ABC7 Tech Blog

One More Question

Question from Terry Atwater in Houston, TX.  What would you do differently?  It's hard to fix the health care system.  He's rephrasing the question -- what needs to be done?  Balancing the budget needs to happen while he's President.  Immigration - wants to get it done.  Energy -- $4 a gallon gas hurts a lot of people.  Need to invest in new approaches to energy.  Investing in things like solar and wind, biofuels, clean car tech, and converting the federal fleet 100% to fuel efficient vehicles.  The Treasury loses $4 billion a year in subsidies to oil companies.  The top 5 oil companies have made between $75 and 125 billion every year for the past five years.  They don't need special tax breaks.  (Getting lots of applause from the audience.) 

we've got a lot more work to do, he says.  He hopes everyone here doesn't get frustrated or cynical about our democracy.  We've been through tougher times before.  We always come out on top.  If we can come together, we can solve these problems.  He's inviting everyone to get involved.  It hasn't been that long since the last election, he says.  Yet a lot of good things have changed.  We've made progress, he said.  "You've got to get involved."  

It's 3:03 PM, and the event is ending.  

Zuckerberg is giving the President a Facebook long-sleeved shirt as a departing gift.  

Standing ovation and applause as the President shakes hands with some of the guests.

This concludes our live blog.  Look for a wrap-up later today online and on ABC7 News at 5 and 6.

 

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Education & Health Care

The President is praising the commitment Zuckerberg has made to improve education in the public schools of Newark, NJ.  

James Mitchell of Facebook is asking a question about the debt and health care.  What is the President doing about reducing the rise in health care costs?

The President is mentioning health IT.  How many of you when you go to the doctor's office are still asked to fill out information on a clipboard?  That's what the President is asking.  Results of tests are not being routinely shared from one doctor to another.  So additional tests are done and charged to the health care system.  He's trying to provide incentives for technology investment to make the system more efficient and effective.  He's pointing to the VA Health System as a good example of achieving huge savings because everyone is on the same tech system.  

More on Budget Cuts

Leo from San Jose (a Facebook employee) is asking whether this is a time for boldness in tackling the budget problem.  The President is calling the Republican budget proposal lacking.  The President is calling short-sighted cuts in social programs.  The President is now attacking how the Republicans want to reform health care.  He's in favor of keeping people in a pool so they can negotiate better rates and save money. 

Immigration Reform

A question from the Univ. of Florida:  What about the Dream Act to reduce the deficit?  This will shift his comments to immigration reform.  He values what immigrants bring to the U.S.  He is now touching upon the importance of making it possible for overseas students who come to the U.S. for advanced degrees to stay in the U.S. to create jobs and prosperity.  But he says we can't forget unskilled workers toiling in the fields or in restaurants.  They're contributing to America.  They have broken the law by coming to the U.S., but there should be a pathway so they can become citizens.  

The President Continues...

The President says the country needs a basic safety net for families and children.

A question from a citizen in Williamsburg, VA:  How can you help people to buy their first home?

The President is talking about the housing bubble.  He's also talking about homeowners being "under water" where their homes are worth less than the outstanding mortgage.  "We don't want to return to a situation where people are putting down very little," Mr. Obama said.  Some people should rent, he said.  

A Facebook employee is asking the next question.  She's asking how do you shift the conversation back to job creation from spending cuts.  The President is saying the economy is growing again and over two million jobs created in the private sector.  It's tricky, he says.  He says he's trying to cut spending while not cutting important investments in education.  

 

What Can We Cut?

Zuckerberg asked what can the country afford to cut?  The President is explaining that in the past, previous administrations decided that it's important to spend wisely and that we live within our means.  A budget surplus resulted.  By the time he started office, the country was about $1 trillion in deficit, plus accummulated debt.  

Baby boomers are just now starting to retire.  What's scarey, he says, is that health care costs are rising faster than inflation at a time when the growing number of baby boomers also are drawing on Social Security, Medicare and Medi-cal.

 

The President's Message

The President is acknowledging that the country is facing tough times.  (Both the President and Zuckerberg are wearing white shirts and dispensed with their jackets after the President joked about how uncomfortable Zuckerberg was a few weeks ago when they had dinner in Woodside.)

The President is saying he's optimistic because in the course of history, the country has always been able to adapt and to get ahead of the curve.  The conversation about debt is important is because it will help the country to invest in the future.  

Mark has the first question.  

Mark Zuckerberg

The PResident has walked on stage to a standing ovation and cheering.  He is shaking hands with those in the first row behind the two chairs where he and Zuckerberg will sit.  

Zuckerberg said he was a little nervous because the President is here.

"I'm Barack Obama, and I'm the guy who got Mark Zuckerberg to wear a jacket and tie."  

The President suggested they take their jackets off.  

 

The Program Has Begun

Some dignitaries are taking their ringside seats, including Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, at the last moment.  This appears to signal that the program is about to start.  

Sheryl Sandberg, COO at Facebook, has now walked into the square.  Sandberg is saying the President has 19 million friends on Facebook.  She is introducing special guests, including Nancy Pelosi, Gavin Newsom, state controller John Chiang, Palo Alto Mayor Sid Espinosa, and the aforementioned members of Congress.  

 

It's Almost Showtime, Folks

It's 1:48 PM PT.  Crowd is anticipating the entrance of the President.