information on private individuals to the detriment of those individuals to any foreign government."
On making a ban on Internet taxes permanent: "...I'm the guy that wants to do away with the income tax on individuals and on corporations. We have the most corrupt tax system in the world and I don't understand when American corporate officers whether in Silicon Valley or anywhere else in the United States hear me talk about wanting to deal with corporate income taxes don't flood my campaign with contributions. Are they retarded or something? Do they not understand what I'm saying?"
For the rest of their talk, check out TechCrunch (there's also a podcast of the interview).
Tags:
2008 Elections, Democrats, Mike Gravel
