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How long before Republicans start asking for funds to have Ronald Reagan’s face carved out of granite alongside Lincoln’s on Mount Rushmore? Conservative politicians appear unable to give a speech these days without mentioning the holy trinity of divine truth and wisdom: Reagan, God and the Founding Fathers.
A piece in yesterday’s Washington Post (Five myths about Ronald Reagan’s legacy) should be required reading for all conservatives.
…much of what today’s voters think they know about the 40th president is more myth than reality, misconceptions resulting from the passage of time or from calculated attempts to rebuild or remake Reagan’s legacy.
So what might some of those myths be?
1. Reagan was one of our most popular presidents.
His average approval rating during his eight years? 52.8 percent – lower than Lyndon Johnson, H. W. Bush and Clinton.
2. Reagan was a tax-cutter.
He raised taxes in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987. Who got screwed? You guessed it – the middle class who “paid a higher percentage of their income in taxes when Reagan left office than when he came in.”
3. Reagan was a hawk.
He bombed Libya in 1986. Before that? Nothing. After that? Nothing.
4. Reagan shrank the federal government.
Under Reagan…
a) Spending grew by an average of 2.5 percent a year.
b) National debt when Reagan took office: $700 billion. National debt when Reagan left office: $3 trillion.
c) Number of federal employees when Reagan took office: 2.8 million. Number of federal employees when Reagan left office: 3 million.
Ronald Reagan has to be the most over-rated president in American history. The man was a conservative with charisma, charm and a Hollywood background who would be unable to get the backing of today’s Tea Party. Reagan was weak on immigration, he tripled the national debt, raised taxes and grew government – not quite your teabagger’s cup of tea.
As for what the Reagan years represented, Bill Clinton had it figured out in 1991.
“The Reagan-Bush years have exalted private gain over public obligation, special interests over the common good, wealth and fame over work and family. The 1980s ushered in a Gilded Age of greed and selfishness, of irresponsibility and excess, and of neglect.”
In the words of the Great One, tear down those myths!
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Late last week, a caller to Rush Limbaugh show said Obama was an anchor toward US progress.
I said this on Twitter… ¿Top 1-2%/Pundits(TalkingHeads) served in military? ¿% of officers? ¿Enlisted? When “we” talk of “our interest”, where is that “interest”?
but, but, but…he ended communism! All the rest is just Media Matters propaganda. Just ask Rush Limbaugh.
The stupid Dems will add their adulation to the BS of the Repugs for their “Saint Reagan”When will the WIMP Dems stand up and denounce this BS for what it is and maybe-just maybe it would slow the glorification of this movement to canonize this man who traded arms to our enemies to win an election,hurt the middle class by hurting the Unions,who by the way help’t the mid class.He was a dupe of the wealthy that is why the GOP loves him.I haven’t been this depressed since the Supreme Court stole the election for the Bush Co.Cabal
He sounds like a liberal’s dream. What’s your beef with him Mario? Didn’t he grow government large enough?
If you read the post, you’ll find that it was in reference to conservatives granting sainthood to Reagan and holding him out to be the greatest Republican since Lincoln. He was anything but a great conservative and he certainly was anything but a great president. Tripling the debt, Iran Contra, deregulation, failed economic policies just begin to touch upon his presidency.
Reagan was a leader who gave me confidence, unlike Carter who left me feeling guilty for what I’d done to the planet. He told me I could succed if I tried.
That sense of confidence, which he instilled in the entrepreneurs of this country, is what is revered by those who appreciate the virtues of hard work and personal responsibility. If you don’t get that, maybe you revere something else.
ergo, one of our (i.e., Republicans’/conservatives’) most popular presidents.
similarly, Republicans don’t care if you raise taxes on the middle-class. when they say ‘cut taxes’ they mean on businesses and the wealthy.
as for his hawkishness, he did also invade Grenada.
@Tommy Pane – what you’re saying is that Reagan, unlike Carter, freed you of any sense of responsibility, to your fellow Man, your Home, etc., that there’s no problem with shitting where you eat/sleep. St. Ronnie absolved you of your sins without any troublesome ‘mea culpas,’ contradicting your claims of how Cater made you feel guilty, but Reagan embodied personal responsibility. if you don’t get that, you’re – not surprisingly – confused, disassociating, and/or engaged in doublethink.
Responsility is inner, not outer. I’m responsible for me, which means my neighbors don’t have to be. When I shit, I pick it up and dispose of it properly. If everyone did that, our interactions with each other would be one of fun, instead of burden.
I just love they way liberals make the term “personal responsibility” something to be vilified.
I have no idea why anyone would admire this man. He left the nation in shambles. He couldn’t even remember what he had for lunch on any given day. I will say one more thing, Oliver North……now tell me he wasn’t one of the worst US Presidents EVER.
Eisenhower-too liberal.
Nixon-Watergate
Ford-Nixon pardoning
H.W.Bush-lost to Clinton, read my lips, father of W.
W. Bush-WMD
That pretty much leaves Reagan. Just clean him up and prop him up and there you go. Plus he’s not alive to tell some of those who use his name in vain what he would really think of them.
Sarah-ignorant
Bachmann-lunatic
Gingrich-hypocrite
Hukabee-wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Just to name a few.
Tommy, Tommy, Tommy… Where are the J-O-B-S??
“That sense of confidence, which he instilled in the entrepreneurs of this country, is what is revered by those who appreciate the virtues of hard work and personal responsibility. If you don’t get that, maybe you revere something else.”
Show me the patriotism of the children, grandchilderen, great-granchildren, etc of the entrepreneurs you revere?
BTW Tommy…
Talk to me about your military service.
“BTW Tommy…
Talk to me about your military service.”
I didn’t serve in the military for medical reasons. Why John?
Peace Corp?
Any kind of public service?
And how many generations since YOUR “entrepreneurs you revere“?
So my financial support of employees and outside vendors doesn’t count as public service?
The fact that I pay high taxes because of a high income doesn’t count as public service?
And lets see, not asking for a handout from government. That doesn’t count as public service?
Guys like you are one-trick-ponies John. If something isn’t attached to the government, in your mind it doesn’t count as public service.
To me, supporting myself without burdening anyone else is a public service.
So your “public service” is pretty much limited to clipping coupons on US treasuries and Municipal Bonds.
Have you ever done what 98-99% of America considers manual labor? Ever??
Have you ever read the writings of Thomas Paine? Or are you a King George conservative?
What’s your point John? That people who create wealth by virtue of their intellect are lesser Americans? I wonder how much manual labor Bill Gates has done in the last 30 years. Or Warren Buffett. Or for that matter Obama.
Just to set the record straight, I was raised doing farm work by a father who did construction. I’ve built my company from scratch, as a new idea, now with many competitors. I literally built the company, from the shelves to the software.
Just this morning, I helped to crate an 892lb sculpture on behalf of a client. The $2281.00 packing and shipping bill that I paid, will help to support the crate company and their suppliers, and the shipping company and their suppliers. The company receiving the piece will be paid $2000 to refinish the piece. That money will go to support several employees and their families. All that, before I’ve made a dime.
What have you done lately besides carp about how little money I’ve given to support your public service habit?
Would you rather argue commonalities instead of differences?
Differences: You’ve had success in business. It took me twenty+ years to graduate college; now nineteen+ years w/o a drink. Two failed marriages, three stepchildren-now 38, 37, 33 (use my last name but no longer call me/second marriage a joke). Computer programmer from ’94-’05 (continuously during Clinton years/sporadically during Bush). Stoke in late ’05 but paid full SSA from ’70-’02; yada, yada, yada…
My question still… Is the Tea Party of 1775 comparable to The Tea Party of 2009-2010 or is a Moneyed Oligarchy co-opting the latter?
I don’t think a “Moneyed Oligarchy” can exist without the support of government. All of the Tea Party people that I know personally, want fewer government regulations, which is directly opposed to what big corporations want. Despite what you may have been told, big corp supports big government because big government makes it harder for small companies to compete with big companies. Because of that, it doesn’t benefit big corp to support the Tea Party.
Now, there are rich people supporting the Tea Party. I don’t find that nefarious. They would benefit from smaller government because it would make it easier for them to compete.
“I don’t think a ‘Moneyed Oligarchy’ can exist without the support of ‘a bad’ government.” I favor a government (“necessary evil”-Thomas Paine) that sets out a few, fair rules and gets out of the way of competition, from whatever quarter, big or small.
I’ve concluded government; corporations (big), companies (small) are artificial entities—neither good nor bad. They ARE. And are run by people; who can be good… Or bad.
If a “masses” of a “We the People” don’t work together for A common good; the few, having concentrated money ($$$ >> power), can do what they want. Have you heard of the concept of “divide and conquer”? I believe that’s what “Fair and Balanced” is working toward.
I agree that governments and companies are run by individuals, and individuals can have nefarious intentions.
Government has a monopoly on force, which means they can influence my life in ways that I may not like. For that reason, I want as little power as possible given to government. Companies don’t have that power. In a true free market, I can choose which companies I do business with.
I’m not sure “Government” has a monopoly on “force”. The Mexican drug cartels can be quite “forceful”; to the point where NO ONE is willing to be a Police Chief, or for the matter a lowly patrolman.
And where do the cartels get their “force”? Could it be Individuals (controlling corporations) using the last clause of the 2nd Amendment (conveniently “forgetting” the first clause) and using another “force (addiction)” to control the most unfortunate.
Did you ever see Rollerball (1975 film): James Caan, John Houseman. There’s no government; just corporations (controlled by PEOPLE). How do you feel about anarchy?
@Tommy:And you can choose what health insurance companies you can do business with if you have a pre-existing condition?
John, the Mexican situation is an example of what happens when the government doesn’t protect people from force or fraud.
On the other side of the same coin, our government over-extends the concept of protecting people from force or fraud by passing laws outlawing harmless products that people want. The result is a marriage made in heaven. You have profitable drug cartels and 100′s of thousands of American citizens employed in The War on Drugs as cops, defense lawyers, prison guards, or counselors. The only people who don’t want The War on Drugs to end are the cartels and the police unions.
Another good example for you esd2000, is how the government doesn’t let its citizens buy health insurance across state lines. They do it under the umbrella of being “for the common good”. They just want to protect us from force or fraud. The consequence? High insurance premiums due to lack of competition. Again, if you follow the money, the benefituaries are the insurance companies and the politicians who are financed by their donations. If the government would drop this miss-guided law, all of our rates would drop. Competition is a good thing.
@Tommy: I would have to see “buying across State lines” implemented and see it work before I buy into that “Republican talking point”. I agree competition is a good thing. I’m just not convinced that would be the cure-all. If that would drive prices down, then by how much? Would those of low income be able to afford it?, which is the whole point. Would insurance companies move to states with the lesser regulations? Are there anyStates where pre-existing conditions aren’t an issue? I’ve heard “buy across State line”, “tort reform” but nothing more specific than that. The longer we experiment with ideas the longer people go without proper health-care because of affordability or availability. I wish there was an easy answer. I’m not exactly in love with the current “affordable care act”. I don’t think it does enough and not quick enough. I’ll embrace yours or anyone elses ideas if they actually help those in need. I’m very thankful I have pretty decent insurance. I just feel bad for those who don’t, especially when there’s children involved. I’m not ready to turn my back on them, even if it hits my pocketbook. I have to look at myself in the mirror and not hate what I see, if you know what I mean.
Tommy, esd2000:
I must leave this conversation but I also must thank you, Tommy, for me in re-developing an interest how our Democratic-Republican government came to be. I also find it interesting how my perception of the gulf, or perhaps ocean of difference between you and your forefather, Thomas “Tom” Paine (February 9, 1737 [O.S. January 29, 1736 – June 8, 1809).
I’m looking forward learning the similarities and differences between you and me in 2011 and “Tom” and King George in 1776.
So long… for now.
It’s already been proposed, along with putting him on the $10.00 bill., or the $50.00 bill or the dime. You can even buy a print at http://reaganrushmore.com/.
I think Reagan has also been put on toilet paper.
simply the greatest president in my 52 years on eath. Period!