Sinister squeeze on faith-based campuses

I walked into the cafeteria here at Colorado Christian University, pondering what Obama meant last week when he called for higher education for everyone. I then sat down with a colleague from CCU's development office. He asked me what I thought of Obama's plan to limit charitable giving.

Suddenly I started to put two and two together. I am convinced that Obama wants to squeeze schools like CCU out of existence. If he offers tuition-free higher ed, it won't be to schools like ours. Then if he hinders our donor base, it will be a one-two punch to our viability.

Then if he limits freedom of speech with the "Fairness Doctrine".... And socializes medicine... Obama wants to control education, the media, even our healthcare.

Some fear that we are moving inexorably toward a totalitarian regime. Are they overreacting?

William Watson is professor of modern history at Colorado Christian University in Lakewood.

Actions show who really cares in US

Mr. Obama encouraged us to all be part of making America better. I can get behind that because I am a compassionate conservative, and that’s what we do. Liberal-minded Arthur Brooks, in his 2006 book Who Really Cares, documents that conservatives, from sea to shining sea, give more than liberals in volunteer time and charitable contributions. Here is a review of the book.

Mr. Brooks begins by “discussing and dismissing the implicit notion that you are ‘more or less compassionate simply because [you] support taxing wealthy people’ or are ‘dissatisfied with the adequacy of government social programs’.”

He then draws his conclusion from 10 data sets, making four main points:

1 - The four forces in American life primarily responsible for making people charitable are “religion, skepticism about the government in economic life, strong families, and personal entrepreneurism”.

2 - Conservative principles are most congenial to the four forces of charity.

3 - Liberals, who often claim to care more about others than conservatives do, are personally less charitable.

4 - Policies that displace (crowd out) personal charity are harmful to the nation because charity is good for the giver.

The next time someone wants to demonize or criticize a conservative, remember these facts about compassionate conservatism and helping others.

So yes Mr. President, I will support you by continuing to offer my time and resources to help others.