Remember the term Reagan Democrat? That’s what my family was. My father was a die hard Roosevelt Democrats, who preach the old mantra Republicans are for the rich and Democrats are for the poor, With only Nixon and Ford to be examples of Republican presidents for me, I had no reason to doubt him. A vote was never cast for a Republican in our home, and a kind word was never said about one.
Reagan changed all of that. After a decade of malaise in our country, the misery index, sky high recession, gas rationing, the energy crises (that included a year we were not even aloud to Christmas lights), 444 days of Americans held hostage, and Libya bullying us around, we were ready for change, even it was for a Republican. It was not long before we knew we made the right choice. The hostages were released, the energy crises was over, the economy grew in leaps and bounds, the despot dictator in Libya was taught a powerful lesson, that the U.S. would not be bullied again, and the long gas lines was just a bad 1970’s memory like disco and bell bottoms.
I have voted republican ever since, but even more important, my Dad switched parties, which I thought would never happen. Reagan opened his eyes. Reagan had that kind of influence on people. My dad loved Reagan until the day he passed away last March.
I will miss them both.
"Remember the term Reagan Democrat? That’s what my family was."
My mom was. Remember "The Bear" commercial? It really made things clear for her. She also listened to Reagan talk on the radio when he was governor. But she was also one of Nader's Raiders and a moderate environmentalist.
"My father was a die hard Roosevelt Democrats, who preach the old mantra Republicans are for the rich and Democrats are for the poor..."
'The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.' That was said so many times when I was a kid, I became a third generation democrat, who also feared for our 'fragile planet' to the point of wanting to curb population growth with early term abortion. I literally hugged trees. Now I saw trees up, and happily so. Heck, they're new-growth trees anyway.
Your comparison of Carter years compared to Reagan years paints quite a picture.
"I have voted republican ever since..."
I fired a shot across the GOP bow over "Read my lips, no new taxes." In the long run, I wonder if we would have had tax cuts today if it hadn't been for Perot?
"... but even more important, my Dad switched parties, which I thought would never happen..."
My dad has family ties to Marty Staufer [sic?] and he stays very much on the left, even though he doesn't philosophically agree with his party.
"My dad loved Reagan until the day he passed away last March. I will miss them both."
Every time you post on this forum, you are one with them both. There's a little Reagan in everyone who posts here. Reagan lives on, right here. What I tell people sometimes is, the best thing to do when you miss someone is BE what you miss, if you have the ability. Be like your father, in the ways you miss, if you can. Sad FReegards....