Ross Mackenzie: The Three R's – Reaganomics, the Reagan Doctrine, the Reagan Revolution

The Richmond [VA] Times-Dispatch ^ | June 10, 2004 | Ross Mackenzie

[quidnunc]

If you weren't around in 1980, or you were insufficiently sensitized to key world realities, you cannot know how bad things really were — hence the extent to which the nation required, the world required, a catalytic change artist like Ronald Reagan.

Regarding Reagan, this is an hour of self-serving hagiography, of transmogrifying anthropomorphism — and comically by many in the press who spent seemingly their every waking hour ripping him and detesting everything he tried. Reagan was not a saint, not a god in human form. Nor was he the Lucifer of leftist desire. He was merely a man — yet a common man with a vision and uncommon success in accomplishing change.

They already have named buildings and airports after him — and schools and roads and all the standard stuff. They'll certainly name too many more. Some even are agitating to add his face to the nation's money — and on that, why not let his visage replace on the dime that of his presidential predecessor he most admired? Yet relating to three of his most notable achievements, his name already is in the vernacular.

What are they?

Reaganomics

Also known as supply-side economics, it's a doctrine of fundamental free enterprise, a/k/a capitalism. Reaganomics derived perhaps more than anything from Nobel economist Milton Friedman's three-part formula, "Cut taxes. Cut taxes. Cut taxes." Corollaries are: Cut government spending where possible, and cut government regulation as necessary. Let the market work unfettered.

-snip-

[jonno]

Without Ronald Reagan we still might have stagflation, The Wall, the Soviet Union, the Cold War, rampant pessimism described memorably by Jimmy Carter as "malaise," and the federal yoke curving the back in a servile arc. We likely would not have either an ebbing leftist tide or a nearly even split as reflected in the 2000 presidential election. Who can say whether it all will continue, whether the gains will last? But they began when Ronald Reagan saddled up. And he gave us a magnificent ride.

Thanks Mr. President - for the ride...

[Born Conservative]

Reagan replaced the foreign policy of "containment" - postulated in the late 1940s by George Kennan to "contain" Communism where it was - with a forward, even pre-emptive, strategy that would mean Communism's end. It worked. The incumbent administration's policy of pre-emption against Islamofascism is a direct outgrowth.

A lesson that should be heeded by liberals...

[Tolik]

One of the best articles on Reagan's Legacy!

Townhall.com link: http://www.townhall.com/columnists/rossmackenzie/printrm20040610.shtml

 

[Stultis]

Bump for later

[lainde]

bttt

[bigfootbob]

Emotional Bump To The Top!