Snapshot of the Reagan legacy (Orange: assessment, rain, work)

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by BlackShoe

One major complaint from the left about Reagan was his budget deficet. He really had no other choice. He could not fulfill all of his major goals at the same time; grow the economy, fight inflation, cut taxes, increase defense spending in order to defeat the Soviet Union, and, balance the budget

"Well...there you go again..." more lionizing instead of facing historical fact. Reaganomics did NOT grow the economy; it was a massive borrowing scheme that delivered very short-term gains for a few privileged parties in exchange for long-term public debt. Nor did he control inflation or "defeat the Soviet Union." That's all GOP mythology: as unreal as the Strategic Defense Initiative that Reagan so strongly believed in. The Soviet Union collapsed under the weight of its own bureaucratic inefficiency and collective discontent.

The notion that there is "no other choice" is the ultimate cop-out for every obsession-rack ego, from credit-card abusers to defenders of apartheid. But there are ALWAYS other choices. He could have spent within the means of the nation. Republicans are always advocating reduced spending, yet lionize the most wasteful spender in the history of the U.S. presidency. The sad thing is that he gave us this huge deficit and this monstrous buildup of weapons of mass destruction (which were outdated by 1990), but we have nothing to show for it now...except for a near collapse of the U.S. economy 25 years later. Deferring taxes to one's children and grandchildren through deficit spending is hardly something that should be lifted up as a "goal." Spin won't work anymore. What we see is what we got from Reaganomics...and it ain't pretty.

[.highnlite]

The humor there, was that Reagan attacked Carter and the Dems for deficit spending, then got into office and tripled the deficit.

He had a habit of saying one thing and doing another.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by .highnlite

The humor there, was that Reagan attacked Carter and the Dems for deficit spending, then got into office and tripled the deficit.

He had a habit of saying one thing and doing another.

The 1980s Democrat-controlled Congress spent, on average, 2.8% more than Reagan asked for and a cumulative 24.5% over 8 years.

[.highnlite]

So what?, he still tripled the defict, remember, the budget comes out of his office and after it is passed, he signs it.

[tigger37708]

Don't bother arguing.
He makes up his facts as he goes along.

[.highnlite]

Dear, which facts might those be?

[ZhugeLiang]

Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea

except for a near collapse of the U.S. economy 25 years later.

What would banks giving loans to unqualified people have anything to do with Reagan? Much like the rest of your post, rampant non-sequiturs I suppose, with some historical revision thrown in for good measure. I don't honestly have any dog in this fight, but I love how debt is no big deal unless a Republican is in office.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by ZhugeLiang

What would banks giving loans to unqualified people have anything to do with Reagan?

Voodoo Economics. One ideology ("deficits don't matter), two forms of expression.

[ZhugeLiang]

Originally Posted by Brenda-by-the-sea

Voodoo Economics. One ideology ("deficits don't matter), two forms of expression.

Uh, no. That doesn't explain bankers giving loans to unqualified people in the 21st century and how that is connected to a president from the 80s.

Sigh....more non-sequiturs. Try harder.

[tigger37708]

Originally Posted by zhugeliang

much like the rest of your post, rampant non-sequiturs i suppose, with some historical revision thrown in for good measure.

+1

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