What you need to know
- Microsoft President Brad Smith shared thoughts on the U.S. presidential election.
- The post focuses on the importance of technology in modern times.
- Smith discusses working across party lines to "build new bridges."
Microsoft President Brad Smith shared thoughts on the U.S. presidential election over the weekend. The post addresses three areas; congratulating President-Elect Joe Biden, discussing the importance of technology in modern times, and working across party lines to "build new bridges."
Smith starts off by reiterating sentiments shared by Microsoft when congratulating President Trump on his election four years ago.
Every president-elect deserves our congratulations, best wishes and support for the country as a whole. The peaceful transition of power has been an enduring and vital part of our democracy for over two centuries, and it remains so today.
Smith then extends his congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, stating,
Four years later, these words are no less important. As we did in 2016, we offer today our congratulations to the new President- and Vice-President-Elect: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Smith then focuses on several key ways that technology is essential in modern times. He explains that "Broadband has become the electricity of the 21st century," discusses how investing in digital skills is essential, and states that "technology innovation needs to create more business opportunities for every part of the economy as well as ushering in a new era for enhanced public sector services and efficiencies."
His post also goes over how technology plays an important role in protecting the democratic process and protecting people's privacy.
Smith concludes his remarks by talking about how there are opportunities to build bridges and to work across party lines.
Along the way, we have learned that we have far more opportunities to partner across the political spectrum than most people recognize. But we need to move from debates about why we cannot succeed to conversations about how we can. The more bridges we can cross together, the more we likely will find that Americans of all backgrounds in every state and county share far more in common than we currently appreciate.As we look to the next four years, this should give us not only reason for hope, but cause for optimism.
