In one form or another, the "reds" (Reagan's disciples) have ruled for thirty-four years. Some say, "What about Bill Clinton?" Clinton totally capitulated to the republicans - weak on unions, overturned Glass-Steagall, signed NAFTA and CAFTA, and loved Larry Summers (the screw the auto-industry, neo-liberal gargoyle). Clinton will never be confused with FDR.
President Obama has been a disappointment. He had all the cards and squandered the greatest opportunity for progressive change since FDR. It must be noted that the republicans have abused the filibuster and effectively rule government from a minority status.
Back to Reagan. He tipped over the apple cart and ruined America. By nearly every metric, his policies and general bad ass attitude have failed us - financially and socially.
He led the charge against unions with his assault on the air traffic controllers. Thirty years later union membership is down by two thirds. Reagan's attack on labor resulted in reduction in pay across the nation, the loss of guaranteed pensions, and any thought of comfortable early retirements for many. Ronnie got his way...good for him and his Plutocrat cronies. The days of working-class Americans purchasing lake cabins, sending their kids to college without debt and securing comfortable retirements (basically, doing well) is gone with the unions.
Reagan's tough guy rhetoric ( he talked a lot of smack) has spread to become a national persona. With that we have watched the rise of the NRA and gun violence, an astonishing rise in the number of hate groups, and a military budget that may bankrupt America. One also needs to mention the division and hatred existing all across the land of the "mean" and the home of the "rave." Even the cable channels are inundated with gun documentaries and hillbillies beating up alligators. Too many are "bad-asses," just like Reagan wanted it. The "There you go again." comment to the polite statesman Jimmy Carter reintroduced snarkiness and rudeness to our national dialogue. Photo ops while wearing cowboy hats and swinging axes at split wood played on the "he man" imagery. The "bad-asses" ate this up; the rest of us thought, "What a phony."
Reagan started the "government is bad" bullshit. He famously and mockingly said, "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help." The meatheads ate this crap up and now nearly everybody rips the government. The truth: our government, when led by liberals, is what set us apart from and ahead of the rest of the world. Reagan convinced us to downsize government and to dummy down conversations. We have. Here we are. We suck at nearly everything: income inequality, education, tuition cost, wages, benefits, vacation time, maternity leave, social mobility, obesity rates, early retirement, even infant mortality. Prior to the Reagan revolution we ranked at or near the top in nearly every meaningful category. Thanks Ronnie.
It has been glossed over by the media, but Reagan was hated by nearly half of all Americans -- hated, loathed, despised. His opponents could not believe a phony, bad actor was running the show. Many predicted the future we own today. Yes, he won big in 1984. But Mondale pulled the biggest blunder in modern politics by running on raising taxes. Also, he had a woman on the ticket before the country was ready for such radicalism (sarcasm).The improved economy helped Reagan, too, but this was due to the enormous debt he rang up to artificially stimulate the economy. The Reagan/Bush years ended in a harsh recession and enormous debt.
Reagan evicted our 50 years of moderate socialism and allowed Ayn Rand capitalism to move in. Well, here we are. This is not hard to see. We went from fifty years of growing prosperity and civility to thirty-four years of middle-class malaise and advancing barbarism. Thanks "trickle down" Reaganomics.
Open your eyes republicans! You are worshipping a mirage.
Reagan's conservatism has ruined America - socially and financially. You can't make this stuff up.
