Author Om Malik has a terrific story on his blog, Gigaom, about the trials and tribulations the Silicon Valley may be facing. Once again. He notes how the Valley’s population suffers from short memory span and no one seems to recall the devastation that took place the earlier part of this century.
As a background checking firm with interests in the Silicon Valley, Corra shares some concern. Not only is Malick contesting that the economy there is in for a downturn and that online advertising is falling off, but other reports are addressing this as well. Online advertising forecasts are down, and Malik right attributes part of it to the housing and financial markets, which in turn create significant impact on the other industries.
So we may be in for hard times. Some say no, but perhaps we are in need of a reality check. Perhaps it is time for this country to undergo a little belt tightening and a serious reflection on what is now and what should be as the long term prognosis. Perhaps it is less consumerism and more production. More education is certainly needed, that’s for sure.
Now I also believe the Silicon Valley will also provide leadership in a series of technological breakthroughs. That is its thing, after all. But I think the obvious and pressing need for energy alternative and for technological applications that will help assess the damage to our environment and in a variety of ways assist in its clean up will create a fair measure or prosperity.
Not matter who gets into the White House, it is definitely time for a change. It is time to rethink our economy, its manufacturing and production centers as well as the new technologies that could accommodates our energy and environmental needs.
As spectacular singe Sam Cook once crooned in his hit song, “A Change is Gonna Come,” that point may be relevant once again. I don’t think anyone one knows just where that change will be coming from.
