Opinion
Lawrence Journal-World l LJWorld.com l Tuesday, June 16, 2015
EDITORIALS
Research success State university research has many benefits for the Kansas economy and society as a whole.
H
opefully, Gov. Sam Brownback and any state legislators who question the contribution of state universities in Kansas were paying attention to the news on Monday. The Journal-World had a story on its front page about Michael Detamore, a Kansas University engineering professor who specializes in tissue engineering and is working on ways to use 3-D printing technology to replace certain body parts such as jaws and sections of skulls. Brian Andrews, a craniofacial surgeon at KU Hospital, said of Detamore, “He’s someone who is really going to change medicine someday, without being a medical doctor.” Also on Monday, Kansas State University announced that a group of its researchers has received a U.S. patent on a new technology that detects cancer in its early stages, even before physical symptoms appear. Results from the test are produced in about 30 minutes and have been 95 percent effective in detecting cancers as early as stage 1. These university research projects are just two of perhaps hundreds of efforts focused on human health and drug development. And that is only one portion of the ongoing research being conducted at state universities in Kansas. Wichita State University is a leader in aeronautical research, K-State is a center for agriculture and animal health, and KU has other areas of excellence such as life-span studies and special education, in addition to cancer and other medical research efforts at the KU Medical Center. This research attracts hundreds of millions of dollars to state universities. As illustrated by K-State’s latest patent, many university research advancements also have the potential to drive new business ventures in the state, creating jobs that can keep state university graduates in Kansas. Providing higher education opportunities for Kansas young people is a key mission for the state university system, but the significant research accomplishments of these universities also should make Kansans proud. They help feed the state’s economic success and deserve more respect than they often receive from state lawmakers.
China’s hack attack cause for concern Upon hearing of the massive data breach of employee information from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) — allegedly by hackers working for the Chinese government — Kay Cole James, the former director of OPM under George W. Bush, told me she was “aghast,” adding, “I can’t think about the national security implications of a foreign government knowing every single federal employee, where they work, where they live, all of their significant data. Think about what that information can do in the hands of people who want to do us harm.” Joel Brenner, a former top counterintelligence official for the U.S. government, has thought about it. He called the hack attack “potentially devastating.” Brenner told The Washington Post that personnel files “contain decades of personal information about people with (security) clearances … which makes them easier to recruit for foreign espionage on behalf of a foreign country.” The Associated Press reported “two people briefed on the investigation disclosed Friday that as many as 14 million current and former civilian U.S. government employees have had their information exposed to hackers, a far higher figure than the 4 million the Obama administration ini-
Cal Thomas tcaeditors@tribune.com
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It doesn’t take a spy novelist to come up with a scenario in which a Chinese government agent approaches someone with a top security clearance and threatens to expose a dark secret in his or her past …” tially disclosed.” While the U.S. government should have seen this coming, clearly it was unprepared for such an invasion of privacy. By some estimates there are thousands of Chinese cyber-warriors specifically trained to carry out electronic espionage against the U.S. and other nations with information the Chinese believe they can use for business, military and political purposes. Why do we always seem to be fighting the last war (which we are not winning either) instead of the one we’re in?
Under a worst-case scenario outlined by Theweek.com, the information obtained by hackers could be used to derail trains (although they seem to be derailing just fine all by themselves without outside help), disrupt air traffic control systems, explode chemical plants and gas pipelines and cause large-scale blackouts across the country by compromising electric grids. Who needs missiles when a laptop and the right software can be just as effective? It doesn’t take a spy novelist to come up with a scenario in which a Chinese government agent approaches someone with a top security clearance and threatens to expose a dark secret in his or her past, possibly destroying family and career, unless he or she cooperates and hands over information to Beijing. The Chinese agent would likely have details about medications his target is taking to ward off depression or some other malady, possibly making him more vulnerable to pressure. The former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Rogers, says another possible use of the hacked information could be to shape fake emails crafted to look legitimate while injecting spyware and other viruses on the networks of government agencies or businesses the Chinese wish
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W.C. Simons (1871-1952) Publisher, 1891-1944 Dolph Simons Sr. (1904-1989) Publisher, 1944-1962; Editor, 1950-1979
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to penetrate. The two major political parties aren’t helping. Last week, Democrats blocked a Republican attempt to add a cybersecurity bill to a sweeping defense measure. The vote was 56-40, four short of the required number. Democrats have warned about cyber-spying, but voted against moving forward with legislation because Republicans sought to merge the two bills, which included budget changes Democrats and President Obama oppose. As usual in Washington, playing the blame game is more important to politicians than accomplishing something that promotes the general welfare. If any humor can come from a serious situation, it was in a statement by OPM spokesman Samuel Schumach. When asked to provide more details on the damage caused by the hacking, Schumach said: “For security reasons, we will not discuss specifics of the information that might have been compromised.” What possible “security” reasons could there be when clearly there was insufficient security at OPM? Perhaps reporters should ask this of the Chinese, since they now appear to be in possession of all the pertinent information. — Cal Thomas is a columnist for Tribune Content Agency.
OLD HOME TOWN
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From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for June 16, 1915: years “Commissioner of ago Poor, I. J. Gray, is IN 1915 complaining because he has two insane women at the county farm and has not proper accommodations for their care. “There is no place to send the women,’ said Mr. Gray, ‘and I supposed it is up to me to take care of them as best I can but it does not seem right that the other inmates of the farm should have to be disturbed by the insane who are not proper subjects for the farm.’” — Compiled by Sarah St. John
Read more Old Home Town at LJWorld.com/news/lawrence/ history/old_home_town.
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The Journal-World welcomes letters to the Public Forum. Letters should be 250 words or less, be of public interest and should avoid name-calling and libelous language. The Journal-World reserves the right to edit letters, as long as viewpoints are not altered. By submitting letters, you grant the Journal-World a nonexclusive license to publish, copy and distribute your work, while acknowledging that you are the author of the work. Letters must bear the name, address and telephone number of the writer. Letters may be submitted by mail to Box 888, Lawrence Ks. 66044 or by email to: letters@ljworld.com
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PUBLIC FORUM
Better response To the editor: I was heartened and, I have to say, somewhat shocked to read that the motorist who killed local cyclist and Washburn University professor Glenda Taylor in Crawford County has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in her death. This is in marked contrast to the shrug Cal Melick’s death last year under similar circumstances elicited from Douglas County authorities, a response more typical of what we’re accustomed to. When I told a non-cyclist friend of Cal’s death, he asked me what would be the consequences for the driver. I laughed and told him it was a cyclist, he could have backed up and run over him again and they wouldn’t have done anything. Cyclists’ lives matter too. Thank you, Crawford County. Shame on you, Douglas County. Cal Melick was a friend of mine and he deserved better. Mahlon Strahm, Baldwin City
Not a choice To the editor: In the June 13 edition of the Lawrence Journal-World, Sen. Steve Fitzgerald, R- Leavenworth, was quoted with the brazen and callous remark that, “If you don’t want to pay the tax, don’t buy the item.” I suggest he say that, directly, to the parents who are buying diapers, food and other essential items for their families. It is not a matter of choice whether or not to buy a car seat or formula for an infant, or shoes for a child or yourself, or tires for the family automobile. Of course, it is a choice to subscribe to the local newspaper, or not.
And, to Dolph Simons Jr., I say, instead of fretting over the embarrassment to Kansas and the reputation of the Republican-controlled government, maybe you should give some concern to the people of Kansas, especially Lawrence, who, through their dedication and hard work, make the community something special and give us the right to be proud to be called “Jayhawks.” The educators, health care professionals, engineers, auto mechanics, social workers, police, real estate agents, builders, retail and food service employees and all the other active and retired citizens who keep our city, county and state together and moving are, of necessity, consumers, and they don’t have to live here or, with the Internet and the ability to travel, buy here. Most of all, they can vote to change the laws and the legislators who make them. I hope they make that vital choice. Darleene Stone Overstreet, Lawrence
Voter lesson To the editor: Voters should have learned a lesson, which is the Republican Party is not the same and has not been for about 20 years. This will require holding their noses to vote Democratic, which is a fiscally smart choice. Why? The Brownback administration will wage war against those who appeared not to do as told, which means big dollars will be spent to replace them. Never forget it is the GOP, led by libertarian right wing politicians, that has effectively rendered Kansas bankrupt. Next session, just reinstating the Brownback tax cuts should not require a lot of thinking. It will, however, re-
quire a ton of backbone and truckloads of ethical stamina. Reward middle-class real Republicans and Democrats for the years of pain and suffering extended to them by the Brownback administration and associated sheep. Fully fund public education instead of totally destroying this most effective institution. Then cut state sales tax on the following: school supplies (from kindergarten through college), clothing, shoes, groceries, all health care-related purchases and automobile purchases Reinstate all of the mortgage interest deduction and estimated sales tax refund. All of the above rewards are not too much to ask … considering. Richard Heckler, Lawrence
Enough! To the editor: I just read “A Little Perspective” sent by our state representative, John Wilson. The article is lengthy but very informative as to what is going on with our government in Topeka. He states what the current problem in the Kansas Statehouse is, how we got to this point, what he thinks is the most fair, responsible, and sustainable solution, why we aren’t pursuing that solution and what we the people can do about it. I, for one, think we should vote to have our governor and the people in the Kansas House and Senate be taxed. They are the ones that got us in this mess, and they are getting paid to sit and fight among themselves and expect us to bail them out by taxing us more. Enough, I say, enough! Priscilla Hedges Lawrence