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I agree with those who want Rushmore to remain unchanged from what it is now.
Washington is there for his work in helping throw off British oppression, for his integrity in guiding the country away from similar oppression as its first President, and for refusing the people who wanted to appoint him King (fact!) after the Revolution. Though imperfect (he owned slaves), he did a lot toward establishing the country's overall principles of freedom.
Jefferson is there for his emphasis on small government, his establishment of the Navy as a force for protecting American rights, the Louisiana Purchase that doubled the size of the country. Though similarly imperfect (he too owned slaves, though he helped abolish the international slave trade), he further promoted overall American freedom, and expansion of that freedom.
Lincoln is there for preserving the union during the Civil War, and freeing the Americans that some wanted as slaves, though he too was imperfect (abused some freedoms during the war, thought that blacks should be deported to Africa).
Teddy Roosevelt did far less, transforming the Navy from wood ships to steel and creating a force that could girdle the world, and drove the Panama Canal to completion. But he also used central government to abuse a great many freedoms at home and abroad, expanding its power far beyond Constitutional restrictions and intruding into many economic affairs in ways inimicable to the Founders' principles.
FDR brought hope to many Americans during the Depression with his sweeping acts and words, though the actual schemes he implemented made the Depression worse and did more harm than good. He had the foresight to build the American military to a point where it helped win WWII and preserve the idea of freedom over totalitarian dictatorship. But he also built government hugely and trampled the Constitution, long before any military conflicts made it necessary; and got America hooked on government largesse and intrusion in an addiction that has grown worse and more destructive ever since.
Reagan, like the two Roosevelts before him, brought hope and pride back to a guilt- and malaise-ridden nation, built up the military to a point where it could back up American ideals with force if needed. And he did more than any President to throw off the addiction to government that had grown in the several generations before him, though he did not completely succeed. His ideas of economic freedom and independence from intrusive government, triggered a surge in prosperity that lasted far beyond his Presidency, and also gave a final push to the failing Big Govt of the Soviet Union that led to its collapse, which freed more people around the world than any event since the Battle of Leyte Gulf in WWII.
Obama has thrown away the respect or fear that other nations used to have for America, brought back fear and uncertainty to an economy trying to plan for its future, and done more than any President since FDR to increase the addicition to a huge, nanny-state government.
Mt. Rushmore should be left as-is. No President since the first three to be put there, has done as much overall to deserve placement.
Last edited by Little-Acorn; 02-20-2012 at 11:37 AM..
A very underrated president. Embodied Classical Liberalism. Supported the Gold standard. Vetoed unconstitutional bills. He was the last of the great Democratic presidents, before we ushered in the age of endless warfare and endless welfare. Before Reagan Democrats who crossed over for Ronald Reagan and before Blue Republicans who crossed over for Ron Paul, there was Mugwumps, Republicans who crossed over to support Democrat Grover Cleveland over Republican James G. Blaine.
For the reasons I indicated, he would be a poor choice to add.
If any person must be added, Reagan would be the most likely, though as I said he did not do as much as three of the four already there. (The fall of the Soviet Union government happened mostly due to the failings of that government's internal philosophy. Reagan just gave it a final push.)
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