During the recent Russian-Georgian conflict, Russia launched a coordinated cyber attack against Georgia’s Internet infrastructure. The attacks managed to compromise several Internet websites and initiated a continued distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack against specific Georgian government sites. In order to disseminate real-time information during the Russian invasion, Georgia had to use hosting services from the United States, which was coordinated through Georgia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In an era where wars will eventually be fought by unmanned fighter planes, computer guided missiles, and cyber warfare, will Americans elect a President whose closest involvement with technology is when his wife helps him navigate the Internet or one that knows the difference between the Blackberry hanging on his hip from one that dangles from a vine?
This year’s election happens to be the most important election in history not only for its obvious historical implications, but because this is the era where technology is truly integrated into every aspect of American life. From collecting and tallying the votes during the presidential election, to running the power grids and transportation systems for America’s major metropolitan cities, to enabling the launch of the most deadly nuclear warhead known to man, technology is definitely the engine that powers our daily lives.
No longer are we touting that “one day computers will run the world”. That day has come and America needs a leader that is not only capable of regurgitating what is being fed to him by his political handlers, but one that truly has a technological aptitude commensurate with the era we live in.
A leader that not only understands the dichotomy of the “digital divide”, but one that can help inspire and develop actionable policies designed to close the divide.
A leader who can objectively assess a proposal to construct a 700-mile long barrier between America and Mexico (border is actually 2,100 miles long), but is also capable of challenging the proposal with a more efficient and effective technological solution.
As the Chairman of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), the next President must have the ability to assess and appoint the appropriate Thought Leaders that will be responsible for collecting, analyzing, and providing him advice from the private sector and academic community on technology, scientific research priorities, and math and science education. The selection criteria for the newly appointed council must be more substantive than just considering the number of Pac Man boards they were able to complete or their highest score in Galaga. They will also need to know a little more than how to use “The Google” to search for answers on the “Internets” (quoting the current President). The new PCAST will have to assume the role of Principle Architects of a new e-government and will need to develop an effective strategy for leveraging America’s expertise in scientific discovery to re-establish its position as the global leader in developing innovative technologies to enhance the quality of life for all mankind.
Just as Americans fulfilled the visionary quest of an innovative President by the name John F. Kennedy by being the first humans to walk on the moon, Americans must now elect a President who can envision how to use technology to efficiently and effectively resolve America’s energy crisis, to enhance teaching and learning, and to strengthen national security.
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