Every American, Republican, Democrat or independent, should be appalled and concerned about the Russian hacking of Democratic Party computers, whatever the purpose.
Most likely the Russians were trying to affect the outcome of America's Nov. 8 presidential election. An intelligence report made public on Friday says that is the case, the Russians wanted to help Donald Trump win the election.
If so, they failed in that effort. Oh, Trump did win, but not because of Russian "help." By all accounts, the election was fair and the results clear. In less than two weeks, the winner of that election, Donald J. Trump, will be sworn in as our 45th president.
But what if the Russians had been trying to help Hillary Clinton? Would the foreign interference have been any less troubling? Absolutely not.
One of the hallmarks of our democracy is the right and the ability to elect those who would lead us in fair and free elections. Those elections, obviously, aren't without drama and tension, but there is little evidence of wholesale tampering with the outcome. Despite continuing protests by anti-Trump Americans, Trump won fair and square. He didn't need the help of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Friday's report indicates the Russians have been hacking into America's political assets for some time, without our knowledge. If they can do that, what else are they hacking? Are any secrets safe?
How many Americans have been the victims of hacks into banks and stores with which they do business? Are those hacks meant to prove that the hackers can do so, or are they meant to cause harm to our personal information? Either way, it is troubling.
Many medical organizations have our personal health information available online. Our doctors can review it and we can access it by providing an appropriate user name and password. The system seems safe, but is it really? Can bad actors learn all of our medical information?
And is it just the Russians we have to worry about. Are other unfriendly -- or friendly? -- nations hacking into our political and governmental accounts? Are we hacking into their's?
The question becomes whether there is any way to keep governments and people from hacking into our internet accounts. The internet and the worldwide web are marvelous tools of modern life, but we must find a way to keep our information safe, at whatever level.
Another concern of this whole matter is President-elect Trump's oft-broadcast refusal to accept the information provided by America's numerous intelligence agencies showing that Russia, indeed, was behind the Democratic Party hacks. It is certainly understandable to be skeptical about intelligence agency conclusions, but to do so publicly and so often causes many of us to doubt those who work so hard day-in and day-out to keep us safe. Americans must have trust in our intelligence services to do their job well and completely. Without that trust, we'd be afraid to leave our homes every day.
As president, Trump must learn that people, not only in America but around the world, listen to what he says and Tweets. He must learn to moderate his speech and actions, to think long and hard before speaking or Tweeting.
After being briefed Friday morning, Trump said the meeting with intelligence officials was "constructive," but he stopped short of agreeing with their conclusion. He did pledge that his administration will develop a plan within its first 90 days to "aggressively combat and stop cyber attacks." That is encouraging and we urge him to follow through on that pledge.
We need to continue to investigate the Russian hacks to learn how they were done and what we can do to prevent them in the future. No matter who was or who might be hacked.
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