Conservative unfairly misrepresented

The April 16 column titled “What stood out in the debate” between the College Republicans and Democrats completely misrepresented the economic philosophy of the Republican Party.

Personal attacks aside, the author – Nathan Dixon – marginalized our opposition to irrational government spending as mere “sensationalism” and based “not (on) economics.”

We as conservatives strongly disputed the pork-laden $787 billion spending package that Congressional Democrats forced upon the nation earlier this year. We voiced opposition not for “silly” or “useless” reasons, as the editorial claimed, but because we abide by a code of principles that believes in limited government and individual responsibility.

Although this outrageously massive piece of legislation may cause the economy to slightly rebound in the short term, it will drastically reduce our economy’s real gross domestic product – and thus, employment rate – by 2019, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. That is economics, not sensationalism.

The author also ridiculed our alarm at the size of the spending package. As Congressional Democrats and the Obama administration go trillion-crazy, we as responsible citizens must expose inexcusably wasteful government spending.

We as a nation must maintain a rational, prudent mindset – even during these rough economic times – and not allow politicians and the media to persuade us that this crisis justifies massive increases in government expenditures.

I apologize, members of the Democratic Party, but $335 million for HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted diseases and tuberculosis prevention programs, $400 million for climate change research, $800 million for environmental cleanup and a billion dollars for the Bureau of the Census will not stimulate the economy.

Instead, the national debt caused by this legislation will result in a substantial financial burden on our children and grandchildren.

We as concerned young citizens have not only the right but the responsibility to prevent the government from mortgaging our future.

Justin D. Kingsolver
Treasurer, IU College Republicans