Opinion

GUEST COLUMN, Paul Michael

Founding a successful startup has never been easy, but a little-known U.S. Supreme Court ruling has made it even more difficult in recent years by enabling corporations that use startups' patented technology without permission to get off nearly scot-free.

Now, Congress has a chance to set things right. On Feb. 25, Sens. Chris Coons, D-Del., and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., reintroduced the Realizing Engineering, Science, and Technology Opportunities by Restoring Exclusive, or RESTORE, Patent Rights Act, a bipartisan bill that would enable startups and other patent holders to block infringers from unlawfully exploiting their patented technology.

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

The dream of America cannot be won on foreign shores. We are required to face all foes, both foreign and domestic.

Abraham Lincoln said it would be impossible for a foreign invader to ever invade or overtake America. He said, “Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant to step the ocean and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia, and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest, with a Bonaparte for a commander, could not by force take a drink from the Ohio or make a track on the Blue Ridge in a trial of a thousand years. At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer. If it ever reach us it must spring up amongst us; it cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen we must live through all time or die by suicide.”

GUEST COLUMN, J. Basil Dannebohm

Shortly after the Trump regime’s illegal military occupation of Los Angeles, Governor Gavin Newsom began relentlessly trolling the 47th President, mocking his serially absurd social media posts.

The MAGA community came predictably unhinged.

Fox News personality Dana Perino said Newsom “has to stop it with the Twitter thing. I don’t know where his wife is. If I were his wife, I would say you are making a fool of yourself, stop it.”

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Many of us chose the rural lifestyle to avoid the hustle and bustle of those who prefer the big city. There are times, however, when we appreciate the additional shopping, dining and entertainment options of places like Wichita, Kansas City, or even Orlando.

The 8 million who have chosen to live in New York City may love it and the massive fees that come along with it, but we have chosen Southwest Kansas.

And even here in Seward County, some have chosen to live outside of the cities of Kismet or Liberal. They wanted a more rural life with their next door neighbor being a mile or so away.