A new voluntarism which is bearing fruit

Here is long that two candidates still in the running for the White House will no longer lose their time in the black neighborhoods of Los Angeles and even less in the San Francisco Bay. Formerly, they disdained not to invite to this generous land, large creatures of money ringing and stumbling to their respective campaigns. But, today, California, birthplace of the Silicon Valley and land predominantly democratic, is not one of those States which can still do everything switch in the last straight line. Yet, never the high-tech American stars were also present in an electoral battle. As of 2007, Meg Whitman, CEO of eBay, caused surprise by becoming jointly responsible for the finances of the Mitt Romney campaign, a former colleague at Bain & Co. Last March, after the withdrawal of the former Governor of Massachusetts in the primary, she accepted a similar position in the service of John McCain her first job following his announced departure from eBay. The same month, Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, has become, responsible for the operations of fundraising for the Republican national Committee, the governing body of the party for the presidential campaign of John McCain. In February, it is John Chambers, CEO of Cisco, who was the Senator of Arizona as co-editor of his campaign and economic and technological Advisor.

Side Obama, even shoving. John Thompson, Symantec's CEO, is one of his earliest followers, even if it remains discreet in its support. Steve Westly, eBay former become a political celebrity in California, has supported the co-Chair of the campaign for the Democratic candidate in the "Golden State". Influential in the Silicon Valley and impassioned by energy issues, he made the link between the "cleantech" industry and the team of the candidate. Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, has him, auto-institué Barack Obama Advisor on issues of technology and energy, prior to display this month this his rallying in a personal capacity. According to the rumor, it would be approached to become Chief Technology Officer of Obama administration. Critics have beautiful game to point out that, "in a personal capacity", these are primarily the interests of Google it intends to promote the poll favorite. Interests threatened by the Congress, in particular on two grounds: the required neutrality of the Internet, which would prevent the owners of the infrastructure control the flow of data to adjust their tariffs (Barack Obama is positive), and the protection of confidential data on the Web, which threatens custom advertising for Google (it would there be inclined). From there to say that, after long years of overwhelming distrust of the Government thing, Silicon Valley, the homeland of jealous entrepreneurs of their liberty, is transformed into traditional lobby in the US, pas is quickly crossed.

Substantive work

It is that times have changed. Past start-up are now among the largest companies in the country. They are, therefore, directly affected by the decisions taken at Washington budget, rates, immigration or regulatory, again as in the case of telecommunications. And, for the first time, a new generation of young shoots account on the legislative and regulatory framework of renewable energy and gas emissions greenhouse to validate their business model. Slowly but surely, the Silicon Valley came to understand that ignore Washington was no longer an option.

"Relations between candidates and Silicon Valley are prior to this campaign, observed Betsy Mullins, Vice-President responsible for political affairs and relations with the Government for TechNet.". The substantive work began several years ago. "The group, which represents the interests of 175 technology companies and developing its presence in Washington for a decade, argues no candidate in particular, like all organisations of Silicon Valley. But it maintains informal contacts with the democratic and Republican campaign teams, including through the Organization of round tables with CEOs members.

Very involved contractors

That today expects this new group of pressure of a future President A wide range of decisions which would facilitate the life of the companies it represents. (1) The development of a local skilled labour through the strengthening of science and mathematics at the school. We absolutely encourage vocations of engineers and scientists. (2) The opening of immigration quotas to encourage the influx of foreign skills and allow immigrant students to extend their stay after their studies. (3) Funding promised by the America Competes Act, which decided in 2007 that research budgets would be doubled over ten years, but which has not been correctly applied since. (4) Put in place the legislative framework and regulatory required for the development of renewable energy, including through a tax exemption in the long run on solar and wind equipment. "Candidates pay attention to what we have to say because they know perfectly the importance of the role we play for years in creating jobs and boosting the economy," said Betsy Mullins.

In TechNet at SIA (Semiconductor Industry Association), another pillar of the new lobby, substantive relational work with policy makers is carried out by the members themselves. "The entrepreneurs or company captains, by definition, are people who love rub directly to the problems, said Daryl Hatano, Vice President of public policy at SIA." Most of our efforts are their responsibility, not that of a lobbying firm of lawyers. "Founded in 1977, the association may avail of a presence to Washington just two years.

A new voluntarism, which is bearing fruit. "This campaign has been marked by unprecedented enthusiasm, says Betsy Mullins. People are more engaged. Since February 2007, participation in events related to the campaign is maximum. "Examples abound of engineers and entrepreneurs converted to political activism for the first time in their life of elector.

Obama craze

As the phenomenon who seized all the urban centres of the country also struck this bastion of American entrepreneurship: is the enthusiasm of a young, educated, and silver electorate for Barack Obama, a candidate who could easily identify themselves a newcomer unexpected and daring, without great another credit to his credit than the desire to change the world, the talent to reach correctly and to raise funds. Thus, he received $ 21 million of the computer industry and the technologies of information, against less than 5 million for John McCain, according to the Institute of independent statistics Center for Responsive Politics. Among Google employees who have made a financial contribution to the presidential campaign, 84 supported Barack Obama. They were 72 for IBM.

Driven by any citizen enthusiasm, all not forget not to the individual interests of their industry. Thus, a handful of entrepreneurs in renewable energies and tenors of the Silicon Valley, including Larry Brilliant, Chairman of the Google Foundation, has created the summer last Cleantech for Obama. "Energy issues are a concern of voters and it is completely new for us: Biotech, Internet and semiconductors have never been among topics of campaign", said Sunil Paul, founder of Spring Ventures, a venture capital firm specializing in renewable energy. The group, which he is a founding member, intends to create a national network and to promote the agenda of the 'clean-tech' beyond the elections industry.

Mention "can do better."

If Barack Obama generally prevails over John McCain among professionals of the sector (it promotes greater intervention by the State to the forces of the market), but if he recorded the best score of enthusiasm on the electoral barometer of Silicon Valley, it is not necessarily better placed than his rival for political technologies programme. According to the Information Technology Association of America (Itaa), a professional association established in 1961 with 350 member companies, the performance and speeches of the two Senators on issues that directly affect their industry they are worth the mention "can do better". John McCain won a sans-faute on international trade. Barack Obama is noted 20/20 for his impeccable use of technology during his campaign. But, in these times of economic turmoil, Silicon Valley is confident that his role in the creation of activity and jobs will enable it to find an attentive ear to the future President.