To: Reagan Man
At the heart of Reagan was a principled conservative Republican whose pragmatism was part of his traditional values and beliefs. Reagan was strong on defense, big on tax cuts&tax reform, he supported limited government and he was a pro-lifer to his core. Reagan respected the rights of the unborn.
That sounds like you're describing John F. Kennedy, to me. And for good reason. Kennedy was the last president to enact a tax cut prior to Reagan. He was also everything else you listed. And he was even considered a "liberal" at that time.
In fact, prior to Ronald Reagan, "traditional conservatives" were all students of Keynesian economics.
Ronald Reagan broke the mold. He fashioned a new kind of conservative movement, centered on the neo-liberal economics of Milton Friedman. He was considered a radical by the old guard of the "traditional conservative" Republicans. He was dismissed as not a serious contender by the Nixon-Ford party establishment.
279 posted on
06/19/2004 11:21:04 PM PDT by
counterpunch
(The CouNTeRPuNcH Collection - www.freepgs.com/counterpunch)
To: counterpunch
In JFK's day he was strong on defense and believed in the use of tax cuts to stimulate economic growth. But even in the early 1960`s, Democrat's weren't supportive of limited government. I don't know JFK's position on abortion, but knowing his active sex life, I would venture a guess he was involved in some forced abortions on his "girlfriends" through the years. On many social issues, JFK was a died in the wool liberal. He was supportive of FDR's New Deal and Truman's Fair Deal, which included a National Heathcare program for all Americans. Truman was ahead of his time. I'm glad that program was DOA.
Yes, Keynesian economics. "Economic theories of John Maynard Keynes who advocated government monetary and fiscal programs intended to stimulate business activity and increase employment."
Milton Friedman was one of Reagan's many economic advisors. He was a fiscal conservative, but called himself a political libertarian. Reagan supported supply-side economics. Reductions in income tax rates to stimulate earnings, savings, and investment. That would expand economic activity and incraese the total taxable income.
283 posted on
06/20/2004 12:11:49 AM PDT by
Reagan Man
(THE CHOICE IS CLEAR..........RE-ELECT BUSH-CHENEY)
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