Tech investor Jason Palmer, with a strong business background as a former deputy director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, announced his bid for the White House as a Democrat. Recognizing the absence of a candidate with a business background, Palmer felt compelled to enter the race. He believes that the American public desires a problem solver, not a race between two octogenarians.
Palmer’s campaign platform centers around three pillars: conscious capitalism, reinventing the education-workforce system, and modernizing government. Conscious capitalism, a business strategy that focuses on benefiting both human beings and the environment, is crucial to Palmer’s vision of bringing back a thriving middle class.
In an interview, Palmer discussed his plans for cabinet-level changes, including merging the departments of Education and Labor into a Department of Talent. Additionally, he proposes the creation of a Department of Innovation and Technology, lead by individuals such as former Google CEO Eric Schmidt or Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings (although he has not approached them formally). This department would oversee emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
Palmer emphasizes the importance of government investing in scientific advancements ahead of their adoption. Instead of dictating how AI is utilized, he believes in implementing liability schemes to hold companies accountable. Should AI cause significant harm, fines up to $10 million could be imposed.
Committed to freedom of choice, speech, and religion, as well as the right to create and grow companies, Palmer is a staunch supporter of conscious capitalism and stakeholder capitalism. He also believes that small businesses generating less than $1 million in annual sales should be exempt from paying taxes. By championing these values, Palmer aims to restore prosperity and opportunity for the American people.
Reinventing Antitrust Policy
David Palmer, a seasoned businessman and lead investor, has expressed his support for reinventing antitrust policy in the United States. However, he firmly believes that breaking up companies or imposing massive fines should not be the primary solution. Instead, Palmer advocates for a more agile approach to resolving antitrust issues, aiming to avoid the long and costly lawsuits often pursued by the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission.
Palmer’s extensive experience as a board member and lead investor has provided him with valuable insights into the workings of various businesses. Notably, several of the companies he has been involved with have been acquired by well-established public entities such as Pearson and Instructure Holdings.
The businessman also highlights the desire of many Americans for a businessman in the White House, attributing part of Donald Trump’s appeal to this sentiment. However, Palmer believes that this aspiration remains unfulfilled and wishes to step up as a candidate to champion business-driven policies.
Palmer joins a long list of prominent business figures who have sought the presidency in recent times. Examples include Ross Perot, Mitt Romney (co-founder of Bain Capital), Carly Fiorina (former CEO of HP Inc.), Doug Burgum (former CEO of Microsoft Corp.’s Great Plains Software), publishing magnate Michael Bloomberg, Tom Steyer, Vivek Ramaswamy, Andrew Yang, and Herman Cain (former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza).
Considering his late entry into the race, Palmer faces significant challenges in securing his presence on state ballots. At present, he has successfully gained inclusion in Nevada and New Hampshire and is negotiating to be on four additional ballots in Colorado, Arkansas, Vermont, and another undisclosed state. His ultimate objective is to appear on 30 state ballots by January 31. Currently campaigning in New Hampshire, Palmer plans to hire a field director for the Iowa caucuses in the upcoming year.
Although Palmer remains secretive about any high-profile endorsements, he reveals that the majority of his campaign funding stems from small businesses, education-technology advocates, proponents of conscious capitalism, and individuals in their 30s and 40s. Notably, Palmer emphasizes that he does not possess independent wealth.
Unlike Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornell West, who have opted to run as independents, Palmer ruled out this course of action for his campaign.
