Biden: No one can match America innovation

AMES - Institutions of higher learning have become the “ideas factories” where the freedom to innovate creates new products and industries, and will rebuild the American middle-class, Vice President Joe Biden said Thursday during a visit to Iowa State University.

After a tour of College of Engineering facilities, including 3-D rapid prototyping and a fluid power hydraulic tester, Biden said the work going on at ISU makes him confident that regardless of how many engineers and scientists other nations educate, they cannot compete with American innovation.

Despite dire warnings about other nations educating more engineers and scientists than the United States, Biden said, they will never overtake the tide of innovation in American universities where students have the freedom to challenge the conventional.

“Ever wonder why countries that produce more engineers and scientists than us aren't the leading innovators in the world?” Biden asked during a low-key 35-minute speech before about 700 people at Howe Hall. “Because they're not America.”

In those countries, the vice president continued, students “are not allowed or trained to challenge orthodoxy.”

Conversely, even in American K-12 schools, students are taught to ask questions.

“Innovation only occurs in challenge,” Biden said.

Although his boss, President Barack Obama, may be facing a challenging electoral battle in Iowa this year, Biden's remarks were largely non-political. His speech was marked by applause only when he was introduced and when he concluded.

However, with his visit coming on the heels of appearances in the state by both the president and first lady, the trip had political overtones. It came at a time when Obama's approval ratings in Iowa are under 50 percent and, according to ISU political scientist Steffen Schmidt, the perennial battleground state could swing Republican.

“No number of campaign stops can distract voters from its disastrous record,” Republican Party of Iowa Chairman A.J. Spiker said about the Obama-Biden team.

Biden offered little criticism of the GOP, telling reporters later there's too much of that. In fact, Biden told the largely student audience not to believe in the Obama-Biden administration

“Believe in this country,” the 69-year-old Delaware Democrat said. “Vote for whoever you want to vote for. But do not buy into that we have to lower our sights, we have to think smaller. Don't do that.”

That's why the Obama-Biden administration is investing in higher education and pushing for tax relief for companies that create manufacturing jobs and bring manufacturing back from Mexico, China and elsewhere, Biden said.

“How many times have we heard the phrase ‘outsourcing?'” Biden said. “I'm here to tell you, the generation of students at this university is not going to hear much about outsourcing.”

Business executives tell White House officials that when they project costs out 25 or 50 years, there's very little advantage to moving production overseas, Biden said. Whatever savings can be realized by outsourcing are offset by shipping, inventory and concerns about the security of their research, not to mention the unequaled productivity of American workers.

“I'm here to tell you the United States is better positioned than any other country in the world to be the world's leading economic power of the 21st Century as it was in the 20th,” Biden said.

While others warn about the growing threat of China, Biden said he welcomes that nation's growth because it will create new markets for the United States.

“The American people are tired, tired of being told they have to lower expectations, they're tired of being told they can't compete, they're tired of being told we're not going to be the leading economy in the world,” Biden said. “They know better.”

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