What did Reagan ever do for America?

http://www.objectiveamerican.com/ ^ | Sunday, June 2, 2002 | E.G. Ross

[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.

[codebreaker]

[RLK]

I think Rumsfeld is a lot like Reagan in that respect, he has a similar way about him. Direct and to the point.

---------------------

Rumsfeld has always been sharp. At one time I woas hoping he's become president. To the extent the Bush presidency functions at all, it's because of the influence of Rumsfeld.

[codebreaker]

[codebreaker]

Into the Lion's Den

[Allegra]

'Tear Down This Wall, Mr. Gorbachev!'

Every time I see a clip of that speech on things like A&E Biography, I get goosebumps. The good kind of goosebumps.

[RLK]

Reagan had an earned self-condence such that he was willing to face anybody at any time.

[freeforall]

I was in high school when Reagan was elected.I was a mushy unfocused liberal.A friend at the time gave me some writings by Reagan and convinced me he was nothing like the left wingers portayed him.My friend was a refugee from Czechoslovakia and an ardent anti communist.He along with Reagan and Thatcher convinced me that the USSR was an evil empire.I also read some of the books that inspired them Road to Serfdom,etc

[Reagan Man]

Thanks Boxsford.

REAGAN = LEADERSHIP

[freeforall]

Yes, it was torn down but not by Gorby but those weary of oppression.Reagan was bang on though.

[backhoe]

My friend was a refugee from Czechoslovakia

At that time I was the Polish Solar Observers Society's only American sunspot observer, and I wrote back & forth to Vaclaw Szymanski in Dabrowa, Grornicza, Poland. There were no stronger allies of America, and her concept of freedom, than many of those who lived behind the Iron Curtain. Much as you find today with Cuban-Americans- those who lived under the boot really had a love of liberty.

[Happygal]

I'm sure this will interest you :-)

[jla]

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.

Absolutely. And everything he said in those radio addresses is applicable today.

Maybe someday, we'll have another real Conservative at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

[roadcat]

Just now noticed the thread but have to add my 2cents to this. Reagan made me realize that American heroes still exist.

In the 1970's I was pretty disgusted with the way things were going for America. We had hyper-inflation under Jimmy Carter. Me and my wife had just got married, and with our minimum wage salaries were barely getting by. Every week the price of bread and milk was going up, along with everything else. Young people complain about prices now, but at least they're stable. Back then, inflation was running in the high teens. Everything Carter and the Democrats did was a disaster. Carter was dismantling our military at a frightening pace, our economy was in shambles, and we were losing world market share at an increasing rate to the Japanese and others. The democrats had no vision.

So you're thinking, what about Reagan, not Carter? Reagan immediately put into place strong fix-it measures that rebuilt our economy, our military, and our pride. Within two years of being in office the inflation was being put into check, our military was getting revived, and we were proud to be Americans again. I particularly remember the first space shuttle launch during Reagan's administration and his strong speeches reminding us that America was back and could stand strong. Others on this thread have mentioned lots of his accomplishments, among them his tearing down the iron curtain - dismantling of the Berlin wall and the fall of the Soviet empire. Another reason why he'll be remembered in a positive light 100 years from now is his quest to get an international space station built. BTW, it would have been done by the year 2000 except for all the cuts by the Clintoon administration.

[vannrox]

After Nixion, our nation was in moral shambles. The backlash resulted in Jimmy Carter being elected as President. But he was such a pathetic president that most Americans wanted him out. OUT! Regan changed everything. Americans again felt proud to be an American. They began to look forward to a fine life and had forgotten the doom and gloom that Carter so often expoused.


In many ways, Clinton affected our country in much the same way that Carter did.