Sunday, June 06, 2004
More on Reagan
Two pieces from the WaPo, one on how he reshaped and revitalization the GOP, and another on how his shaping of the economic debate is still greatly felt today (this second article also takes a detailed look at Mr. Reagan's economic policies).
One passage struck me as being quite a good descriptor of the different ways that people can view Reagan:
I don't know if historians alive today, at least those on the path to being historians (like me, perhaps), might not be able to take a critical look at Mr. Reagan. I have an opinion on how great he was, but I'd like to have the opportunity one day to take a critical look at the facts and come to a conclusion on Mr. Reagan that is based on history.
Slate also has a piece on Reagan, titled "Ronald Reagan, Party Animal: The man who taught Republicans to be irresponsible." This article seems to take a very biased look at the economics of the 1980s and government fiscal policies. Someone should fisk it.
UPDATE: Pejman has a lot of great links and commentary on Mr. Reagan and the reception of the news of his death. Check it out. Among his coverage is following:
Critique is a necessary part of the process of determining the place in history of a leader; however, it doesn't involve hateful joy over suffering and death.
Even if you felt he was wrong, one should still be able to honestly say "God Bless you, Mr. Reagan" and mean it from the heart. If not, then I feel sorry for you.
One passage struck me as being quite a good descriptor of the different ways that people can view Reagan:
Through the prism of the right, Ronald Reagan's economic policies in the 1980s were a rainbow, a vision that was largely responsible for the nation's remarkable economy in the 1990s. Through the prism of the left, Reaganomics was a storm that devastated the poor and left huge budget deficits in its wake.
That debate may only be settled by historians not yet born, but this much is clear: Economic policymaking today must still contend with the rhetorical markers laid down by Ronald Wilson Reagan when he took office more than two decades ago.
Smaller government. Lower taxes. Less regulation. Low inflation.
I don't know if historians alive today, at least those on the path to being historians (like me, perhaps), might not be able to take a critical look at Mr. Reagan. I have an opinion on how great he was, but I'd like to have the opportunity one day to take a critical look at the facts and come to a conclusion on Mr. Reagan that is based on history.
Slate also has a piece on Reagan, titled "Ronald Reagan, Party Animal: The man who taught Republicans to be irresponsible." This article seems to take a very biased look at the economics of the 1980s and government fiscal policies. Someone should fisk it.
UPDATE: Pejman has a lot of great links and commentary on Mr. Reagan and the reception of the news of his death. Check it out. Among his coverage is following:
Ken Summers answers an imbecile who decided to dance on a dead man's grave. Whatever your politics, I would think that we could agree that the Presidents of the United States that have served in our lifetimes were men of good faith. Even if you think they were wrong, they meant well. Crowing about the deaths of others should be reserved for the truly hateful (and I mean the Osama bin Laden/Saddam Hussein variety).
Instead, we have disgusting displays of schadenfreude over the death of a former President via one of the most tortuous and painful deaths imaginable. And there are--and will be, sad to say--more in the Blogosphere, either via posts or comments. I hope that there is a Hell so that the maggots who refuse to show any kind of human decency on a day like this burn in it. Otherwise, I trust they won't object if anyone dances a jig on their deaths.
Assuming anyone even bothers to take notice, that is.
Critique is a necessary part of the process of determining the place in history of a leader; however, it doesn't involve hateful joy over suffering and death.
Even if you felt he was wrong, one should still be able to honestly say "God Bless you, Mr. Reagan" and mean it from the heart. If not, then I feel sorry for you.
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