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What did Reagan ever do for America?
http://www.objectiveamerican.com/ ^ | Sunday, June 2, 2002 | E.G. Ross

Posted on 06/02/2002 9:37:09 AM PDT by freeforall

I was born in 1981, so I was too young to understand politics when Reagan was in office. My parents (stubborn Democrats) refuse to say anything positive about him. So what did Reagan really contribute to this country? —Born (Almost) Yesterday

If you want to know in detail what Reagan contributed, there are biographies out on the man. But here's a brief list of what I think he achieved: (1) by rebuilding US defense, speaking against the evils of communism, and calling for the Berlin Wall to come down, he helped end the worst of the long Cold War with Russia; (2) by cutting taxes and regulation, he helped rejuvenate the US economy; (3) by showing an understanding of the power of freedom and optimism, he helped restore American confidence and patriotism; (4) by helping fund pro-liberty revolutions around the world, he helped turn many countries away from tyranny and toward the US worldview; (5) by conducting himself with great professionalism in office, he returned dignity to, and respect for, the institution of the presidency; (6) by speaking out for individual rights at the UN and other forums, he reminded the US and the world of the core nature of America; (7) by rebuilding friendships with other pro-freedom nations, he strengthened America's system of alliances, which made us safer; (8) by working for expansion of trade worldwide, he helped enrich the entire planet and the US in particular.

There were other things Reagan did. These were the positives that stood out. They far outweighed any negatives. He helped turn a faltering, dispirited nation into a vibrant, strong, and courageous one. He was a great man. I'm only sorry to say that I—a much gloomier and more myopic person at the time—did not fully appreciate him while he was in office. Incidentally, if you want a true sense of the man's character and values, I recommend the book, In His Own Hand. It is a collection of Reagan's many radio addresses. They capture the essence of his mind.


TOPICS: Philosophy; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: reagan
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Comments?
1 posted on 06/02/2002 9:37:09 AM PDT by freeforall
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To: freeforall
Reaganomics created the boom of the 90's ... not Klintoon
2 posted on 06/02/2002 9:39:39 AM PDT by Maedhros
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To: freeforall
Apart from winning the Cold War (I know most liberals think he didn't), his most remarkable achievement was in turning around the disastrous economy which started under Richard "Wage-and-Price-Controls" Nixon, and got even worse under Jimmy "Malaise" Carter.

Under Carter, the prime interest rate was 21%, and inflation was in double digits. To live in an economy like that was pretty scary. Carter was completely unable to do anything to solve the problem, except to lecture Americans about the need to get out of their "malaise."

Reagan came in, implemented tax cuts, threw out price controls on energy, and after a brief recession which was the inevitable result of coming out of Carter's disastrous economy, started an economic boom that pretty much went through the Clinton years.

Reagan made free market economics respectable after decades of Keynesian idiocy.

3 posted on 06/02/2002 9:43:52 AM PDT by Maceman
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To: freeforall
I'm communicating from my "backup browser"-- a 66 mhtz. 486 with a sticking keyboard & gritty trackball- so excuse the weird typos, they are hard to go back to & correct.


Jimmy Carter was my Governor before he convinced America that she needed a "reformer," and won office. I was running small businesses at the time, and by the time the 1980 elections rolled around, I was convinced that he was a disaster.

Just a few things wrong?

1- the fall of the Shah of Iran
2- Cubans in Angola
3- interest rates topping 21%
4- the Soviets ( remember them? ) rattling sabres around Europe
5- unrest in Central America
6- stagflation ( look it up, it's ugly! )
6- the Death of Elvis ( just kidding! )

Actually, there's a lot more, but this old PC is the devil to type on- anyway, almost anyone would have been better than Jimmy C., but luckily, Reagan came along. Let's just say I thought he was our best hope for reversing some of the rot & "malaise" that was infesting the country, and we moved heaven & earth to get him elected. They were good days.

4 posted on 06/02/2002 9:48:39 AM PDT by backhoe
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To: freeforall
I'll add some legs to your points...

Re-strengthening our military forced the Soviets to do something that they couldn't do: keep pace with us economically. The tax cuts and a return to a market economy in the early 80's (remember the "Misery Index" coined during the Carter administration) sparked an economic expansion that planned economies (i.e. the Soviets) couldn't compete with us.

I somewhat disagree with #5 - Carter didn't disrespect/disgrace the office like the previous occupant did. Carter just didn't handle the situations as they should be. Reagan flexed American military muscle when necessary. There were triumphs (Granada) and tragedies (Beirut). But it's a testimony to America's resilience that it took as short of period of time as it did to re-tool the military and make it effective. Without those steps we could not have responded to the challenges of Desert Shield/Storm.

I remember the 1980 election - I lived in California at the time. My friends were telling me not to vote for Reagan because "he was a Nazi". Looking back on it, I realize that my friends were leftists/liberals. Even though I was not politically aware then, it was Reagan's presidency that showed me that there was a difference between a conservative and liberal/moderate administrations.

5 posted on 06/02/2002 9:49:57 AM PDT by Bosco
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To: backhoe
Ahh yes - stagflation. I remember that term from one of my college microeconomics courses. I was lucky to have a teacher who was a market economist (a.k.a. "supply sider") who was able to present the facts in a concise manner and let us make the decisions.

Stagflation started with Nixon when he instituted price controls in the early 70's. Ford and Carter continued the mistake, Reagan corrected the mistake in the early 80's - not without some pain.

6 posted on 06/02/2002 9:53:04 AM PDT by Bosco
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To: Maceman
He helped change the way we thought about ourselves. Carter was convinced, and tryed to convince us, that America`s greatness was over. Reagan thought that our greatness was just beganning. Once he did that, all the rest fell into place.
7 posted on 06/02/2002 9:53:12 AM PDT by bybybill
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To: Maceman
I disagree with Nixon's wage and price controls as well. But let's be reasonable about this. When Carter took over this nation was nowhere near as big a disaster as when he left. Carter was devoid of the skills to be President. He screwed up alliances, the economy, the military and even the self-confidence of our nation. Nixon had his problems, but I wouldn't mention his name in conjunction with Carter's inept administration. Carter did it all by himself.

Some say that Carter was screwed by oil price increases. I'm not convinced that was the problem. If people will note, oil prices shot up in the last few years also. Did interest rates hit 21%? No. And there goes Jimmy's claim. He was, is and always will be a bumbling fool.

8 posted on 06/02/2002 9:56:55 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: Maedhros
Yep! But how many DIMocRATS will admit that? None I know of.......
9 posted on 06/02/2002 9:57:05 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
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To: Bosco
You are correct- amybe I can give you more when I get back to a better PC! Rats! Bleeding typos!
10 posted on 06/02/2002 10:04:33 AM PDT by backhoe
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To: backhoe
1- the fall of the Shah of Iran
2- Cubans in Angola
3- interest rates topping 21%
4- the Soviets ( remember them? ) rattling sabres around Europe
5- unrest in Central America
6- stagflation ( look it up, it's ugly! )
6- the Death of Elvis ( just kidding! ) but that's funny....

Politicizing the Olympics
Giving away the Panama Canal

11 posted on 06/02/2002 10:09:58 AM PDT by Allegra
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To: freeforall
Comments?

Sure. Upon seeing the headline, I reached for my baseball bat. Glad I read past it: good post.

12 posted on 06/02/2002 10:11:12 AM PDT by dighton
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To: freeforall
"Winning the Cold War" is almost a comical understatement. The Persian Gulf War cost about as much, and had several dozen American casualites. Ronald Reagan, through sheer personal will and clever economic planning (a war economy is a GREAT way to exit a depression/recession), won a war WITHOUT FIRING A SHOT, and with ZERO casualties, ZERO risk to our teenage children in the service (although I'm sure we owe a huge debt of gratitude to a few operatives), and simultaneously increased the wealth and standard of living (so much that the liberals had to label that 80's as the "Decade of Greed"... no such epithet for the 90's you'll notice). Many major national boundaries were changed (East and West Germany were reunited, and the USSR began its break-up), and even a decade later, there is no civil unrest in any of those changed areas (well, okay, Chechnya is the lone exception). Contrast that to the unmitigated disasters of the numerous map-redrawing results in Africa's history.

Sun-Tzu must have been beaming with pride.

13 posted on 06/02/2002 10:11:36 AM PDT by Teacher317
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To: DoughtyOne
Carter may be a bumbling fool, but he introduced the country to "Billy Beer". Come on, give the guy a break. Beer and peanuts are a good combination. ;-)
14 posted on 06/02/2002 10:11:41 AM PDT by WIMom
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To: Allegra
444 days of hostages in Iran
15 posted on 06/02/2002 10:13:18 AM PDT by Teacher317
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To: WIMom
I see you've forgotten what Billy Beer tasted like.
But it could be worse, if drugs were legalized during Clintoon we would have had "Roger Rock".
16 posted on 06/02/2002 10:14:51 AM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Allegra
Yes, I actually composed 2 different posts on the Canal giveaway... I don't have the files on this old klunker PC, however.

Don't forget we would never have had this pointless debate over storing nuclear waste at Yucca Flats if Carter hadn't signed that fool law outlawing recycling spent nuclear components. The French have done it for nearly 20 years without a hitch. We could, too, and have had cleaner, cheaper power than we currenty do.

17 posted on 06/02/2002 10:23:23 AM PDT by backhoe
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To: freeforall
*YAWN*
When you get around to thrashing Nixon, I might have a comment.

DU Loser

18 posted on 06/02/2002 10:24:54 AM PDT by Publius6961
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To: Publius6961
oops, maybe you should read the post.
19 posted on 06/02/2002 10:28:15 AM PDT by WIMom
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To: dighton
The inspiration for this thread was "Life of Brian" in which some one asks ...What have the Romans ever done for us? Were upon they list Aquaducts,sewers,medicine,wine,roads,it's safe to walk the streets,etc.Yes Yes besides all that.

Try to get a Liberal to list the obvious achievments of Reagan is almost impossible.But Clinton he was the most brilliant prez ever. But besides the building in Saudi Arabia,the Embassies in Africa,The Cole,The WTC (1993)and the OKC what terrorism did Clintoon ignore?

20 posted on 06/02/2002 10:28:49 AM PDT by freeforall
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