Ronald Reagan was born 100 years ago yesterday. He is idolized by quite a few people in the country, and I’ve never understood why. I get that the people he helped would like him, as well as those who supported his policies. What I don’t get is why so many people love him for being something he wasn’t.
Contemporary conservatives who espouse small government and low taxes and fighting terrorism and having bigger and better bombs seem to love the guy. But for a conservative icon Ronald Reagan did some strange things. Yes, he attacked unions, used divisive campaign tactics, opposed communism, demonized government and he cut taxes – once.
He also raised taxes 11 times, 7 of his 8 years in office.
He increased the size of the federal government.
He increased government spending.
He more than doubled the deficit, increasing it more than all previous Presidents combined.
He supported amnesty for undocumented immigrants.
He sold weapons to Iran.
He helped fund South American rebels.
He got Marines killed in Lebanon and then cut and ran.
He saved Social Security – in part by raising taxes.
He signed the first START treaty.
He wanted a world free of nuclear weapons.
I’m not saying that all of those things are bad, but I’m really not seeing the conservative hero in there.
ETA: This isn't meant as an attack on Reagan or anyone else. I just don't understand the idolization when the facts don't match the desired message.
2 comments:
I didn't pay any attention to politics back then. I was a classic liberal Democrat college student. Big on bashing things I didn't bother to understand, and really just voting based on 1 issue. But what I remember most about Reagan is that I always thought he looked like he was lying. His supporters all said he looked so sincere, and his opponents just disagreed with him. I thought his acting hadn't improved since the 50s & couldn't believe anything behind that fake smile.
Well, I've been following politics for a long time (I was a strange child) and try to keep up on the issues. Reagan's policies overall hurt the government and the country and I don't think the good outweighed the bad. But I think the problem with believing him is in part because Reagan was always used as a front-man. Whatever his own ideals, you couldn't trust what he said. But he was good at that smile.
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