Conservatives’ latest attempt to delegitimize President Barack Obama: Those who voted for him did so only because they are “takers” who want free “stuff.”

These so-called “takers” make up an inordinate number of those whose service to this country is invaluable, but their jobs are undervalued. Examples: military, police, firefighters, teachers.

Imagine if our economy collapsed. What positions/jobs could we do without? Investment banker or plumber? Hedge fund manager or mechanic? These “takers” work longer hours for less pay and are more productive each year. I could go on, but hopefully we can agree that these “takers” are essential not only to our everyday lives, but critical to our very survival, so dismissing them for political advantage/class warfare needs to be reassessed, immediately. These “takers” practice what Obama calls economic patriotism; 100 percent of their wealth is kept in America.

Who are the so-called “makers”? Those whose wants/needs are virtually always met because of their undue influence from campaign contributions.

These true takers — business leaders — never seem to be satisfied. The 18 tax cuts Obama promoted in his first three years — these takers want even more. Additionally, Obama gave them tax incentives to hire Americans.

These business owners have enough political/economic clout to hold entire communities/states/country hostage for even more “stuff”: reduction of property taxes, building of access roads, forgivable loans, etc. They then send much of their newly acquired wealth to overseas accounts, but worse, in order to profit even more, they send American jobs overseas!

Thomas Sass

Iowa City