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"Photographs, and memories..."
From Dr. Eric Alterman: Today, the key question about Reagan remains not only unanswered but unasked: How did this childlike fantasist and friend of genocide convince a nation of reasonably intelligent, God-fearing and generally decent citizens to avert its eyes from the heart of darkness that beat beneath Ronald Reagan's congenial smile? And how did that same culture come to rhapsodize the same man today? The rest of his post is here. If you're a Reagan fan, you won't like it. If you like the truth, you'll like it. Michael Kinsley is also hard on the Gipper, and rightfully so. Facts have a liberal bias, you know. When Reagan took office in 1981, federal receipts (taxes) were $517 billion and outlays (spending) were $591 billion, for a deficit of $73 billion. When he left office in 1989, taxes were $999 billion and spending was $1.14 trillion, for a deficit of $153 billion. As a share of the economy (the fairest measure), Reagan did cut taxes, from 19.6 percent to 18.4 percent, and he cut spending from 22.2 percent to 21.2 percent, increasing the deficit from 2.6 percent to 2.8 percent. The deficit went as high as an incredible 5 percent of GDP during Reagan's term. As a result, the national debt soared by almost two-thirds.
John McCain's stagy self-flagellation, on behalf of all Republicans, for betraying the Reagan Revolution when they controlled Congress and the White House at the beginning of this decade, is entirely misplaced. In fact, George W. Bush and the Republican Congress did precisely what Reagan did: They cut taxes, mainly on the well-to-do, but they barely touched spending. If the Republicans are looking around for an icon to worship, they might consider Bill Clinton. He cut spending from 21.4 percent of GDP to 18.5 percent. That's three times as much as Reagan did. True, he raised taxes from 17.6 percent to 19.8 percent, but that's still a smaller chunk than the government was claiming when Reagan left office. And, of course, he left us with an annual surplus that threatened to eliminate the national debt.
13 comments from 5 users
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posted by
randomfactor
on Feb 4, 2008 at 04:13 PM
Clinton was the best Republican president since at least Eisenhower. posted by
blognroll
on Feb 4, 2008 at 04:24 PM
If, as Mills suggests, "stupid people are generally conservative," then arrogant people are generally liberals who think they are better than conservatives. Pride, not stupidity, comes before a fall. As for Reagan, everybody needs a hero, whether the hero characteristics are based on fact, fiction, or some combination of the two. JFK was no angel either. The Democrats have their hero, the Republicans have one two. posted by
randomfactor
on Feb 4, 2008 at 04:32 PM
Gee, BLT, is it wrong to think I'm better than a "stupid person"? Then I don't wanna be Right. . Stupidity comes before *LOTS* of people fall. JFK was taken out before he could shut down Vietnam--had he a second term, the world would have looked *MUCH* different. Heroes aren't angels. That's a large part of what *MAKES* them heroes. posted by
blognroll
on Feb 4, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Gee, BLT, is it wrong to think I'm better than a "stupid person"? Then I don't wanna be Right. Here's what separates knowledge from wisdom: Humility is the beginning of wisdom. Heroes aren't angels. That's a large part of what *MAKES* them heroes. So you'll accept Ronald Reagan, warts and all? posted by
dcs217
on Feb 4, 2008 at 04:47 PM
BLT - that's some good stuff bro. posted by
nooneisabovethelaw
on Feb 4, 2008 at 05:10 PM
Blognroll, I don't think I'm arrogant. I'm too humble for that. I know I don't know all the answers, and that's why I'm always questioning. The only things I'll accept about Ronald Reagan is that, somehow, he was elected president, twice, and now he's dead. Who says everybody needs a hero? I don't. Kennedy wasn't my hero. I don't have any heroes. I have some role models, and some men and women through history I admire, but heroes? No. And if I was going to have one, it sure as hell wouldn't be Ronald Reagan. posted by
blognroll
on Feb 4, 2008 at 05:13 PM
BLT - that's some good stuff bro. Ah, support! Encouragement! For some of us, receiving it is as rare as receiving hen's teeth, but when it happens, it is sooooooooo greatly appreciated. Thanks.
posted by
nooneisabovethelaw
on Feb 4, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Yeah, well, look where it's coming from. posted by
randomfactor
on Feb 4, 2008 at 05:28 PM
BLT, heroes are those who rise above their natures. Reagan lowered himself to his. . Remember, this is the guy who spawned the defense (in his California days) "The Governor has not lied, and what's more, he never will again..." . I believe the quote is "not all conservatives are stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives." You must know boolean logic enough to follow the difference. Similarly, all heroes are not angels, but that doesn't make a hero out of every flawed human being. . I'm not sure I have a hero right now. There's a lyric from "Beyond Thunderdome" that comes to mind, but we *DO* need another hero about now. Al Gore comes close, to name another not-angel. posted by
nooneisabovethelaw
on Feb 4, 2008 at 05:41 PM
BLT: I'll support you when you're correct. (I hate how the word "right" has been co-opted.) posted by
dgrealish
on Feb 4, 2008 at 07:25 PM
Has anyone ever heard the story of the boy who won the medal for being humble then had it taken away for wearing it? (credit to Max Lucado) People who brag about their humility are often seriously lacking it. posted by
blognroll
on Feb 4, 2008 at 07:35 PM
Good point, dgrealish. Random, even Obama has had good things to say about Reagan. He has the respect of many on both sides of the isle. Apparently you don't share in that respect, but that is your right. posted by
nooneisabovethelaw
on Feb 5, 2008 at 12:02 PM
I liked Robert Bly's comment about Reagan: the American people were so desperate for a wise, old man, that they hired an actor to portray one.
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