HERALD EDITORIAL: Herald staff endorses WMU faculty member Don Cooney for Congress

The Western Herald is endorsing Don Cooney for the U.S. House of Representatives in Michigan’s 6th District because he will enact the most beneficial change for college students and our community alike.

Cooney is no stranger to the political forefront as he has been involved in social justice issues for decades. Originally from Philadelphia, Cooney has spent his time focusing on inner city struggles, ending poverty, promoting education and fighting for social equality. No other candidate knows more of the importance of education than Cooney, who’s been a  professor in the social work department at Western Michigan
University for over 31 years. He’s also currently serving his sixth term as a Kalamazoo City Commissioner.

Cooney is a strong believer in the future of renewable energy and wants to invest more into that sector. He is a proponent of wind turbines and solar panels that can be created now, right here in Michigan, as opposed to the more time consuming and location specific processes of offshore drilling and building nuclear power plants.

His main opponent, Fred Upton-R, is also a supporter of alternative energies, but plans to invest time and money in nuclear power plants and transporting oil from Alberta, Canada. He claims nuclear recycling is the key to making it a safe process, but the  leftover waste would still need to be deposited in the only approved site located at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

Cooney plans to enact a shift toward alternative energies in Michigan’s economy through cutting government spending.

He supports ending the war in Iraq along with cutting tax breaks given to the wealthiest in America. With that money, Cooney hopes to reinvest in the broken automotive industry, make healthcare affordable for all and provide adequate housing and education for the city’s youth.

Upton has represented the 6th District for the past 21 years after serving for President Ronald Reagan in the Office of Management and Budget. He, like Cooney, wants to curb government spending, but not through removing tax cuts from the wealthy, instead by mandating tax cuts for the middle-class.

He has also been a supporter of the war in Iraq, voting to increase spending and not deploy our troops from Iraq. In July 2007, Upton voted against a bill that required a timetable for deployment in Iraq but would’ve also sent relief aid to Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims, increased funds for Medicare and Medicaid and cut small business taxes. Upton has also been a strong public supporter of ending earmarks, yet advocates their use when it’s in his best interest, as with the construction on I-94.

Cooney has given specific examples on how he would benefit WMU. He plans to create a university center in downtown Kalamazoo that would give students field experience with community members. Students of social work, nursing, journalism and engineering could all get hands-on training and invest quality care in their own community.

Cooney has proven himself as a dedicated citizen and political figure in our area and has earned the chance to make a greater impact at the state level.

He will promote programs to ensure we all will graduate in a climate of economic hopefulness, with well-paying jobs and a healthy environment for future generations.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=1583

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Oct 23 2008. Filed under Editorial, Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com