An America Driven by Innovation

By Liz Wing on 01/13/2011 @ 05:00 PM

This week I attended an event at the Center for American Progress about the political gridlock that we face in our nation.

Senator John Kerry spoke about this issue, focusing on one topic central to our nation: infrastructure. Kerry referenced a time when America was confronted with a moment to show its innovation and leadership, and only 12 years after Sputnik we successfully sent two Americans to the moon. He said "we as a people face another Sputnik moment today."

Are we going to prove that we are a leader by developing and building the fastest high-speed rails, the smartest web developments and the best new energy technology? We are losing ground on becoming the fastest, smartest and best because we aren't investing in these innovative solutions.

Our lack of investment in new and improved infrastructure costs us jobs and leaves the current infrastructure crumbling. It also has critical national security implications.

Kerry pointed out, "in 2008 it was estimated that we had to make an annual investment of $250 billion for the next 50 years to legitimately meet our transportation needs. Right now, we aren't even close to that." But China continues to invest; they spent an estimated $350 billion on infrastructure in 2009. When we aren't investing and other countries are, we lose our global competitiveness.

According to Kerry, "today the United States is ranked 10th in global competitiveness among the G-20 countries. America is now 12th worldwide in the percentage of 25-to-34-year-olds with a college degree."

Climate control and new energy solutions are a prime market right now. America created the new energy technology, but China invests in its production. "China accounted for just 5 percent of the world’s solar panel production. Now it boasts the world’s largest solar panel manufacturing industry, exporting about 95 percent of its production to countries including the United States," said Kerry.

America has a long history of leadership, of innovation and of the best research and technology in the world. Let's follow that precedent that we set for ourselves and continue to think, dream and create. To read Senator Kerry's full address, click here.

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