Obama's Staff

Obama calls on network owners to support the U.S.’ economy.

Thirteen men and two women met for dinner at the house of an investor last February. Almost all of the men shed their jackets and ties before sitting at the table. The room that welcomed them was far from luxurious. There was no sumptuous banquet on the menu … However, in this meeting were some of the most powerful people on the planet: network owners, called on by the president of the United States. I look at the photo of the meeting and think that I am looking at a record of Napoleon and his generals. Obama would be Napoleon. To his right sits Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) and to his left is Steve Jobs (Apple). And with them, raising their glasses of wine, sit Eric Schmidt (Google), Carol Bartz (Yahoo), Dick Costolo (Twitter) and more. In other words, the real staff who currently dominate global communication.

The Internet and social networks are versatile instruments. First, the military and scientists used them. And now they are also in the hands of the people: The Egyptian revolt that toppled Mubarak was described as a Facebook revolution, given the leadership of certain bloggers. Now, however, the most vocal users of the Internet belong to the world of show business and use it as a loudspeaker; for example, Lady Gaga and Eminem, with around 30 million fans on Facebook. Others use it to broadcast their self-destruction live, like the actor, Charlie Sheen, fired from a multimillion-dollar series for drinking and taking drugs nonstop and now addicted to Twitter, where he tirelessly posts his rants.

Electronic communications present a lot of possibilities. But it is good to know that what Obama asked of those meeting in San Francisco was not military strategies or scientific discoveries, neither democracy nor show business, much less insanity. What Obama asked of these network owners in the meeting — which, by the way, was given much less media attention than a meeting of the G-8 or G-20 — was ideas: specifically, ideas to strengthen the economy and trading position of the United States, with the aim of doubling national exports within the next five years.

The president’s request for help is understandable. China, India and other emerging countries threaten the USA’s technological hegemony. In the meantime, the economic crisis is slowing down consumption: In a short time, Americans have prolonged the life of their cars by half a year, their phones by two months (previously, they changed them every 16 months; now it is done every 18 months) and one month for their laptops. Therefore, it is likely that consumer pressure through these networks will grow progressively and without limits. He who forewarns what may come to pass is not a traitor when it does. And it is also likely that, in line with this, an increase in the number of citizens who connect to these networks is nothing more than inevitable. He who forewarns of what may come to pass — in this case, me — is not a traitor when it does.