Candidate Responses for OH-10
Comparing responses to Innovation & the Elections 2008 for:
Innovation
Science and technology have been responsible for half of the growth of the American economy since World War II. But several recent reports question America’s continued leadership in these vital areas. What policies would you support to ensure that America remains the world leader in innovation?
Dennis Kucinich
All candidates have been invited to respond to the Innovation & the Elections 2008 questionnaire on science and technology policy. Urge Dennis Kucinich to participate by contacting him through his webform today.Jim Trakas
A great sense of urgency must be placed on innovation and substantial change in our relation to science and technology. The Trakas Plan includes:1. Concentrated effort to recruit children from kindergarten forward into the STEM disciplines and steer them towards these types of majors in college.
2. We must recruit at a young age teachers who will major in Mathematics, the various sciences, engineering, and then compensate them accordingly, not just allow these professionals to be paid by seniority and sacrifice the earning potential of the private sector.
3. I would propose creating a whole new Engineerin Corps by having the Federal Government pay students to graduate from college with degrees in Engineering, a free education to encourage more engineers to help our economy and create jobs and wealth, in addition to new products, concpets and ideas.
4. Invest more into small business Research and Development which has proven far more effective in the creation of patents and new innovative products.
5. Overhaul cirriculum at the local and state level for an initial back to basics STEM cirriculum which will encourage all of the above.
Climate Change
The Earth’s climate is changing and there is concern about the potentially adverse effects of these changes on life on the planet. What is your position on the following measures that have been proposed to address global climate change—a cap-and-trade system, a carbon tax, increased fuel-economy standards, and research? Are there other policies you would support?
Dennis Kucinich
All candidates have been invited to respond to the Innovation & the Elections 2008 questionnaire on science and technology policy. Urge Dennis Kucinich to participate by contacting him through his webform today.Jim Trakas
We need to get serious about pollution abatement, but we must also not destroy our ecnonomy in so doing, which we have been doing and must be careful not to keep doing.Our pollution control measures really work to stifle jobs in America, and have done little to abate pollution. I would make government a partner with industry to abate pollution, and understand that it took many years to create these problems, and they will not be solved soon.
Specifically:
1. I oppose cap and trade as a job killer, very expensive for consumers who are already getting rocked by high energy costs (and cap and trade would make it much worse, crippling the poor, working and middle class. Carbon Tax is just as bad, and increased CAFE standards without monetary help to the US auto industry would hasten its demise and put more Americans out of work.
2. Any pollution abatement protocol must include all nations of the world, so that we do not put American workers jobs at risk, while letting places like China and India pollute, while putting American workers at a serious disavantage.
3. I would create partnerships with government to assist polluting industries to help pay to clean up the environment with new technologies. This will be very expensive, but necessary, and a high public priority.
4. We need to invest in new technologies to bring clean buring fuel cells and battery technologies to fruition, assist the U.S. automotive industry to make first hybrid, then fuel cell vehicles, as well as expand clean coal technology, wind, solar, and other alternatives.
5. We must be patient, do this right, and not destroy our present economy in the process.
Energy
Many scientists and policymakers say energy security and sustainability are major problems facing the United States this century. What policies would you support to meet the demand for energy while ensuring an economically and environmentally sustainable future?
Dennis Kucinich
All candidates have been invited to respond to the Innovation & the Elections 2008 questionnaire on science and technology policy. Urge Dennis Kucinich to participate by contacting him through his webform today.Jim Trakas
America must get serious and realistic about Energy, the Environment, and how it affects our citizens as well as the world. I support these policies:1. Expand domestic oil production with the understanding that we need to stop investing in the economies of the Middle East while we have our own resources. This will lead to more energy, lower costs, and more jobs in America. This is also a short term, but necessary fix.
2. Long term, we need to transition to fuel cell technology in vehicles and home energy. The USA spends $2 billion annually on this research, and I adovacate making that $40 billion annually, to jump start the technology and bring it to fruition quicker.
3. I support building more nuclear power plants, using French standard regulation which is safe, clean, and efficient.
4. I support wind and solar energy, but recognize that it is long term and will not completely satisfy our energy needs.
5. Clean coal technology, SuperGen style plants, coal gassification all help to utilize this cheapest natural resource. If we help the Coal Fired Plant industry abate pollution, it will clean our environement, while providing cost effetive energy.
6. More natural gas wells and delivery systems help keep costs the same and are clean burning.
7. We must combine all of these factors, and realize that we will always need oil, coal, and existing raw materials for energy, plastics, etc.
Education
A comparison of 15-year-olds in 30 wealthy nations found that average science scores among U.S. students ranked 17th, while average U.S. math scores ranked 24th. What role do you think the federal government should play in preparing K-12 students for the science and technology driven 21st Century?
Dennis Kucinich
All candidates have been invited to respond to the Innovation & the Elections 2008 questionnaire on science and technology policy. Urge Dennis Kucinich to participate by contacting him through his webform today.Jim Trakas
See Question One.Until there is a large national change in educational standards, recruitment and training of teachers and professors, and an urgency and policy to recruit more STEM disciline Americans, we are going to lose our competitive edge. This is the key to the American Economy, and it must be pursued, even if powerful interests disagree.
We cannot be serious about our future without driving fundamental change in our education, getting back to basics, and dramatically encouraging more participation in these efforts.
The status quo is thoroughly unacceptable.
Water
Thirty-nine states expect some level of water shortage over the next decade, and scientific studies suggest that a majority of our water resources are at risk. What policies would you support to meet demand for water resources?
Dennis Kucinich
All candidates have been invited to respond to the Innovation & the Elections 2008 questionnaire on science and technology policy. Urge Dennis Kucinich to participate by contacting him through his webform today.Jim Trakas
Water is the lifeblood of humanity, and they are not making more of it. This nation has to conserve our natural resources, find new and more efficient ways to reuse water, and encourage regional cooperation on water programs throughout the land.Research
For many years, Congress has recognized the importance of science and engineering research to realizing our national goals. Given that the next Congress will likely face spending constraints, what priority would you give to investment in basic research in upcoming budgets?
Dennis Kucinich
All candidates have been invited to respond to the Innovation & the Elections 2008 questionnaire on science and technology policy. Urge Dennis Kucinich to participate by contacting him through his webform today.Jim Trakas
Research is usually cut first, and Congress and all Presidents have been disinvesting in research for 40 years. We need to dramatically increase funding for research and development (see question One)and reverse this trend.By eliminating capital gains tax, changing our regulatory scheme and fostering a less rigid, and much more bold and dynamic economy, we can foster the necessary economic growth to spend more on research. With the coming conclusion to the war in Iraq, more monies will be available across the board for high national interests, of which this is one.
Grow the Ecnonomy and you will see how much more money we can put into research. R and D is critical to the innovations that will remake and transform the economy of the 21st Century.
Health
Americans are increasingly concerned with the cost, quality, and availability of health care. How do you see science, research, and technology contributing to improved health and quality of life?
Dennis Kucinich
All candidates have been invited to respond to the Innovation & the Elections 2008 questionnaire on science and technology policy. Urge Dennis Kucinich to participate by contacting him through his webform today.Jim Trakas
One of the many fixes to our health care system revolves around the fact that science, research, and technology will take cost out of our health care system, allow us to stay healthy longer and participate in daily life more frequently, increasing every good statistic of human ineraction.By driving cost out of health care, without negatively impacting its delivery, research and technology plays a critical role in preserving the quality of care, increasing quality and life expectancy, and taking cost out of medicine.
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