One Silicon Valley, Under Libertarian Hero Senator Rand Paul

Internet-savvy Tea Party activists have shoved the once small-government fringes of the Republican party into the spotlight, with Libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul a leading figure.

At the State of the Net Conference, I spoke with this new leader in the Republican party, asking about what life wouldbe like for innovators if he and his small-government brethren continue their rise to power.

I kept it deliberately philosophical to understand how Paul will view issues in the future. Here are a few take-aways.

Science Funding, If You Can Find It

The real explosion of the Internet was the lack of control, argues Paul, in response to my question about if the Internets origins in military labs proves that government is essential to American innovation.

Paul maintains that we shouldnt overestimate the need for government to support Silicon Valley. But, hes a fan of federal-funded science and technology, just so long as it doesnt add to the countrys trillion-dollar-sized debt. Id rather spend the money on R&D if theres not a marketplace for that, he says.

Paul is admirably consistent here; scientistsfreaked out over one of his early budget proposals to slash R&D funding, but calmed down after he brokered a deal with Democrats that would slightly increasefundsfor higher education and research (by finding other programs to cut, of course).

Civil Liberties Galore And No Killing Of Hackers

Paul infamously said that whistleblower Edward Snowden and intelligence director James Clappershould share the same jail cell(Clapper for lying to Congress). I pressed Paul on how he would treat information activists.

There do have to be some rules and there are some problems with disclosing secrets and people could die, he warns. But, security hawks are calling for the death penalty for Edward Snowden, and I think thats inappropriate.

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One Silicon Valley, Under Libertarian Hero Senator Rand Paul