The US tech industry is reportedly very unhappy with President Barack Obama and his controversial economic policies.
“It’s [certainly] been a very difficult two years for our executives and there’s great concern in the business community,” Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, told Politico.
“Small businesses are suffering, large businesses are suffering. Hiring has pretty much frozen as long as there’s this uncertainty on taxes and health reform. And everything the administration has done has not only not helped, it has made it worse.”
However, Jonathan Hoganson, a principal with lobbying firm Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, remains unconvinced that the current batch of Republican candidates would ultimately create a better atmosphere for the high-tech sector.
“These guys who are getting elected are on the ultraconservative end of the spectrum: They’re anti-government but not necessarily pro-business,” said Castagnetti.
“Are they going to be open to investing how we need to invest? Will they be open to free-trade agreements? Even if the administration wants to do it, it may not be able to at the end of the day.”
Meanwhile, Dean Garfield, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Council, weighed in on the debate by noting that Obama may be somewhat “tech savy,” but has clearly failed to move the industry forward in any significant way.
“Obama’s [obviously] not necessarily tech sophisticated in putting forward the kinds of policies necessary to sustain growth,” he concluded.
