Obama not dangerous

In response to Chase Cooper’s Wednesday column, “Obama’s most dangerous association”:

Mr. Cooper claims that an Obama administration would pursue a “radical ideology” that robs Americans of their “individual rights” and the fruits of their hard work.

May I ask what is so radical about middle class tax cuts? Or making college financially feasible for more high school graduates? How about guaranteeing every child has access to health insurance?

My educated guess is that most readers of this paper would answer those questions with a “nothing,” “nothing,” and “my God, nothing!” Offering every citizen a decent shot at life if they’re willing to work for it isn’t radical. And it’s not socialist. It’s called the American way.

Lost in your fearful tirade about redistribution of wealth and Big Brother was one (actually many, but I only get 350 words) important fact: the fundamental role of government is to redistribute wealth. Sen. Obama puts it best when he says “Americans don’t want the government to do everything for them, only what they cannot do for themselves.” Maybe you’re so lucky, Mr. Cooper, but I don’t know of many individuals who can afford to field and train their own armies, staff their own regulatory agencies or build their own infrastructure. If we want to keep this country secure, assure that our water and food is safe, and allow our citizens access to roads and utilities, it has to be paid for. Radical? Tell that to the 95 percent of American families that will get a tax cut under Barack Obama.

Mr. Cooper mocks Obama’s supporters as “blindly chanting about hope and change.”

Would you prefer that we continue down the path of the last eight years, pursuing the same economic policies that got us into this mess? Who is the blind one?

Fully vetting, investigating and criticizing a candidate’s record and views before an election is an essential part of our democracy, and every citizen should take part in it.

Next time, Mr. Cooper should do us all a favor: Show a little intellectual curiosity and go beyond GOP talking points in your criticisms of Obama.

Darrin Rosenthal
IU student