4 - Tuesday, February 23, 2010 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 0 C ii tan 4 atilg Edited and managed by students at the University of Michigan since 1890. 420 Maynard St. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 tothedaily@umich.edu JACOB SMILOVITZ EDITOR IN CHIEF RACHEL VAN GILDER EDITORIAL PAGE EDITOR MATT AARONSON MANAGING EDITOR Unsigned editorials reflect the official position of the Daily's editorial board. All other signed articles and illustrations represent solelythe views of their authors. Revamping research 'U' must incorporate student innovation at NCRC A s one of Michigan's three major research universi- ties, the University of Michigan is known for its excel- lence in research. And the new 30-building North Campus Research Complex is the newest addition to the Uni- versity's research efforts. As the University administration has acknowledged, test tubes and pipettes alone can't offer an institu- tion international recognition. Last week, administration officials unveiled their vision for future research at the NCRC, which will focus on combining a variety of fields like medicine, engineering and pharmaceuticals to promote growth and innovation. Univer- sity researchers should work together, but they should also take advantage of the original ideas that students can provide. The percentage of University research that was funded by the federal government in the fiscal year of 2009. - According to University'figures. ANGELA CHIH E-MAIL ANGELA AT AHCHIH@UMICH.EDU V Get rea about the economy Purchased from Pfizer for $108 million last June, the more than 2 million-square- foot NCRC will house administrative staff and a diverse community of researchers. According to a mass e-mail from Execu- tive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Health System CEO Dr. Ora Pescovitz, the NCRC will be the testing ground of a new research model that will emphasize interdisciplinary research. The heart of the new approach will be two technology "anchors." One will focus on biointerfaces and the other on medical imaging. These anchors will be joined at the NCRC by other, smaller interdisciplinary research teams as well as currently separate groups of health service researchers seeking to make health care delivery more efficient and accessible. As recognized by the University, interdis- ciplinary studies are the future of research. Medical innovation, for instance, increas- ingly requires a diverse team of medical professionals and engineers to create tech- nologies specifically designed to address patients' needs. Such cross-discipline coordination uses developments in nano- technology and tissue engineering to com- plement the work done by pharmacists and the treatments being explored by clinicians. This supportive research atmosphere rec- ognizes that the best way to combat modern challenges is to combine knowledge from a variety of backgrounds. The research explored under this model will have important implications for the poor economic condition of the state. A recent study by the Anderson Economic Group showed that the University Research Corridor - a collaboration of Wayne State University, Michigan State University and the University of Michigan - contributed to over $14 billion in economic benefit in Michigan last year alone. Better methods and more space will result in more fund- ing that has an even greater impact on the community and more importantly, the state. Under the University's new research model, this funding will be put to good use. Yet as important as research is, the Uni- versity shouldn't fail to take advantage of the educational opportunities that the NCRC affords. Student involvement in research, from undergraduates to doctoral candidates, is an integral component of an educational experience at the University. And students bring a fresh perspective and innovative suggestions to research proj- ects. This mutually beneficial relationship gives the University an edge in research, and University researchers should tap into students' knowledge and ideas. - The University's vision for research at the NCRC is encouraging - cooperation between researchers will lead to exciting new developments. But to take advantage of all its resources, University researchers must use students' innovative spirit. As a Daily columnist, .I've had to get used to public criticism of my opinions. When I write about gay rights, for instance, I expect at least three angry emails likening gay marriage to polyg- amy. And I'll admit that I'm not always a true expert on the subjects on which I write. But when it comes to the econ- MATTHEW omy, conservatives GREEN have proven that you don't need to be an economist to weigh in on the discussion. And, though what I have to say will surely rouse criticism from some readers, it's time to get real about the economy. The public debt currently stands at just over $12.4 trillion, according to the Bureau of Public Debt. That num- ber takes into account the accumula- tion of the national budget's yearly deficits. Though people often correct- ly cite surpluses under President Bill Clinton, the overall public debt still stood somewhere between $4 and 6 trillion under his administration, as a sum of previous deficits. The debt he left to his successor, President George W. Bush, was $5.727 trillion. Rather than slimming to a more "conservative," budget, the day Presi- dent George W. Bush left the White House, he handed President Barack Obama a debt of nearly $11 trillion. Half of that was inherited, so I'll ignore that. Of the other half, a small fraction surely resulted from the reduced tax revenue and increased governmental precautions during the recession. That may have been unavoidable. But Bush was adamant that slash- ing taxes for the rich would create trickle-down stimulus of the private sector. So he .cut taxes, forcing the government to deal with far less tax revenue, effectively making it poorer. Additionally, we entered into two wars, which took a further toll on the public pocketbook. Now Obama and Congress must deal with all of the above, which will cost a lot of money. In addition, they have to focus on mas- sive unemployment. A basic measure proposed by Democrats and widely supported by economists is the stimulus package. Congress passed one early last year at a price of $787 billion. As a result, 2.4 million American jobs were saved or created in 2009, accordingto the Con- gressional Budget Office. Yet conservatives say that spending $787 billion was irresponsible when the debt was already so large. But they continue to support tax cuts, even when the government is broke. It may be confusing to understand how spending can be a good thing when the country has limited funds. So think of it this way: the country is like a college freshman in desperate need of a student loan. In order to suc- ceed in an increasingly competitive global economy, that student needs an education, but cannot pay for it by himself. If he can't get a loan, he'll have to quit school and work unsatis- fying menial jobs for the restof his life. But if he does get one, once he receives his degree and gets a good paying job, he'll be able to pay off his debt. A stimulus package works just the same way. Once it gets citizens back on their feet, they pay the country back by contributing to the GDP and tax revenue. Though it adds to the current public debt, it is unlike other spending because it paves the way for future government revenue. And that brings me to my last point, which may be the most controversial, though it's probably the least complex. Americans need to start paying more taxes. There. I said it. Policymak- ers and real economists will have to decide whether these taxes are sales, income, value-added or something else. But the bottom line is that tax- payers have been on a holiday that this country can no longer afford. Pay- ing higher taxes doesn't mean that the country is, God, forbid, becoming socialist. It just means that our coun- try is hurting economically and it's our civic duty to help out. To balance debt, Americans need to paymore taxes. So, to recap, we need more stimulus and more taxes to get us out of the eco- nomic mess we're in - which, it turns out, was not Obama's fault. Yeah, I'm trying to simplify things. And indeed, I am unquestionably to the left - to a fault, some will say. But ina sea of talk- ing points and complex analyses, not to mention populist conventions and con- servative talk radio, the above points are necessary to outline, even if I only scratch the surface in this column. But instead of barraging me with attacks that I'm a just a dimwitted liberal, if you're critical of what I've said, I urge you to write a viewpoint and submit it to the opinion page. Bring it on. - Matthew Green can be reached at greenmat@umich.edu. EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS: Nina Amilineni, Jordan Birnholtz, William Butler, Nicholas Clift, Michelle DeWitt, Brian Flaherty, Jeremy Levy, Erika Mayer, Edward McPhee, Emily Orley, Harsha Panduranga, Alex Schiff, Asa Smith, Brittany Smith, Robert Soave, Radhika Upadhyaya, Laura Veith Political dynasties SEND LETTERS TO: TOTHEDAILY@UMICH.EDU Mledical Amnesty Actsaves out or injured person) does not become a health tragedy. This bill is a matter of life and death lives by reducing legal risk because, if not passed, it may not be reconsid- ered until someone actually dies. TO THE DAILY: In his recent letter to the editor, Stephen DeMare bases his opinion of the Medical Amnes- ty Act on an ideal world that doesn't account for the realities that exist on college campuses throughout the United States and particularly at the University (Medical Amnesty Act makes irresponsibility acceptable, 02/17/2010). People at this University consume alcohol in a safe man- ner every night. Sometimes people do consume too much, which is a risk we must prevent from increasing. As a member of the Greek system, I know that's one of the benefits of the sober moni- tor system. It recognizes that people consume alcohol at parties and tries toput the best meth- ods in place to minimize alcohol-related risks. As an EMT, I have seen first-hand why the Medical Amnesty Act makes sense. Numerous people I know have called me to tell me that a friend passed out from drinking too much and want to know if this friend needs to go to a hospital. Sometimes my answer is that I've consumed alcohol myself, so I can't legally give that advice. This is incredibly difficult because many of these intoxicated friends then have two choices: do nothing and risk injury to the passed out third-party friend or call for an ambulance and risk an MIP. This may sound like an easy choice, except for the fact that intoxicated persons do not think logically. That's why under state law an intoxicated person cannot legally consent or object to many things. Now consider if I'm sober and go to see this passed out third-party. If I say this person needs to go to a hospital, is my intoxicated friend going to call an ambu- lance or a taxi? When someone's pulse is 50 and dropping the answer is obvious - but not to an intoxicated person. Consider a third option, though. Some peo- ple may choose to illegally drive intoxicated to bring their passed out friend to the hospital, the worst of these three choices. The Medical Amnesty Act providesprotection to minors who bring a friend to the hospital to ensure that someone who has a health risk (a passed Andrew Rabenstein LSA Senior Fall '10 theme semester info will be available online soon TO THE DAILY: We were glad to see a front page story on the LSA Theme Semester (LSA theme year focuses on Museums, 02/04/2010). A number of students interviewed for the story indicated that they were unaware of the current Theme Semester on "Meaningful Objects: Museums in the Academy." As the organizers of next fall's Theme Semester, we would like to take the opportu- nity provided by your coverage to let readers know that the Theme Semester for Fall 2010 will focus on "What Makes Life Worth Liv- ing?" Among the theme-related events taking place next fall will be the celebration of the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy's speech on the steps of the Michigan Union about what would later become the Peace Corps, a talk by noted author and early Peace Corps volunteer Paul Theroux, the Tanner Lecture on Human Values given by Martin Seligman, the leading figure in the field of positive psychology, and a talk and workshop led by Alissa Wilson, one of the authors of "Practical Idealists: Changing the World and Getting Paid." A website with an events calendar, a list of theme-related courses and details about other activities that willibe part of the Theme Semes- ter will be online in early March. Anyone interested in learning more about the Fall 2010 Theme Semester is invited to contact us at whatmakeslifeworthliving@ umich.edu. We will also have a table at the LSA Concentration/Cool Opportunities Fair in the Michigan Union on March 17." John Chamberlin and Christopher Peterson Faculty Last weekend, Democratic U.S. Rep. John Dingell announced his intention to run for a 28th term in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the longest serving House member, Dingell assumed office of Michigan's 15th Congressional district, which now includes Ann H Arbor, in 1955. That's the same KOSLOWSKI year my parents were born. Din- gell replaced his father, John Dingell Sr., who took office in 1933, two years after my grandma was born. The 77-year Dingell family reign in southeast Michigan politics dem- onstrates something terribly wrong in the way we elect our Congres- sional leaders. Elected officials in the legislative branch are allowed to turn their stints in office into lifelong careers. Political tenures that span decades are one of the unhealthiest influences in American politics. The corruption, malaise and unfairness they cause must be stopped through the implementation of Congressional term limits. A February Gallup poll measured Congressional job approval at 18 percent, a near record low. It's been more than five years since Congress's approval rating topped 50 percent. Clearly, most Americans are fed up with the body of government meant to represent them. Rather than work- ing together for the good of their con- stituents, it's obvious to me that many of our representatives are more con- cerned about being reelected - but who would blame them? With only two-year terms, the U.S. House offers very little job security unless repre- sentatives are constantly planning for the next election. The House was structured to give regular Americans the loudest voice possible in Washington. It was sup- posed to be a place where the "little guy" could win office and ensure that his or her district was properly rep- resented. Well, if you wish the "little guy" had less of a disadvantage in winning a House seat, you should be in favor of term limits. It's no secret that incumbents have obvious financial advantages in elec- tions. Representatives enjoy salaries of at least $174,000 a year. Each rep- resentative has access to a federally funded mail budget, often utilized to send their constituents friendly reminders of the politician's accom- plishments in Washington. For many representatives, it can top six figures a year. Even in the sleepiest of dis- tricts, it takes a huge chunk of change to even consider a bid for Congres- sional office. With their ex officio benefits, many incumbents have an advantage over their challengers. If we capped representative tenure at 10 years or fewer, we would ensure a constant stream of new ideas into Washington. Fresh voices would help Congress's decisions more closely reflect the will of the people. The potential for corruption would decrease because representatives would have less time - and hopefully less of a reason - to dabble in special interest groups. Congresspersons would have less incentive to make careers from their elections and instead have increased motivation to make their mark on Washington in the time they have. Right now, the Congressional sys- tem rewards career politicians. Only those with several terms of expe- rience can become party leaders, Speaker of the House or leaders of committees. I'll admit, I think some experience is a good thing. I wouldn't want the Speaker, who is third in line to the Presidency, to be a first term representative. But, I think the amount of experience gained drops off significantly after only a few years. Does Dingell's 32 years of addi- tional experience really make him a better or more effective representa- tive than House Speaker Nancy Pelo- si (D-Calif.)? I don't think so. Dingells' longevity in Congress needs to come to an end. 0 Term limits would diversify House leaders, so newcomers would have more of a chance to assume impor- tant roles. Rather than the same old guard holding the positions of power year after year, newly elected repre- sentatives would have more influ- ence. Today, some small states with fewer representatives rely on long- serving officials to amplify their voic- es in Congress. The establishment of term limits wouldn't hurt these states because many leadership posi- tions would have to be filled by more recently elected representatives. Speaking to University Demo- crats last Saturday, Dingell chastised Wall Street for engaging in "greedy behavior that sent our nation into an economic tailspin." In the wan- ing months of his latest term, Dingell should take a serious look at his own greed. Instead of seeking reelection, Dingell should focus on enacting Congressional term limits. After 55 years, isn't it time someone else had a shot? - Chris Koslowski can be reached at cskoslow@umich.edu. 0 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Readers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor. Letters should be fewer than 300 words and must include the writer's full name and University affiliation. All submissions become property of the Daily. We do not print anonymous letters. Send letters to tothedaily@umich.edu.